How to Make Your Escape Plan.
Are you in a hurry? Are you always busy? Noooo? Seriously now, if you’re not in a hurry, what would you call it? It’s okay, everyone else is.
At least we have company.
I’ll admit to it! Even after five months in the Southwest, I catch myself rushing for no reason. Things operate on “mañana time” out here. Mañana time is “island time’s” first cousin. That’s the best way I’ve found to describe it.
Mañana time takes some getting used to. Although the rest of the world is where the adjusting may be needed.
This constant state of go-go-go, now-now-now, more-more-more is why we are exhausted, stressed, and on edge. Mom called it “cranky.”
These days, we’d better call it cranky on steroids.
So, what’s the answer? Well, I don’t have the answer, but I do have a good start…
A few years ago, I came across a piece by David Leonhardt in the New York Times. The article was simply titled, “You’re Too Busy. You Need a ‘Schultz Hour.’
What the heck is a ‘Schultz Hour’?
The article explains that when George Schultz was Secretary of State, he had a ritual that he lived by known as a ‘Schultz Hour.’ He would close his office door, sit down with pen and paper, clear his mind, then think about ‘big ideas.’
Only his wife or the president were allowed to interrupt him. No exceptions. Now that’s an escape plan!
And you know, I’m thinking he didn’t ask anyone for permission to spend his time this way. What do you think?
Oh, but you’re not the Secretary of State—so what?
I’ve known enough coworkers who managed to disappear for hours at a time without being missed. Maybe they were the ones who had it all figured out?
Even if you don’t have a door to close, there are ways to find an escape from all the scurrying about.
So, how do you go about finding time for your escape?
Here are a few ideas to get you started—you’ll come up with more once you start!
- The first step is to silence that appendage you call a smartphone.
- A good habit to practice that will ultimately help you do this is to start your days “sans tech” for the first ten minutes of your day. Then gradually work up to thirty minutes.
- Make an appointment with yourself by putting your own personal Schultz Hour on your calendar. Repeat after me, “No, 3:00 is already booked. How about 4:00?”
- Even if you work from home, schedule, and take your breaks. Get outside for at least fifteen minutes of fresh air and sunshine. You’ll get a hit of vitamin D as a bonus.
- How long doesn’t matter nearly as much as just starting. If all you can let yourself do in the beginning is ten minutes, then start with ten minutes.
Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism, sums it up simply…
Taking time to escape isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential.”
And you can count on this, time for our personal escapes won’t just show up. We’ve got to work them back into our days and weeks ten or fifteen minutes at a time and go from there.
Be untucked.
p.s. I’d love to hear what big ideas you’ve discovered during your escape. Would you share one in a comment below?
Copyright © 2021 Jeff Meister – All Rights Reserved
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