Haven’t you also had the impression that every moment of your time is spoken for? Not only your working hours, but your private time, as well? Easter, Whitsuntide, Christmas? Family get-togethers—at least Easter and Christmas. Weekends? Run errands. Take care of something that wasn’t finished during the week. Take the kids to their sports, you to your sports. The garden is waiting, too. A few light bulbs need changing. Pay bills online. Do a few things that you’ve volunteered for. If that sounds familiar, you’re in the best of company.
In my speeches about self-management, I have argued for planning some downtime. That is to say, downtime is by no means something objectionable. By “downtime,” I mean giving yourself the freedom to set aside a certain amount of time to do nothing, or to do something unscheduled, something that appeals to you. It sounds paradoxical, but it shouldn’t. See it as a protected time slot, defended against any and all intruders, in which you can do what you wish. Ideally, planned downtime should also include your partner. Try it sometime. Exciting dialog, insights, moments could arise as a result. One rule of the game: The reasonableness of doing this will be under-appreciated
© 2014, Prof. Dr. Guido Quelle, Mandat Consulting Group, Dortmund, London, New York. All rights reserved.
