I'm writing a series of articles on tools that have been tested by me as a leader, change-maker, mother and entrepreneur. I promise it's a quick, simple, effective, and even inspires beautiful transformations, if you commit to practising them daily or as often as possible.
💡THE (REAL) PROBLEM OF LACK OF TIME
As a changemaker, I bet your life feels like a perpetual race against the clock.
Finding time to:
keep up to date with sustainability related news, issues and solutions,
Answer emails and support teams.
Add value by offering innovative and sustainable solutions, even if your colleagues contact you at the last minute.
Support operational staff who are working hard to change the way they produce and consume.
Offer a sympathetic and motivating ear to your teams.
Respond quickly and effectively to your boss.
Take the time to propose a vision that's a little more ambitious than the current one.
Manage all your personal life: the children's doctor's appointments, the household products to buy, the next dinner with friends, answering Mom's text messages.
That's not counting the sport you'd like to fit in somewhere or the book that's been waiting in your bag for weeks.
You're probably getting dizzy just reading this, aren't you?
But doesn't that sound a bit like your everyday life?
So here goes, hang on, the real problem isn't lack of time.
I SWEAR.
I too would have preferred to complain about the lack of time.
The real problem is the continual rush.
Not having a minute to yourself.
It's the 'never enough' inner thought.
The wish for ‘always more’.
That's right.
By trying to save time to do everything right, you and I end up like hamsters in our wheels.
It's a twofold problem:
This pace exhausts us and leads to an explosion or implosion.
This pace pushes away the people around us who might want to get involved.
🔍 THE TOOL: THE NUMBER 1 ANTIDOTE TO THE LACK OF TIME
So what's the solution?
It's quite simple. Yet it's often ignored.
It's ...
THE BREAK.
I can already see you screaming: "is she serious? I don't have time and she wants me to take a break! "
I know. It's hard.
But honestly, have you ever tried to remain a loving, smiling, smart, efficient, generous person without sleeping for several nights in a row?
If you've had children, you know what I mean.
If you've had periods of insomnia, you know what I mean too.
Personally, I've had both :)
So I know it in my heart, and you know it in yours...
To be in shape, we need to sleep.
To make an impact and have sufficient time, we need to take a break.
Period.
And it's the same for society.
If we want to limit global warming, avoid famine and mass migration, we urgently need to slow down.
It's difficult, but vital.
Change is essential if we want to live in a world where life reigns supreme.
And change starts within ourselves ...
🐝 YOUR CHALLENGE TO DO MORE AND BETTER OVER TIME
Hopefully, if you're still reading this post (thanks by the way), you're thinking something like, "Okay, but how do I do it?"
I suggest you take 10 minutes for yourself every day.
In the morning (ideally), at lunchtime or in the evening.
10 minutes just for you.
A time WITHOUT screens, without washing the dishes, without going over the to-do list.
A time when you can do what makes you happy:
Breathe (cardiac coherence)
Lie down
Write
Read
Draw
Walk
Dance to music you like
MY EXPERIENCE
In what felt like my 10,000 hour-days, the best way to regain clarity and energy was to lie down (or sit down if I was at the office) after lunch, set an alarm, close my eyes and breathe, focusing on my breath or even letting myself doze off.
And I promise you, on the word of a demanding multi-tasker, it works.
I started in Japan over 6 years ago.
At the time I was in a very challenging period of my life in many ways.
This ritual was the gateway to producing effectual changes with multiple impacts.
So yes, taking care of yourself is THE best way to take care of others and the world.
And frankly, 10 minutes out of 24 hours, it is possible. Even if it means getting up 10 minutes earlier!
Following a programme that addressed this point, I recently realised that this tool had become a habit. I've still got a long way to go and I often see myself falling into the trap of optimising my time and making long to-do lists. But progress is being made.
So thank you to Hélène Bonhomme for this valuable reminder and sharing! And congrats for your inspiring work!
“So ... will you accept the dare?”
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Bonjour à toi acteur, actrice du changement !
Hi Changemakers!
I am Nina, an impact maker coach, specializing in leadership and sustainable transformation.
I have spent the past 10+ years leading sustainable change in a Fortune 500 organization in a multicultural environment. What I like to do through my activities is to inspire organizations professionals to rethink the business and make them proud to contribute, in their own way, to a more sustainable, human, and nature-friendly world. If you wish to be supported to progress on your journey with multiplied impact and ease, contact me!