The Power of Free Time
How do the greatest entrepreneurs create a rhythm in their lives that allows for strategic thinking and creative planning? Bill Gates, for example, was known to take extended solo vacations twice a year. No phone, no social events, just time to sit and reflect. This gave him the space to develop a strategy for the next six months of his life and business, and to make big moves instead of just reacting. While it may not be possible for you to take three days to unplug just yet, Hallie and I discuss how you can create some white space in your daily life today. Time to gain clarity, and create a North Star to follow.
Listen to Learn More About Creating White Space Time in Your Life
First, we break down what we mean by creating white space in our lives, and how we are supposed to make time for it alongside our jobs, taking care of kids, pets, spending time with friends, etc. Then, we share our ways of building white space into our daily schedules to help deal with burnout and become more aligned with ourselves. When you spend a little time just planning out how you spend your day and engage in self-inquiry, you get more life back to give in a way that really matters to you.
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Timestamps for our white space time episode:
[4:20] When you spend time in reflection and self-inquiry, emerging layers of depth start to come through. For me, I journal every day about what my goals are for that day, and then I also spend time planning weekly goals, quarterly goals, and annual goals.
[4:56] The daily practice of journaling should really set the stage for showing you if you are on the right track and focused on the right things, or if you have been pulled away.
[7:28] Do you actually have thinking and planning time in your schedule? On some days it might serve you to read and research, while other days may just be sitting in silence. It’s okay to change it up based on where you are. How you spend your time during the white space moments is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
[10:07] What does it mean to just be? A time where you aren’t attached to an outcome or some sort of productivity or achievement. Just being doesn’t mean that you are idle, it just is that you are in the flow where your energy and thoughts are taking you.
[15:31] Where can you look at your schedule and start to carve out 15‒20 minutes of space?
[16:11] Hallie explains why finding white space can help you feel less burnt out. In that time, you are gaining more clarity, which gives you more energy to focus on the things you need to do. As a leader, this can also help you to get your organization rowing in the same direction.
[16:48] To have free time, you may have to give up some things. Maybe it’s some social events, watching TV, or just scrolling through social media. Stop fearing disappointing someone by saying “no.”
[22:06] The pandemic created a time where we slowed it down and found that it actually can feel good to unplug and not have any demands on your time or obligations. It gave us a time to just be, which is something that should be encouraged rather than forgotten.
[25:52] Try this: The next time you have a few minutes free, take time to just be. Stop yourself from checking your phone. Take just a few minutes each day over the course of a week to plan your days, set your intention, and then just see what shows up. Build in more time as you can.
