Take 15 to Renew

What is the most important thing you will do in the next seven days? When will it take place? How will you prepare? When you complete it, what, besides relief, will be your response? For most of us, it will be hurry on to the next goal. For others there will be a short gap to clear out the jetsam of emails, calls, and paper that the river of time deposited on you while you focused on the event.

Here is an alternative recommendation after the event is over. Invest fifteen.

  • Take five minutes to savor its completion.
  • Take a second five more to capture its essence. Are you pleased? What was good? What might be improved? Who needs to be thanked? What did you learn? Record a note or two.
  • Take five more just to be present, notice everything around you, and think about right now.

While you’ll be the final judge about the effectiveness of this recommendation, I anticipate that you’ll find that investing fifteen minutes this way will increase your joy and satisfaction plus renew your energy. Time management is not only about climbing the peaks, it’s also about creating space to take in the view.

Author
Karen Eber Davis

Karen Eber Davis Consulting guides executive directors and CEOs to generate the resources, boards, and support they need to make remarkable progress on their missions. As the award-winning thought-leader, advisor, and founding principal of Karen Eber Davis Consulting, Karen helps nonprofit leaders get answers, generate revenue, and grow their mission. Davis is known for her innovation and practicality based on her work with or visits to over 1,000 nonprofit organizations and her experience leading board and team events. She is the author of 7 Nonprofit Income Streams and Let's Raise Nonprofit Millions Together.