The human mind can only keep track of so much "stuff" before it starts losing its grip. That's the not-so-shocking premise behind Getting Things Done and other similar time-management and personal efficiency books.
How do you work with this understanding in your own life? You can try implementing one of the many wonderful programs and methods out there (of which GTD is probably the best known but certainly not the only choice). You can go "old school" and rely on old-fashioned paper and pen. These are all good first steps, but one of the most powerful changes you can adopt to improve your own personal productivity doesn't require doing anything at all. In fact, it's only when you're not doing anything at all that you're doing it "right"!
Curious? It's true. Taking regular time off away from work, devoted solely to self, is absolutely essential for your continued optimal performance -- and your mental health, too. Whether you call it down-time, me-time, meditation, play, or vegging out, it's crucial for both your productivity level and your peace of mind
Are You Taking a Break or Goofing Off? Why It's All in the Perspective
It's a sad, simple fact of human nature: the more stuff we accumulate on our tasks lists, the more frazzled and unproductive we tend to become. It's like an extension of the chaos principle: whatever we do, the universe around us tends to devolve into chaos unless outside forces put it in check and actively work to reverse the tendency. That's true of the cosmos, and it's true of our minds, too.
Yet what do we make of that old saw that if you want something done, give it to a busy person? That's true as well but there's a point where our returns diminish significantly. The most productive folks among us are the ones who can switch gears quickly. Put another way, those blessed few who seem to thrive on insanely busy schedules but never miss a deadline don't necessarily have a trick up their sleeves -- they just know how to switch from this task to that one seamlessly.
We tend to bring our own negative self-views into the world and project them on others. So if we're feeling particularly powerless, berating ourselves for our lack of movement on a particular issue or goal, we may well look at someone taking a break and see a lazy person. But if we're feeling focused and on top of our game, we might see that same person as engaging in creative rest and admire their ability to decompress.
Here's the funny part, though: By shifting into neutral -- regularly and consistently dedicating a certain period of time for unplugging from the computer, the task list and all obligations, and focusing solely on the self -- we actually improve our ability to switch gears and tasks quickly and efficiently.
It's a matter of perspective, in other words. You can look at your bulging tasks list as a burden or an opportunity. You can choose to embrace your down-time habit as a must for personal health and effectiveness, or you can choose to feel guilty about it, thereby making it just one more thing to kick yourself over.
Regular down-time -- even if it's just a habit of ten or fifteen minutes a day -- will result in a fresher perspective, greater sense of optimism, a balanced and calm mind, and a renewed "can-do" attitude. It also has physical benefits, including lowered blood pressure, reduction of physical stress, and decreased muscular tension. It creates an atmosphere of mindfulness, which in turn allows us to return to our activities with a fresher, keener, more focused sensibility. And that enhances productivity in quite profound ways.
Why It's So Hard for Solo Entrepreneurs to Embrace Down-Time As a Habit
As a marketing consultant and coach, I've observed that many of my solo entrepreneur clients resist this notion of the down-time habit. I suspect it has something to do with the fact that in every sense of the phrase, the business buck stops with us, always. There is no boss or CEO we can look to when things are boiling over. It's all up to us. It's all-too-easy to force ourselves into a constant state of busy-ness, and just as easy to overlook the fact that "busy" does not equal "productive."
For the longest time, I struggled with this concept. Whenever I was faced with an empty few minutes, I'd try to "do" the down-time thing. I'd settle into a comfortably relaxed cross-legged position and meditate. But then my meditating became yet another thing I had to do "right" -- every single day, for thirty minutes, with correct posture, proper breathing, no exceptions.
Then I tried to just "veg out." Surely this was manageable, I thought. Others do this routinely. They sit and watch television. They sit and read. They just sit. But when I tried it, my brain took over like a rageaholic dictator with impotence issues:
"What the hell do you think you're doing, just sitting there? Don't you know there's WORK to be done? Do you honestly think you can AFFORD to just sit there and do NOTHING? When you've got an ebook to write? And clients that need coaching? And projects that need developing? And housework to do? And a child to raise? What about your whole weight loss plan? And your other blog? Or that book you wanted to write about chronic pain? Or the novel you're working on? You think those things are gonna get done with you just sitting there on your brains? LOSER! Get up and WORK!"
