Call Your Own Timeouts

We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly - spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order. ~Susan L. Taylor

You always have a timeout left

I remember the night I booked my timeout. I had worked 63 hours that week, and executive leadership at work had reached a new low of nonsense. My lawnmower broke down. My motivation was questionable...for everything. Even my 4 year-old was particularly crabby towards me.


I was needing a timeout. A break.

So late one night, after my entire household was asleep, I booked a timeout.

Now, on paper, the Grand Canyon didn't make much sense. Miles of desert. Very little water. Brutal conditions. Not exactly remote tropical fabulous-ness. However, my mind was pleading for a sense of "off the grid."
Here's the best part: from the second I booked the flight, I found a new pulse that I hadn't felt in awhile. I was recharged...I had something to look forward to. It's always ok to admit that you're in a slump, or even nearing depression (and both of those are certainly good reasons to get away). In my case, I realized that family, fatherhood, and career had completely taken over my priorities list. And, rightly so. That's what they should do. But that didn't make it wrong to revisit individualism again. Perhaps even clear my head and regain focus.

So that's my simple message to you: Find our own timeout...then 'call' it. Maybe even schedule your timeouts. It doesn't have to be something major. It doesn't have to be expensive. Take the time to find some quiet or a passion that you temporarily lost while life and your new priorities crept into schedule. Do something you love. Do something that makes you- you.

Want a simple idea?  Select an upcoming Saturday or Sunday. At 8:00 am, turn off all of your devices...anything with a power button, including cell phones, tablets, computers, and televisions. Now make a list of things you want to accomplish. Mix your list up between productive tasks and mind-clearing activities. See if you can make it 12 hours with all your devices off. Savor the silence. You may or may not realize how many distractions a typical day is capable of bringing...but how many items on your list did you mark off?

Grand Canyon: That's me!

Smaller Scale idea? Take 15 minutes out of everyday where you remove yourself from the chaos and simply collect your thoughts. Write your thoughts down in a journal or blog, especially your genius ideas.
I challenge you to challenge yourself and continue living. If you do it right, you'll find a zest and a zeal to bring back to reality when you're ready to come back. Take a selfie while you're there!

Happy hunting,

Coach Jake

P.S. Ask me how MaximalMe.com Coaching Programs can help your Time Management and scheduling thrive.