ON VALENTINES
Disclaimer: This blog promises not to smother you with hearts, flowers, tips for your loved one or any other such soppiness that we imagine readers of this blog have already had suffice, or a surfeit thereof this week.
This philosopher will, however, draw from saintly inspiration to pass on some Make Me A Plan-style motivation to cheer your mizzly Thursday.
Loving Yourself
You don’t have to take yourself out on a date, but you do need to consciously plan to keep some pleasant, joyful stuff in each day – especially at this time of year. I suggest to clients trying the 20-20-10-10 rule each hour. This isn’t a complex football arrangement, but simply:
20 minutes: On an exciting project/chore that you like
20 minutes: On a subject you’ve been putting off/task you don’t like
10 minutes: Clearing some emails/life admin (this seems less joyless when you’ve achieved a good 20 minutes on that thing you’ve been putting off, plus, be strict and limit yourself to the 10 minutes and don’t get sucked in. You are in control of emails and admin, NOT the other way round)!
10 minutes: Doing absolutely nothing. Breaks are important. Don’t go on your phone. Sit still, lie down if possible, and completely relax.
I realise that some workplaces don’t enable endless breaks, but at least once in the morning and then again in the afternoon, and you’ll come to love these power hour structures and dread a long day less. It’s all about building healthy habits to cultivate a less negative mindset.
Next fortnight, I’ll be writing On Leaps, you’re bound to enjoy this once in a quadrennial edition! Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this subject you’d like me to write about.
In the meantime,
Happy Planning
PS If you want some other free tips for your business life, check out the Working Well blog – out fortnightly on Wednesdays, courtesy of Make Me A Plan’s Productivity Expert, Penny Le Kelly. Browse the latest edition here:
