At work, I am structured and disciplined. I have a to-do list, a calendar full of appointments, goals and priorities, and I accomplish a good mix of short-term urgent items mixed with some longer-term strategic planning.
But often when I think about the weekend, I look at my calendar and if there are no engagements listed, I feel like I have nothing to do. As a result, I am tempted to spend my 48 hours engaging in leisure activities and short-term tasks instead of maximizing the use of my time.
To be sure, rest and relaxation are vitally important, but overall I would be better off if I applied some of that work-related discipline to a bit more of my time off. Beyond the to-do list full of the "stuff of life" errands that are required to run a household, the weekend hours are prime to be used for what Stephen Covey calls Quadrant 2 activities -- important but not urgent. Examples: weekends are a great time for exercise, walking the dogs and general health improvements. Personal development could be enhanced by reading or writing more than I sometimes do. It could be a time for financial strategizing, relationship building, technology experimentation or personal branding. On the weekend, I should spend a bit more time thinking about my future the way I think about my organization's during the week.
For me, it starts with what I put on the list. If it only says "buy shampoo and clean bathrooms", I know I will accomplish that much and cross everything off, but it will give me a false sense of accomplishment.
This weekend, try to make an hour or two productive in the long term sense vs. just busy with short term needs or desires. It may not be as much fun to review your retirement portfolio as it is to take a nap, but in the end, it probably is a good use of that hour. Weekends don't really need to be the end of your best thinking.
-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com
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