I couldn't even allow myself ten measly minutes to unplug and wind down without kicking myself into a whimpering, cowering mess. The guilt was too much.
How to Stop Guilt from Interfering With Your Daily Down-Time
That guilt -- the inner monologue you keep running on endless playback, the one that keeps you from sitting still because you haven't "earned" a break -- is a faulty emotion. I won't say it's useless -- no emotion is useless, if you know where to look. But simply feeling guilty doesn't change anything. It isn't helpful.
We don't need to suss all our emotional crap out at the moment we feel the guilt, though. We could say to ourselves, "OK, self, those are interesting points and I'll look at that later. Right now, though, I'm gonna meditate/nap/read/go for a walk." Instead of worrying the thought over and over in our heads like a little pebble in our hands, why not simply... let it go? For now?
The point is, you can choose. The point is, you can decide to chill out in the moment, and all your stuff -- the worries, the anxieties, the guilt, and that monster-long task list -- will still be there for you to pick up again when you're done.
How to Create the Down-Time Habit (Relatively) Painlessly
If you're ready to embrace the down-time habit, but you're still feeling a bit anxious about "stealing" that time from the other obligations on your lists, consider implementing the following suggestions:
If your children are an issue here, or your significant other, consider sitting down with them and explaining in an age-appropriate way that your new habit will make you a better parent, spouse, worker, whatever.
Set some ground rules with others in your life: this is your time, it's sacrosanct, you're not to be disturbed unless the house is burning, the phones must be quieted, no loud noises, etc. Go over the rules so that everyone's on-board.
Start with small increments at first, if you think guilt will be an issue for you, and then work up to larger chunks of time. Sometimes a ten-minute breather is all we need or can allow ourselves at first. Don't feel guilty that you're not giving yourself a half-hour; instead, be grateful for those ten minutes, and then start to explore extending it a bit at a time.
Schedule your down time just like you would any appointment. Pencilling it in, or creating a digital alarm on your calendar program, somehow makes it more "real" to us and increases the chance we'll take it seriously.
Use your down-time for meditation, prayer, sitting still, daydreaming, journaling -- whatever gives you a sense of renewal and self-reflection. Don't use it for reading or tackling anything on your "self-improvement to-dos" list. This isn't about improving yourself. It's about taking time to recognize that you're already fine, just the way you are. If you need a nap, desperately, then take one, but generally I find it's better to stay conscious and meditative.
If you'd like to explore meditation, a very simple way to start is by simply sitting and observing your breath. When thoughts come -- and they will -- don't get angry or frustrated. Instead, just gently bring your attention back to your breath. Tell yourself those thoughts will still be there when you're done, and always return your focus to the inhale/exhale.
If life intrudes and you "mess up" -- for instance, you can't meditate one day (or five) or can't quite fit in your full allotted down-time -- don't use it as one more thing to make yourself feel guilty over. Simply accept that you're doing the best you can, be gentle with yourself, and resolve to do better tomorrow.
Down-Time Takeaways
To recap:
The down time habit is essential for mental health and productivity, and also benefits you physically by reducing stress symptoms.
You can spend your down time in any way that promotes rest, creativity, and focus on self, rather than self-improvement.
Start with short increments of ten or fifteen minutes; build up as you can from there.
Let your family and others know about your need for down time. Explain how important this is to you and how it will benefit your relationships with them.
Try meditation for a powerful mind-body boost. Start by simply observing your breathing.
By Sheryl Sisk Schelin
Author/Coach -- The Inspired Solo ( http://theinspiredsolo.com )
Looking to ramp up your solo business in 2010? Own a blog that's underperforming? Stymied by social media marketing?
Get the help you need from a marketing coach who only works with solo entrepreneurs to promote their businesses online in totally organic, honest, and authentic ways -- even when on a shoestring budget!
Learn how Sheryl can help you grow and market your own solo professional services firm with inspiration and passion at The Inspired Solo ( http://theinspiredsolo.com/rent-sheryls-brain ).
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