Finding the time to think

How to Find the Time to Think?

"The bad news is time flies.  The good news is your the pilot."- Micheal Altshuler 

1. Learn to say "no"- When you feel guilty about saying no, repeat to yourself that your time is exactly that, yours, and you are not wronging anybody by exerting your privilege to employ it as you wish.

2. Delegate- Giving other people work to complete on your behalf is never easy. Not many of us enjoy relinquishing control.  Of course, if you have built a good team, your level of trust in your workers will be higher and consequently delegating will be easier.  

3. Do things right the first time- One reason we have no time to think is that we end up doing whatever we have been working on all over again.  

4. Be a conscientious manager- If you have managerial responsibilities, keep your unit staffed at optimal levels, strive for maximum fairness, do not skimp on communicating, and show a considerate disposition. This will give more time for everybody on your team.

5. Save time with the one-third solution- Think about any of your time consuming activities and see if you are able to cut them back by one third.  

6. Think for lunch and commute thoughtfully- Often lunch and commute time can be the perfect time for thinking.

7. Schedule your daily thinking time- Include fifteen uninterrupted minutes of pure thinking into every weekday. 

8. Think with partners- Although there is no substitute for the thinking we do along, do not forget dialogue. 

9. Turn "waiting time" into "thinking time" - Many people are frustrated when waiting for something, what if instead of resisting waiting, we made it our ally?  Whether you are looking at a long wait or a short wait, you can champ at the bit or relax and welcome the gift of precious time for your personal use. 

10. Now keep a thinking log - Write down the thoughts that you have that are still fresh in your memory from each thinking session.

-  P.M. Forni- The Thinking Life - Chapter 2