Ten Ways … to make
time to think By Robert Ashton
I don’t know about you, but I am finding it increasingly difficult to find time to think. Earlier in my career, before mobile phones and email, it was quite easy to find the time to pause, reflect and plan. But now, with email, phone, Skype and social media messaging, my day can be a cacophony of rings, pings and other digital distractions. Of course you will be quick to tell me that all of these devices
can be switched off, but that’s harder than it might seem. You see I, and I suspect many of you, have developed an irrational fear that to be out of touch for even a moment is to miss out on opportunity. This, irrational fear of losing out can be quite destructive. It can also mean that we never quite find time to think clearly. A head injury four years ago meant I became quite reclusive for a
few months. I stopped going out to network and I cut back dramatically on my use of social media. When earlier this year I had recovered enough to return to the fray, it was as if I’d never been away. People just picked up where they’d left off. And now I am back in the place where morning, noon and night I find myself engaging digitally, rather than thinking creatively. There is mounting evidence that digital overload not only stifles
creativity; it can actually be harmful to your mental health. The simple fact is that we were not designed to be digitally connected every waking moment of the day. So how can you regain control of your time and find the peace and freedom you need to plan ahead. Here are my ten top tips. I’ve tried all of them and at times, each has helped me remain sane.
1. Turn it off - It sounds obvious and is of course far harder than it might appear. We can become addicted to our digital connection. If like me you’re old enough to remember life before social media, it should in theory be easier to switch it off. Try switching it off for an hour when you have that important report to write. Once you get used to making time for specific projects, your next challenge is to make time to just think.
2. Delegate - We all tend to hang on to things long after we could have delegated them to others. Remember that if you have people working with you, it’s a positive part of their development to pick up tasks you pass down. The best leaders are those that seem to delegate almost everything and so always have time to talk when you need them.
3. Say no - I found the recent GDPR exercise very helpful. It forced me to think ‘do I really still need emails from these people.’ I was
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surprised, as I unsubscribed from most, just how much junk I’d been allowing to fill my inbox and waste my time. Saying yes, with a nod or a click is just too easy. Saying no is harder and often takes longer, but gives you more time in the long run.
4. Take a walk - I live and work in the countryside so taking a walk is usually a pleasure. But even in London, I leave time between meetings to walk, rather than use the tube or catch a cab. This gives me time to reflect, think and plan my next meeting. I then arrive ready for action, not five minutes late and flustered.
5. Diary exercise - I log my visits to the gym and bike rides in my diary. Then treat these appointments with myself with the same importance as business meetings. Remember that your own health and wellbeing is every bit as important as work. I find that work is like water, it can flood every waking moment and still spill over the edge. Control the flood and accept that overspill is inevitable.
6. Diary a break – So you might not be a gym bunny, runner or cyclist, but whilst exercise is good for your brain, taking any form of break is equally important. When travelling to meetings I allow time to stop for a coffee along the way. This gives me time to reflect, plan and makes sure I arrive ready for action!
7. Take up music – I bought a piano and starting taking lessons three years ago. Whilst I’ve always listened to music, once you start to learn an instrument you discover a whole new dimension. Taking up a musical instrument, or any other pastime that can take you right away from work, provides useful contrast. Again, put it in your diary and treat it as an important meeting with your soul.
8. Meditate – Meditation can take many forms, with Buddhists and Quakers being particularly skilled at silent reflection and contemplation. But you don’t have to do much more than make time to sit silently for a while each day, with your eyes closed and no distractions. Be surprised by the creative thoughts that can seep into your mind when you move the clutter to one side.
9. Work weekends – This one might be peculiar to me, because I work on my own. I often work on a Saturday, because those likely to distract me are not at work and so do not interrupt my flow. Then I take a day of during the week, switch off my phone and enjoy some quality leisure time when everyone else is at work.
10. Become enigmatic, but never aloof - Finally, there is something to be said for having a reputation for being a little mysterious and enigmatic. If you follow some of the tips above you will not stand out from the crowd, you will just appear a little harder to reach, but better able to help those who do get hold of you. You will have more time for what is important.
Finally remember, as Douglas Adams so succinctly summarized
it: ‘Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so!’ There is no such thing as ‘having no time’ if you put your mind to it.
Comment section is sponsored by Compound Feed Engineering Ltd
www.cfegroup.com
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