Reflection Time: Build it into your schedule to increase your productivity
Your schedule is a key tool to optimize your productivity.
And when you schedule time to reflect you are NOT being unproductive. In fact, you are giving yourself a gift.
We all have the same 24 hours every day of our lives… and what we do with those hours defines who we are, and goes a long way toward determining the quality of our lives. Your productivity always comes down to your time choices, and you make better decisions when you think about them.
two time tips
So if you want to make your time choices wiser, then my #1 time tip it is investing time in advance by adding reflection time to your schedule.
Me Time Tip #2 it is not being critical while you reflect. If you look critically at your choices, you won’t get all the information about what you choose and why. In fact, if you approach this self-critically, you just won’t want to.
Sample questions for you
So when you pause to reflect, consider asking yourself questions like the following:
- What are the goals I am making progress on?
- What do I want to expand on or follow up on?
- What relationships need to be tended to?
- What are the achievements I would like to celebrate?
Make this work for you. Instead of treating them as just another activity for a busy day, try to visualize them as large, comfortable spaces that have room to accommodate all aspects of your life. Even after a few moments of this kind of reflection, you return to your day refreshed, with realigned energies.
Scheduling your reflection time
It is entirely up to you to schedule these gifts for yourself. The most important thing to keep in mind is that this is your chance to decide for you how to make your life work better for you.
How often you schedule reflection points may depend on how satisfied you are with your life. Times of transition or stress may require more frequent adjustments, as you work through time challenges or become familiar with a new landscape.
The time you spend does not have to be long, especially at first. As you get into the habit, you’ll find it so refreshing and useful that you may need to limit your time for reflection.
Some more thoughts…
Prepare your environment to be especially conducive to relaxing and looking inward. Keep touchstones nearby to inspire you and a notepad to record new ideas.
Don’t fall into the trap of rationalizing that you don’t have time to do this. Remember that your time is precious, unrepeatable and finite. So the best way to refine your time choices is to build regular “reflecting points” into the rhythm of your life. There is no greater gift you can give yourself than to live in a way that is consistent with your deepest values.