Time to think
From the moment I start my work day I am on the go, working across multiple time zones means my day starts early. At times I go from meeting to meeting, which is exhausting as my brain never gets time to actually process the events of the previous meetings before I enter the next meeting. The pandemic didn’t really help that with online meetings, but it has continued into the post-pandemic world. I have now instituted a few rules for my work calendar.
- No meetings back to back.
- No meetings on a Friday
- I take one hour a day for thinking.
- No meetings at lunch time.
- No agenda - no attendance.
- Ask before putting something in my diary.
No meetings back to back
Having one meeting after another is pointless. Yes there are specific situations that it might be good to have them but there is no benefit to you or your colleagues. You can’t focus after your 4th one and you brain needs time to process the actual content and conversation you had in the previous meeting let alone the previous three. Plus you need time for the human functions of eating and drinking and comfort. I have at least 30 mins between meetings but I prefer 60.
Meeting free Friday
Try it. I started doing it a few years ago and it clears up an entire day to catch up, think, delete emails or something that you have been meaning to do for a while. That is not to say you can’t have that meeting that is imperative it is also an interesting conversation starter with your colleagues.
60 minutes of thinking
This is actually the whole point of what I am getting to here. I started this week blocking out one hour for thinking. It has elevated my day being able to stop for an hour. Let my mind wander or tackle a complex problem that I need time to read into more. I set my do not disturb and even walk away from my computer and desk. Doing nothing also helps the mind come up with innovative ideas or solutions.