We’re all under pressure to make the most of our time at work. It’s the one resource we have in common. It’s valuable and limited.
This is broadly how I think about managing time in the context of work. I divide it into ‘Time to Think’ and ‘Time to Act.’
Time to Think
This is reflection time. It’s time to pause, to plan and undertake some deeper thinking.
My experience is that not enough people in the business world take enough time to do this. They dive into stuff. They’re action-orientated. Solving the next problem. Crossing off the next item on their to-do list.
They don’t see sitting and thinking as ‘real’ work. The outputs aren’t immediate or tangible enough for them.
But finding time to think at work is SO important.
It may be a time for planning. This means setting aside more time to look into the future. This is usually at the end of a business year. When you work on your business plan or set out your goals.
Schedule these blocks of time far in advance. Plan them carefully, so that you’re fully prepared. If you’re planning a strategy session with your team, here’s some suggestions on how to do it.
It may be a time for learning. This could involve reading books, and articles or undertaking formal training programmes. No matter where you are in your life and career, there’s always space to learn.
These could be moments of quiet reflection during the day. Where you press the pause button and think, rather than dive into the next thing.
Here are some suggestions on how to build thinking time into your schedule.
Schedule some thinking time at the beginning and end of your day, to stop, pause and look ahead. Use a journal. I’ve just come across the 5 Minute Journal. It creates a routine to capture thoughts at the beginning and end of the day. I’ve started using mine recently. It’s enjoyable and helpful.
Find time in the day for some fresh air. In a previous article – click here - I’ve talked about the importance of walking to aid creative thinking. This is when great ideas often pop up.
Set aside a regular time every week. For example, make Friday morning your ‘thinking time’. Julia Cameron in her seminal book ‘The Artist’s Way’ talked about creating artist’s dates. Why not book yourself a ‘thinking date’?
Time to Act
But of course, to succeed, thinking is not enough. You need to act. To put your thoughts into action. Merely reading about cycling won’t enable you to scale those hills. You’ve got to start pedalling.
Over the past few months, I’ve been listening to more podcasts, particularly when out dog walking. One that I particularly enjoy is called ‘How I Built This’ by Guy Raz. It’s full of inspiring entrepreneurial stories.
What impresses me is not just their great business ideas. It's their tenacity and commitment in acting on them
So, be sure to put your thoughts and ideas into action.
The way to do this is through consistency. I’ve written about this in the past. Keep showing up to demonstrate your commitment. Create a process you can trust, so it becomes second nature.
The big enemy is procrastination. Finding time to think is helpful and needed. But, procrastination delays and avoids work. We’re all guilty of it.
James Clear, author of ‘Atomic Habits’ offers a wealth of valuable advice on how to overcome proscrastination.
Summary
To achieve our dreams and make the most of the hours we have each day, balance time to think with time to act.
Not enough of us stop to think, plan and reflect. To think deeply. Plan this in blocks of time when you want to think ahead, But equally, punctuate your day and week with periods of reflection.
Once you’ve done your thinking. Commit to the actions you’ve set yourself. Create routines, and processes that work for you. Avoid distractions. Avoid procrastination.
Get the balance right and you’ll get much better at achieving your goals.