Last week, I spoke to 150 professionals at a large corporation about organization and personal effectiveness.
Their questions were telling of the times we live in:
- How do I manage my email overwhelm?
- How do I even find time to get organized?
- How do I stop the constant dialogue in my head?
- How do I make time to meditate?
I didn’t have answers to their questions, but rather made suggestions for managing their life and time differently.
To the person who wanted to get organized, I suggested eliminating 30-60 minutes of TV in the evenings or at least on weekends to create time and enrolling the kids to help at home.
To the person who felt overwhelmed with email, I introduced a new way to manage it and suggested he enroll his co-workers in talking about how to “do” email differently with their group. And, if possible, start a dialogue within their company about email overwhelm.
To the person suffering from Monkey Mind, I suggested finding the thing in life that put him “in the flow” where he lost time. And to do that often to give his Monkey Mind some vacation time.
And finally, to the person asking about meditating, I suggested just doing it. Sitting for five minutes, eyes closed, in quiet.
Will any of these folks take my suggestions and put them into action?
I have no idea.
I hope they do.
If it’s important, they will find the time.
I’ll leave you with this quote from Annie Dillard (from her book, The Writing Life, 1989):
“A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time.”
Create a schedule to include the important things in your life. If you’re trying to add something new to your already packed schedule, decide to let something go. Decide to “do” something differently.
If it’s important, you will find the time.
And if you don’t know how, I can help.
Angie