Since we’re taking a hard look at our relationship with time this month, I thought I’d share some steps to take when we’re feeling stressed out by time. If Rep. Maxine Waters reclaiming her time was a total inspiration to you, you can channel some of that bad-ass energy yourself.
If you’re feeling lost, alone, or overwhelmed, I encourage you to try some of these ideas below to see what might be a good fit for you to reclaim your time. I always recommend checking your personal toolbox for resources, I bet you have something in there that can help, too
Awareness - take a look around when you notice overwhelm or feeling spread thin. It’s ok to be where you are. Noticing is the first step in taking action. Now we can seek change because we’re ready.
Check in with your body - You might need to put the phone down, or step away from the laptop. Stand up. Stretch. Breathe. Do a body scan. Ask your body what it needs right now. Listen. Don’t overthink or over do it. Just be patient and present.
Make a plan - now that you’re listening and present with yourself, it’s time to make a plan for the rest of your day or week ahead. 1 step at a time. Do you have a productivity tool you like to use? Get out your calendar or your todo list. Let’s tackle it together.
Use your system - How do you typically plan out your days? If you’re stuck here, here’s a few ideas to help get started.
Trello - a visual productivity tool with simple function but added bells and whistles if that's your thing.
MIT - the most important task. By planning ahead for tomorrow’s MIT your future self will thank you for an easier day!
The “Big Rocks” system - From Steven Covey. What are the big rocks, aka the big things you need to do now? Focus on the big pieces and you’ll have plenty of time for the small pieces, aka gravel, later.
Pomodoro technique - Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on a single task. When the timer goes off, take a 5 minute break. Step away from the work - stretch, open the window, get a glass of water… Then repeat! After 4 rounds, take a longer break to really refresh.
Time blocking - look at your list of todos and block out your day or week with the time you want to dedicate to working on them. Use your calendar and mark the time so nothing else can interfere. Build in time for everything and anything - lunch hour, morning coffee break, 1 hour of email catch up, 2 hours to work on a creative project.
Get started - Feeling overwhelmed by this short list? Time to experiment! Maybe one of these works better for you than another. The only way to find out is to try. Start with the one that feels easiest for now and see how it works out. You don’t have to keep doing it if it doesn’t make you feel good. The point is to find out what does and then use that to help yourself down the road.
What will you try first?