Avoiding the Hamster Wheel

(Time to read: ~ 2 minutes)

I call it the “hamster wheel nightmare”. When I feel that I’m constantly behind. And I run and run and run, but the goal keeps getting further and further away.

Does this feel familiar to you?

I have discovered an amazing simple yet powerful approach that has dramatically minimized my time on the hamster wheel.

How it Works

As soon as I choose to take on a new event or project, I try to take 15 – 30 minutes on that day or the next to set up the project.

There are three steps involved:

1. Set up (a) place to store materials for the project.
   Depending on the project, this may include up to three “locations”:
   – a folder on my computer to hold electronic materials,
   – an email folder / tag for correspondence
   – a hardcopy folder to hold physical materials.
   .
2. Do a quick 5-15 minute planning process outlining
   – The key deliverables I need to produce as part of the project
   – Any key dependencies I have on other people
   – An outline of the steps I think need to take and when I need to take them
   – An estimate of the number and size of “chunks” of time I’ll need to complete the project.
   .
3. Schedule the needed “chunks” of time on my calendar
   At this stage I don’t generally try to outline exactly which tasks will get done in each chunk, unless it is something (like preparing a training course) that I’ve done many times, and so I know exactly what they are.
   .
   In my experience the actual steps in a project and their sequencing tend to evolve rapidly, especially in the early stages of the project, so it’s not worth trying to specify them on my calendar.
   .
   But it is important to make it visible to myself that, by taking on this project, I’ve essentially committed (at least) that amount of my time. Blocking “chunks” on my calendar, even if they later get moved, makes this clear to me.
   .
   One other principle is that I try to schedule most of the “chunks” as soon as they will fit in my calendar, so that if I have underestimated the time required (most of us do), I have a longer runway in which to add in the additional “chunks” and still maintain spacious balance in my life.

Would experimenting with this principle support you to create more spacious balance in your life?

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Would you like help with planning?

For many of us, planning is the most difficult and frequently-avoided task.

It is hard work. We are dealing with lots of unknowns and uncertainty, so it is a task that can easily make us anxious.

Having someone companion us on the journey can help a lot both practically and emotionally – so that the task is much less draining, leaving much more energy and enthusiasm for the “doing”.

And Glenda is a very skilled and experienced planner, who can help make sure no key pieces get overlooked. So you are less likely to experience unpleasant surprises later.

To book a planning support session, click here. You will see information on pricing and timing, and you can book yourself into Glenda’s calendar that works for you.