Wake up, go for a run, eat breakfast, get the kids to school, work for eight, ten or more hours, get home, make dinner, help the kids with homework, shower, go to bed, wake up and repeat. Go, go, go! Maybe we take a moment to catch our breath and curse like mad at time management.
Does this sound familiar? Perhaps you have a similar schedule too and wonder what the heck you can do to slow time down just a bit? Let’s talk about that.
Time management is the problem. At least that’s what we tell ourselves. Mike Vardy says otherwise. “Stop worrying about due dates and start making every day a do day,” he said in his 2013 TEDx Talk. Mike finishes by reminding us that focusing on the quality rather than the quantity makes us happier people.
Shifting the blame onto time management signifies a problem of perspective and not one of time management itself.
Stopping time sounds fantastic but how is that practical?
I’m glad you asked! Breaking apart our day into various types of categories is the first step. I use the following labels: creative work, busy work, homework and play as my categories. By using these labels and applying them to my day, it allows my mind to shift focus from one task to the next without feeling jarred and frazzled.
When I’m at home, I have homework that pertains to family life like washing dishes, doing laundry and preparing meals. Busy work is running errands and my day job. I have the creative work like writing, playing music, etc. The play is just that, a time I enjoy to myself or with others.
I have been experimenting with these groups, and I find that it does help my mind and energy transition into various tasks without feeling attachment or feeling like I am losing the moment.
There is no need to hold on tightly to any task. When it is up, it is up, and then we gently shift our intentions onto the next job. In the end, it allows us to be more present in our daily activities.
Nothing is ever that easy, right?
Just as we gently shift our focus and intention between tasks, we should be gentle with ourselves as we begin to categorize activities and lump them into groups. It is hard work. It is the application of mindfulness, and a supplemental practice is beneficial.
The additional exercise and step two of the process are to practice meditation. In fact, I would add a category to your daily activities for spiritual work. It is essential to set this time aside and differentiate it from the other tasks that you do.
Over time and with meditation practice you begin to see how mindfulness overflows from your categories and pervades the mundane activities of your day like brushing your teeth, getting dressed or drinking a cup of coffee.
I have three challenges for you:
First, to use the categories:
• Creative Work
• Busy Work
• Home Work
• Play
• Spiritual Work
(Feel free to create your labels and groups, these are ones that happen to work for me.)
Once you have five categories, begin applying them to your daily routine. Place them wherever works for you.
Second, I challenge you to take at least five minutes, before you go to bed, to reflect on how you implemented quality over quantity throughout your day. Try this for a week and explore how it feels. This reflection is your meditation practice.
Did you find it easy or difficult? Why, or why not? What kind of emotions or feelings does the practice evoke? How were your experiences with others during the day?
Again be gentle with yourself as this is just an exercise.
The third and final challenge is to share this practice with a friend or family member. Perhaps you can practice together? Or maybe it’s someone who you think could benefit from the method – send them a link to this post! Better yet, join my newsletter!
Quick Recap
- Create your five categories and work them into your daily schedule
- Take five minutes in the evening to reflect on how the categories affect your body, mind, and spirit
- Share this practice with family and friends; practice together!
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Originally appeared on CM.
Photo by Pixabay.