Along with a declined meeting request, a reader sent me this article. He indicated he was acting on the advice from Elizabeth Grace Saunders and suggested some future dates. Many animal health professionals feel productivity pressure and sometimes forget the importance of prioritizing and finishing. Ms. Saunders suggests these areas to reclaim your desired experiences of time:
- Define what success feels like for you.
- Be honest about “must do” activities.
- Under-schedule your calendar.
- Decline activities and tasks that aren’t aligned.
- Savor the beauty of the everyday.
Source: Harvard Business Review, December 15, 2015.
Make it a rule to have at least 15 minutes between meetings to wrap up your notes, get a drink of water, and have a moment to breathe. Even those few minutes can help you feel good about what you accomplished and leave the office satisfied — instead of feeling overwhelmed by loose ends. Is having 15-minute gaps technically the most efficient? No. But can it be effective at helping you finish tasks and feel like you have space to think? Absolutely. The same principle holds true for blocking out a few hours of uninterrupted time each week to move ahead on a priority project or to exercise.
INSIGHTS – As you make plans for meetings at industry events, this guidance is also valuable. In addition to the 15 minutes breaks between meetings, also take into account the time it takes to navigate from one location to another.