Oct 29 2008
Take the Simply Fearless Focus Challenge {there are prizes!}
Argh. I can’t find my camera cord to download my photos. It’s true. Right now I have stuff spread out all over the place because I’m in transition. I’m in the process of moving my office back to my home. I feel really good about the move. I don’t feel good about having stuff in two different places and not knowing where everything is.
Okay, so what are you willing to let go of?
I’m willing to let go of uploading my photos right now.
And what are you willing to embrace?
I’m willing to trust that I will find the camera cord in perfect timing. In fact, come to think of it, not uploading my photos right now and not using a photo with this post will save me quite a chunk of time, which is in complete alignment with the Simply Fearless Focus Challenge I’m taking.
What is the Simply Fearless Focus Challenge?
Oh, I’m so glad you asked! Recently, I realized that part of how I get in my own way is by not using my time effectively. Instead of moving right into a new structure to help me get focused, I decided to engage in an awareness practice so that I could learn more about myself and my relationship with time. So here’s how it works:
I created a spreadsheet that lists all of my waking hours in half an hour increments (i.e. 6 – 6:30, 6:30 – 7, etc.) For each half an hour I write down how I used the time. The overall goal is to go from using my time to investing my time wisely. But, before I can do that I need to get a clear picture about where I’m at – otherwise, I could inadvertently run circles around myself.
After I began the Simply Fearless Focus Challenge I realized that at various points throughout the day I would come up with ideas or remember things that I wanted to do. So I added another column I titled “Wish List” on the right hand side of the page. I call it a Wish List because there are always more things that I’d like to do than are humanly possible. The list is created with the understanding and intention that some things will get done and some things won’t. At the beginning of a new day, I look at the previous Wish List and I strike through any items that didn’t get done. If I still want to do that item, then I write it on my new Wish List.
Today is day number 3 in the challenge – I plan on doing it for 7 days – and I’ve learned so much. First of all, did you know that if you are awake from 6am through 10pm that there are 32 half an hour increments?! Isn’t that so cool?! I used to think things like, “I don’t have enough time.” Now I know that there is plenty of time in my day and that it simply boils down to how I choose to use it.
After Day 1, I looked at my day and thought, “Yeah! I used my time wisely.” and then I looked at my Wish List and realized that there was still so much more that I wanted to do. And then it hit me: in real life, things take longer than you think they will. Stop telling everyone that you will do things for them and start being more selective about what you commit to.
On Day 2, I learned that during the hour and a half I had open for business development I chose to work on Book Club stuff. I’m avoiding. Okay, lesson noted and now move on (remember this week is only my awareness practice – I don’t have to fix things I’m not happy with).
Today is Day 3, and I’m excited about continuing to learn and sharing my findings with you. If you’re not whole heartedly satisfied with how you are using your time, then why not take the challenge with me? All you have to do is shoot me an email at Cassandra@SimpleWaysCoaching.com and I’ll get ya set up. This includes a half an hour of free personal coaching! In fact, for anyone who takes and completes the challenge, I will publish an interview with you here on Simply Fearless!
