Hello Tuesday morning!

When I was rushing between work meetings and projects, I used to fantasize about what 10 am on Tuesday must look like away from the office. Meaning, what does it feel like to have an unstructured day? What happens when I have more control over how I spend my time?

Now here it is — unstructured time. What to do with it? In many ways, I've put more pressure on myself to use my time wisely. I want – and need — time for serendipity, discovery and reflection. They are different. Discovery leads to serendipity — unexpected collision of ideas, people and places. But reflection is necessary too. It way to make sense of the world and yourself — and it's hard.

Notes to my former (or future) office self:

• Distraction is a state of mind. Whether I'm in an office or alone, I'm the gatekeeper of my attention. It's no easier to ignore emails now than before. If anything it's harder. I don’t have the excuse that an emergency, my boss or the customer blew up my day. And I wonder, how often was that true, or just a convenient excuse? Now it's on me. Be disciplined about distraction.
• I need some structure and routine to stay focused. For me, mornings are becoming sacred creative space, when I am most able to write, reflect and express. I'm reminded of the “freedom within a framework” mantra I've found helpful when seeding creative projects. The better the brief — or frame — the more creative the outcome. Meaning it is helpful to set up boundaries, create guidance, define the purpose, mission and desired outcome. Protect time for what's important to you, and make it a habit.