Schedule Time With Yourself to Think

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Duke Snyder on November 2, 2009 at 2:27pm

Always a proper and timely subject you bring us today, Thomas.
That is said by one who considers it to be the most potent managerial lesson I was ever taught.
More than a few personal recollections of this lesson being reinforced in me could be listed but they always come back to something a guy my age, (roughly 25 or so at the time) shared with me more than 40 years ago. Your mention of one hour per day to yourself devoted strictly for thinking and planning is exactly the formula he suggested as well.
His basic point was that to not give yourself an hour a day for "personal think-time" meant you were cheating yourself, your family, your friends, your employer and yes, even God because if we don't care enough about ourselves to plan and execute the things best for our personal well-being we can't really say we truly are concerned or care about all those others either.
As best I recall my friend Bob's closing statement likened failing to secure that single hour for "think time" every day as insane as an individual deciding on the spur-of-the-moment to drive to California...without a roadmap. And did you think before departing of ensuring you are equipped with a jack and spare tire; maybe a gasoline can for crossing the Mojave and similar sparse territory? Enough money to cover a vehicle breakdown?
Most adults know Interstate 80 will get you to California but just where in that sewer of bankruptcy and high unemployment did you plan to call "home?"
Believe I shall take out a clean legal pad and spend an hour or so working on my own map.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Laina Molaski on November 16, 2009 at 7:02am

Great post!! Now if I could only get that thinking time scheduled in my calendar. All kidding aside you are right that we tend to go, go, go our down time to be clear headed and really think is minimal.
Laina

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Thomas Barnes on November 16, 2009 at 9:11am

Thanks Laina - - I love your name. Keep on thinking

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Allison K. Lewis on November 24, 2009 at 7:44am

Agreed. Have you read "Never Check Email in the Morning"? It really made me aware of the constant distractions and how chopped up our days are with soundbyte work time instead of concentrated blocks. It's harder to do than it sounds, though!

▶ Reply to This