Reclaiming Your Time in an Overbooked, Overscheduled, and Overcommitted World
The first shocking thing I have to share with you is a recent client’s description of a 17-page-to-do list. Even as someone who deals with busy people on a daily basis, this was an eye-opening experience. The back-to-back, relentless stream of meetings left them dehydrated, exhausted, and stuck with a bladder that was set to burst (sorry to get graphic). The second shocking thing I have to share with you is that this isn’t uncommon. Especially in a virtual work culture.
Hustle culture. Work pressure. The “go-getter” mentality. These are all features that people wear as a badge of pride. But they don’t always equate to better results in the long term. Mental Health falls by the wayside, and burnout takes over, decimating efficiency and productivity.
Companies are piling on more responsibilities and expecting leaders to achieve the impossible with limited resources. Self-employed workers and entrepreneurs deal with constant guilt and pressure when it comes to rest, recharge, and relaxation. But here’s the secret - it's not about doing more; it's about doing the right things at the right time and setting boundaries to protect your well-being.
Identify Your Priorities
No matter where you work, you probably have to wear many hats and split priorities. But taking on too much, and trying to do everything, all the time, is going to lead to you dropping the ball – it’s not a question of “if”, it’s a question of when.
Identify your priorities. What is important to you? You can’t answer “everything”, even though it feels like that might be true. If this is too hard, ask what actually matters to you in the long term, for both your personal and professional life. Then, look at what goals are truly tied to those aims. And make some hard decisions – hard decisions are a privilege.
Setting Boundaries: The Art of Saying No
How many times have you agreed to something because you felt guilty for not saying yes? There will always be people asking for your time, and dragging you away from your core priorities. Saying no can be one of the most liberating skills in a leader's toolkit.
Politely decline meetings, projects, or tasks that don't align with your priorities or drain your energy. It isn’t about being a hard ass. It’s about protecting your own well-being and looking out for yourself.
Leverage Your Circadian Rhythm
Your body has its own natural rhythm, known as your circadian rhythm. This rhythm profoundly affects your energy levels throughout the day. Have you ever noticed how you are more productive at certain times? Perhaps you are naturally a morning person, or maybe you generally get hyper-focused late at night. Recognize these patterns, and use them to your advantage.
During your peak energy times, tackle tasks that require focus, creativity, and problem-solving. Save routine or administrative work for your low-energy periods. By optimizing your schedule based on your circadian rhythm, you are working with your body, instead of against it.
Reimagining Success: The 5:00 AM Club Myth
Who else is sick of those billionaire entrepreneurs who boast about how they wake up at 5 a.m. and have a whole day before everyone else? The myth that success is reserved for the early risers needs serious debunking. Some people are early birds, and some are night owls – trying to be one or the other is a losing game. Embrace who you are!
If you naturally wake up with boundless energy to do yoga, write morning pages, and solve world hunger before sunrise, all power to you. But let’s not forget about those after-dark workers who start the most productive hours of their day when everyone else is tucked away in bed with a book. The goal isn’t to “conform to a schedule”. The goal is to live a well-lived life and make an impact that's meaningful to you.
Prioritizing Yourself
Think about the three most important people in your life. Picture them in your head, right now. I’ll wait. Got them? Great.
If one of those people you imagined isn’t yourself, then rethink, and reprioritize. When you are overbooked, overscheduled, and overcommitted, you are playing by the rules of other people.
Busy doesn’t always equal productive. Often, the times when we are most frantic and overcommitted are when we are letting other people dictate what we do – whether that isn’t saying no to meetings, feeling the pressure of getting up early to make the most of the day, or even prioritizing other people’s goals over your own. Prioritize, learn to say no, and play to your own strengths.
Meridith Marshall is the CEO and Founder of Uncharted Way and has seen firsthand how people and organizations can navigate the most difficult of circumstances with clarity and openness to improve employee experience and culture in their workplace. She is an industry-recognized expert in using a data-driven approach, and is an Interaction Associates trained facilitator and certified Co-Active coach.