A day late...

This week I have been driving and driving. The end of the first year is upon us, and I picked up my daughter’s stuff and made the trip home. Per my usual, I stopped for the night on the way up and back. Could I do the 6/7-hour drive in one day? Yes. Is it smart? No. The point is that I do the driving, so I am at my best behind the wheel. To perform at our best, we need downtime to recharge. How many of us do this? Not enough people. Interestingly, I have always been someone who believed in downtime, R&R, or whatever you choose to call it. This time allows are mind and body to relax, release tension/stress, and refill the “gas tank” for peak performance. At the beginning, I have every coaching client do a time diary (see explanation below). When we review the diary, 9 times out of 10, I ask my client, “Where are you in this diary?” I help my clients see the importance of downtime and how it can be beneficial to their work, family, relationships, and life. The next time you have some free time, do something for yourself and you’ll feel recharged instantly.

Time Dairy

For three days, including one weekend day, track your time by the hour or half-hour. Reviewing the diary will show you where your time goes, where you waste time, and how much time you give to your work, family, etc.