Simon Tyler

Time seems such a precious commodity. Many expressions are said each day about it. Finding time, save time, not enough time, it’s time for… One might even say we have become obsessed by it. I have caught myself inadvertently using time as a pressure device to get things done (leaving things till the last minute), then changing my physical state because of the lack of it.

Addiction to time manifests itself in us in many ways, when we are addicted, it (time) is managing us. Could any of these be you?

The Clock Watcher
Glancing at clocks, your watch, powering up your mobile phone to check the time, not trusting yourself to actually know the actual time or the elapsed time – this often means you are under a constant tension, waiting to move, this is extremely draining!

The Gap Filler
Looking for gaps in your diary and filling them with meetings. Or worse still knowing there are unallocated gaps and magically existing stuff expands to fill them.

The Fast Mover
But not in a silky athletic way, more frantic, jittery and erratically (this can be linked to you trying to process too much at one TIME).

The Reduced Attention Spanner
Your double thinking, needing to move off to the next thing, so missing the current thing.

The Commitment Avoider
The thought of agreeing to that meeting / workshop / programme just seems ridiculous, ‘where am I going to find the time’ – and before you know it your missing out of enjoyable, fun or developmental opportunities because your still caught in the mix of the small stuff.

I have coached many executives who find themselves playing out one or more of these roles and I have delivered varieties of Time Management training courses over the years and realise almost every time as I coach or facilitate – IT’S NOT ABOUT TIME!

Whilst there are deeper things to work on (with a coach of course) I have noticed the direct link between TIME and SPACE. I’m not introducing Doctor Who here. Instead something much more practical.

The spaces in which you exist have a direct link to the relationship you have with time. Change one and you will magically increase the other.

My challenge to you this week then is – create some space:

• In your schedule – just create a blank, and fill it with nothing
• In your work space – clear your desk; empty a drawer; clear around meeting or seating areas
• In your mind – complete on tasks (mentally if not physically), sit quietly for 10 minutes (see newsletter Pause)
• Find some (physical) space, spend some time there – outdoors, hold your meeting in a room massively too big for the participants, work in a large room on your own
• Become aware of the spaces you are in; explore ways to expand the space around you; shift away from confinement.

You will feel the resistance of your ego wanting to still panic about time as you begin kicking your addiction. Keep going, you’ll be delighted with what shows up.

Keep me informed.