September signals back-to-school for me, where the feeling of excitement about new possibilities is combined with the fear of overwhelm.
What I hear in my head is, “It’s all starting again; can I handle it all?”
I spent time this August leveling up our trainings. By this, I mean I’ve taken a time-out to think about how my trainings can even better address law firm professionals’ needs.
Time management has been my core teaching for 30+ years and incorporated into many of my programs. I would like to share a few tips with you to help you focus on the important things and feel more in control.
- Approach work and life with a growth mindset. When we are learning and growing, we are more engaged. Learning new things doesn’t have to stop because we are no longer in school! What new skills can you acquire? Maybe learn how to use AI? Or are there new professional contacts you want to make inside your firm or at your professional association?
- Instead of adding to your to-do list, what can you remove? Is there a task, personal or professional, that you can outsource or delegate? What’s no longer worth your time or expertise doing?
- How much time do you spend worrying? When I survey participants in my trainings, I often hear 3-4 hours a day! Imagine if, instead of worrying, we spent that time working or on our well-being. If you find yourself future tripping about the state of the world, you may want to stop watching the news or limit time on social media.
Here’s a practical tip: If you’re worried about a work project and find yourself procrastinating, I recommend focusing on Progress over Perfection. Just start writing and you can edit later.
As we launch into the new “school year,” I hope you will take a time-out to eliminate what no longer serves you to free up time for what’s most important to you.