The challenge with time, of course, is that there never seems to be enough of it in the day for everything we need to do, which is exactly why planning is so important. Time is inelastic in the sense that it moves forward at the same rate for everyone, but the impact that a leader or manager has during that time is not. In other words, how leaders choose to spend their time sends a clear message to others about what is and what is not important.
In some recent research, where time habits from 94 CEO’s were studied, perhaps not surprisingly the majority of their time (60%) was spent in meetings. The problem is the lack of personal time or ‘white space’ to think. White space allows you to get away from the chaos of the day to reflect and redirect your efforts towards those initiatives that yield the greatest impact.
The human brain, like every other muscle in the human body, needs time to recharge, and if you keep plugging away at the keyboard all day or attending back-to-back meetings, your brain doesn’t get the rest it needs and soon starts running dry. The essence of scheduling white space is to do something completely out of routine, to create newness in an otherwise predictable schedule so that you can focus on what matters most. Here are five ways to allocate greater white space time throughout your day:
Schedule it. Dedicate a block of time every day where you focus on just you. Doing so allows you to set the conditions for imagination to occur or to do whatever else is important to you such as exercise, meet with employees or deal with the ‘urgent stuff’ that arises unexpectedly.
Download Rescue Time. (https://www.rescuetime.com/) This app tracks your daily computer habits so you can pinpoint where to focus your time and maximise your output. You can set notifications to move your focus away from email or a project . Remember, what gets measured gets managed, and if working on a computer is a key part of your day, then measuring your activity is a must if you want to work more efficiently.
Create a default diary. Set a predictable schedule that allows you to do the activities most important to you. Personally, I set the alarm clock for six o’clock every morning to meditate and workout before heading into work.
Just say “no”. That’s it, just say no. All too often it’s easy to say “yes” because as humans we have a natural desire for acceptance, and saying “no” is the antithesis of approval.
Use the Pomodoro technique. This time management technique is based on the idea that frequent breaks in focus can improve mental agility. It works like this: work diligently for 25 minutes, then take a three to five minute break. Repeat this cycle four times and then take a longer, 15 to 30 minute break. The purpose here is to keep you mentally sharp and avoid focus fatigue.
