Your schedule is a key tool to optimize your productivity.
And when you schedule time to reflect, you are NOT being unproductive. In fact, you are giving yourself a gift.
We all have the same 24 hours every day of our lives… and what we do with those hours defines who we are, as well as goes a long way in determining the quality of our lives. Your productivity always comes down to your timing choices, and you make better decisions when you reflect on them.
two time tips
So if you want to make your time choices wiser then my #1 timing tip it’s investing time upfront by adding reflection time to your schedule.
My Timing Tip #2 is not to be critical while you reflect. If you look at your choices with a critical eye, you won’t get all the information about what you choose and why. In fact, if you approach this self-critically, you just don’t want to do it.
Sample questions for you
So when you pause to reflect, consider asking yourself questions like the following:
- What are the objectives in which I am progressing?
- What do I want to expand or follow up on?
- What relationships need to be attended to?
- What are the achievements I would like to celebrate?
Make this work for you. Instead of treating them as just another activity for a busy day, try to visualize them as large, comfortable spaces that have room to accommodate all aspects of your life. Even after a few moments of this kind of reflection, you return to your day refreshed, with realigned energies.
Scheduling your reflection time
It is entirely up to you to schedule these gifts for yourself. The most important thing to keep in mind is that this is your chance to decide for you how to make your life work better for you.
How often you schedule reflection points may depend on your level of satisfaction with your life. Transition or stress times may require more frequent adjustments as you work through time challenges or become familiar with a new landscape.
The time you spend does not have to be long, especially in the beginning. As you get into the habit, you’ll find it so refreshing and helpful that you may need to limit your thinking time.
Some more thoughts…
Prepare your environment so that it is especially conducive to relaxing and looking inward. Keep touchstones nearby for inspiration and a notepad to record new ideas.
Don’t fall into the trap of rationalizing that you don’t have time to do this. Remember that your time is precious, unrepeatable and finite. So the best way to refine your timing choices is to build regular “thinking points” into the rhythm of your life. There is no greater gift you can give yourself than to live in a way that is consistent with your deepest values.
