I have filled in timesheet for every single week for more than a decade as a best practice working in a big4. You have to do this task else it will reflect in your performance cycle…it became a habit.

When I look back I notice that though I had a record of my activities, I was always running against time. There was always everything that was needed ‘yesterday’ and slowing down was not an option. And hence my relationship with time looked like…

Stealing time for a sit-down chai,

Protecting time for exercise,

Finding right time for dinner, to meet a friend…

But, it eluded me… my calendar was at siege.

The learning’s that I implement today is improving my relationship with time.

• Not recording time but utilizing every hour in a manner that is most appropriate for me and my work
• Planning downtime – it’s good. It allows you to rejuvenate, recharge, replenish. I am deliberate about planning down time
• Stop negotiating time and allowing it to lead me on a few days
• Living in the time rather than running through it

It comes at a cost. Time is a currency that I choose to spend wisely, after all, I am wired to do that as a consultant!

What is your relationship with time? How do you view it? Are you creating time to do what you want to do or filling it in with tasks to be busy?

I will be happy to hear from you on your ideas about what can help in building a better relationship with time. What behaviours would you like to offset in your personal and professional life. Write at connect@thetalentalchemy.com