The next thing I knew, I was watching a cat video on facebook when the clock smacked me in the face: I rushed to the next client therapy session and straight through the rest of my day. It started with grabbing my phone to check email about 10 minutes earlier. There are times when my schedule temporarily opens up. A client will be absent, a student will leave early, or need to attend a special event. I might get 10-15 minutes of unscheduled time.
Part 3: Reclaim in between time- 3 Brain Hacks
1. Throw away your to do list
Whaaaa? Yes, I recommend that my coaching clients throw away their to-do lists. I have them do a short planning session weekly. Make their to do list and then put everything on a schedule. Decide how long each task will take you and then schedule it.
I have them put their personal time and self care time in first, then prioritize other things like work tasks, home tasks, kid stuff. Where my Mommas at? woop woop!!
The reason I have them do this is because- to do lists are never ending and tend to create and perpetuate a never ending, overwhelming thoughts…ehhh hem, (burnout), cough cough. You can’t out run your to do list.
When you throw away your to do list, it will allow you to clearly recognize when you have some time open up.
2. Use your time with intention
Amirite? Seems obvious, but using time purposefully is not something that comes naturally. IN fact some of us think we need… “spontaneity.”
Please, if I left my life up to spontaneity- I’d be on my couch, eating a tub of ice cream, binge watching Downton Abbey for months which sounds frickin fabulous- but the reality is depressing when I do actually have goals, oh and I do want to feed my kids and not be homeless. So there’s that.
The simple question: “What do I want to do with the next ___ minutes?” wakes your mind up so that you can decide intentionally what to do. And not get smacked in the face by the clock.
Take 10 deep breaths, go for a walk, start one section of a report, move something else in your schedule ahead,
Choose what YOU want, make it intentional and purposeful. How does this decision serve you? It could totally be something “pointless and useless.” We all need time to goof off. My point is to MAKE it MATTER.
Most of the time, we use in between time unintentionally– we go down an email rabbit hole, start complaining and gossiping, get on social media… (ask me how I know)
Before we know it, the time is GONE and we plow through the rest of our schedule for the day barely making it through. I don’t recommend it.
3. Get the first 80% of a project done as fast as possible.
Show of hands- anyone here a procrastinator?, perfectionist?, anxious?, control freak?
Raise your hand if your are one, some or all of these. In other words; are you a human being?
Seriously though, this hack has helped me improve my productivity exponentially.
For example when you have an evaluation report to write, a paper or bigger project…
do the first 80% of the project as quickly as possible. Quick massive bursts will build your stamina and focus as well as hack the perfectionistic fantasies holding you hostage, paralyzed in inaction and procrastination. Oh yeah, and with those gems, layer in some overwhelm, shame and self-loathing- (good times).
Hack that $h!+.
A message for your brain, to your brain: It won’t be perfect, we already know that. It’s only the first 80%. Calm down, it’s okay.
Do it as fast and as carelessly as you can. GO!
I love you -Bye
Creating time is literally a SKILL you can learn, and it’s one of my favorites to teach. My clients love the feeling of freedom and sense of agency it creates over their life. If you’re ready to get more time and energy for yourself click here to schedule a consultation call with me.
