Scheduling a meeting and showing up for it doesn’t seem to be high on the list of items one would consider to be difficult. However, what if the meeting is scheduled with yourself?
Time management is something to revisit at least every time one changes jobs or is promoted. One of the times I revisited this topic I was encouraged to throw out my to-do list. I learned that a large part of your to-do list will not get done anyway. As a result, a low-grade tension or stress starts to build because at the end of the day you haven’t gotten through your entire to-do list and so you end up re-writing those items for the next day. Making you feel a little less than.
Instead, use your calendar as your to-do list. Doing this lets you gain clarity about what you can do and what you cannot do because there are only a certain number of hours in a day. Great!
And then it’s you versus you. Following through on what you have written down in your calendar to do.
I have been “writing” a book for 2 years. Recording myself, taking notes, scribbling down chapters. I have had it on my calendar to write and then I have deleted it from my calendar when I have gotten too busy or something has come up with a client. I have cancelled on myself. Well, today I found a new strategy and I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.
Today I have in my calendar time dedicated to write. Today is different though. Today I will not be writing alone. Instead, I have coordinated using Focusmate to have a work partner. I have a meeting with someone else who I will meet for the first time. We will exchange pleasantries, declare what our intention is, and then work silently for 50 minutes.
And already today I thought I wish I hadn’t started this new way of being today.
And the fabulous thing is my meeting is starting in 20 minutes.
