Time, it is more often our enemy than it is our friend. We fight to have more of it in order to meet deadlines, network, spend time with loved ones, enjoy our successes or just think!
Peter Bregman’s article, What to do when you have no time to think reminds us that making time to think and reflect on our actions allows growth, both personally and professionally. How can we be expected to be successful, manage employees, run a business or a large corporation if we don’t even have time to think? Bregman tells of his experience of walking through 11 hectares of garden to and from his hotel room when in Italy. At first, he found the walk annoying and unnecessary, but as days went on Bregman learned to appreciate the walk, using this time to think, self-reflect, problem solve and develop new ideas.
In our own hectic and fast-paced lives, when can we walk through our own garden (metaphorically or in reality)? Though, there may not be a one-size fits all approach, Bregman outlines outdoor exercise, conversations with friends, writing and even driving as tools to develop our thoughts. Utilising these moments – creating a time and space for this development empowers us to take a step back from situations and look through a different lens. An example of how pro-active one can be, Bregman sets an alarm hourly to evaluate the productivity of the previous hour and weighs up the plan of attack for the following one.
The answer to “why don’t I have time to think?” should be, “I need to make time to just be”. It is clear the busier we get, the less time we have, but if we don’t create the moments for reflection, taking a breath and recharge, who will? Take a walk through the garden, stop, smell the roses and take a deep breath. There are no limitations on how it’s done, whether it be figuratively or literally working out or on the train to and from work – you’re time is precious so using it to be productive and make sense of the world, yourself, your life and work is priceless.
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