Wasted Time, or Was It?

It seems like every time I finally have some free time, I end up wasting it. I had the house all to myself Saturday, a rare thing lately with two college kids home for the summer.?

?I started with good intentions, vowing to do some work on my business, exercise, and do some continuing medical education reading.? I even had a timeline in my head for each thing.? But then, somewhere along the way, I got sidetracked. I started deep cleaning the kitchen. Then I vacuumed, then I took a break and started poking around online, and before I knew it, hours had gone by.

?It's frustrating when I feel like I'm falling behind or not accomplishing anything. Why can't I just stay focused and make the most of my free time? Is it simply a matter of self-discipline? Or is there something more at play??

Maybe it's a defense mechanism, a way of avoiding difficult tasks by distracting myself with meaningless activities.? And, while Marie Kondo’ing my closet is not exactly meaningless,? it’s certainly not what I had intended to do.

But then something in my mind told me- “It’s okay. You need the mental break. You can do those MOC articles another day. Do your workout.” So I did the workout, and I felt better.?

We've all been there - stuck in a seemingly endless loop of scrolling, clicking, refreshing or, like me, finding any number of things to do around the house. Or we tell ourselves that we'll just take a quick break, but somehow an hour has passed and we're no closer to getting anything done.

It can be hard to break the cycle of wasted time, but it's important to remember that SOMETIMES wasting time is a way to calm our brain’s overdrive.??

That being said,? what are some things that we can do instead of wasting time? (of course, “wasting” time is a judgment…If my brain needs a reboot, who’s to say it’s time wasted? )?

But I digress.?

First, we can try to be more mindful of how we're spending our time. This means becoming aware of when we're starting to mindlessly do something we hadn’t intended to do,? and making a conscious decision to get back to the task at hand.?

Second, we can make sure that we're using our time wisely by setting some time goals and limits for ourselves.? Then, when you’ve hit the goal, or the timer goes off,? take a break. Whether it's reading for 15 minutes, or walking around the block, taking some time for ourselves at certain intervals can help us feel more productive and motivated. Then you can get back to your intended work.?

Finally, we can try to cut down on distractions by turning off notifications, or better yet,? putting away our phones. While it's not always easy to break bad habits, remember that there are always ways to organize our time so it doesn’t seem wasted.?

?So next time you find yourself wasting time, take a step back and ask yourself if this is what your brain needs, or do you need to get back on track?? Then try one of these three things instead.?

With the extra time you’ve gained, try spending more time in nature or with loved ones.

Are you a woman physician who needs some help with time management, prioritizing, or setting boundaries?? Coaching can help.? Reach out for a discovery call with me!?