When was the last time you were in time out?

I don't know about you, but it's been a long time since I've been in timeout. I can remember it clearly, I had been lazy and not put the lid back on the paint before taking it back to the shed. As I was walking through the laundry room I tripped and fell and spilled army green paint into the baskets of laundry. When my parents found out, I got a long lecture was sent me to my room to “think about what I'd done”.

Over the past month, I have been reflecting a lot on my childhood while spending time at the hospital with my dad. And it occurred to me that I needed a big timeout. Time out to get a grip on my life, to recoup, to plan for 2024, and to “Think about what I had done” in 2023.

?It occurred to me that I needed a big timeout. Time out to get a grip on my life, to recoup, to plan for 2024, and to “Think about what I had done” in 2023.

The more I started rolling this idea around in my head, I realized that “Time Out” ?might be my perfect word for 2024. I need to take more timeouts. Time to think, time to reflect, time to be present. Time out to focus on the big projects and time out from work to be present with my family.

Time Out for Living in the Moment

A few weekends ago, we finally celebrated Christmas with my family in South Dakota. Our tradition is to get all the kids and grandkids together—at least those who can make it home—and reconnect. There is ALWAYS a big meal, and ALWAYS a pi?ata for the kids (well, this year we almost forgot the pi?ata, but the kids came to the rescue and built one from left over pi?ata parts from last year).

The week prior we had had some snow, and the ranch was covered in a thick layer of white. After lunch, the kids decided to go sledding. My normal behavior would be stay inside and clean up after lunch. But instead, I put myself in “time out,” put my boots and coat on, and went out with them. I basked in the joy they created. I greedily took in every moment, every sound, every feeling. I took each squeal, each laugh, and the beauty of the moment and tucked it away in my heart so that I could pull it out again later and relive the experience.

?I basked in the joy they created. I greedily took in every moment, every sound, every feeling. I took each squeal, each laugh, and the beauty of the moment and tucked it away in my heart so that I could pull it out again later and relive the experience.

As I stood there watching them, I decided to take another time out from being an adult and actually join in the fun and grabbed a sled and gave it a go. I haven't been sledding in over 10 years. But I can promise you it won't be another ten years before I go sledding again!

Is it time for you to take a time out?

As you think about this year, 2024, make sure you're taking a time out. Take time to be present. Take time to be with loved ones. Take time for yourself. And take time to “think about what you’ve done,” as my dad used to say.

Take time to be present. Take time to be with loved ones. Take time for yourself. And take time to “think about what you’ve done,” as my dad used to say.

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Here are ten ways to take a time out in 2024:

1. Time out when you start a new project to define what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and to put time on your calendar to get it done.
2. Time out on each Friday afternoon to plan for the next week so you know what you're doing and you know what's in store. Bonus points if you plan what your meals are for next week. There's one headache you don't need to face every single night.
3. Time out to celebrate accomplishments. What have you done this week? What was a great thing that happened? Celebrate the all the things, large and small that have been good.
4. Time out when you fail. There is a lesson hidden in there, you just sit there until you figure it out. Some of the best teachers in life are our own failures.
5. Time out to be present in your personal life. I spent too many of the years my kids were growing up multitasking while attending their volleyball games and band. Quickly scanning my phone, looking at things I needed to do tomorrow. I also spent too much time at work wondering about what was going on with my kids. Be present in the space that you're in. Whether it's work or home.
6. Take a time out each week to call your parents or a good friend. It's important to have connections. And your spirit will soar because of them.
7. If you're a leader, take time out to celebrate your team and what's happening in their? lives. This past week I was meeting with a client. In addition to being the Chief Nursing Officer she was also responsible for employee engagement. When I asked her the secret to building real engagement with her team, she said, “I always take time to hear my team’s stories.”
8. Take time out each morning to just be. To pause, to take a deep breath, and to set your intention for the day. Bonus tip: Setting intentions can also be incredibly helpful as you prepare for a meeting or call.
9. Take a time out from commitments and meetings. Lots of us join or are asked to join committees and teams and we stay on them for years. At some point, it's best for us and the team to take a time out and step aside and let new people join.
10. And finally, take a time out twice a month to do something just for you. It could be getting a massage, taking a walk in the park, or just getting coffee at your favorite coffee shop. But it's important to have this time alone each month to reground, recenter, and as my dad would say “just sit there and think about what you've done.”

Share Your Reflections

What are three "timeouts" you plan to take in February? How will they help you be more present to the moment and more connected to your self, your family, and your soul? What did you learn when you took some time out to "just sit there and think about what you've done?" Send me a message or let me know in the comments.

Time Out to Vision + Dream

Last November, I led a free training session for leaders to give them the "timeout" they needed to think about what they'd done in 2023, regroup, and get reconnected to what they wanted to pursue in 2024.

The session called "Creating Your 2024 Plan" was the first of five sessions I'm leading to help leaders get this slow down, take their time out, and come back stronger than ever.

To access the "Creating Your 2024 Plan" replay and join us for our next session "Recruiting for Growth" register here: https://leveltenadvisors.com/events/elevate-your-role#register