Becoming the ringmaster
Does your day often feel out of control?
Is it filled with firefighting, reactive/responsive mode? Feeling like the day is extremely busy and then you're exhausted at the end, looking at the list of things you wanted to do and realising that you've not actually completed anything that was of value to you?
This sadly is very common and this is a great time of year to start thinking about putting protocols in place for when things get busier getting in September.
There is actually a computer game where you can manage a university...
Let's become the ringmaster of the circus…
This was an idea I first heard from Kenneth Zeigler in his book "Organising for Success". You are the ringmaster and as soon as you can step into that mindset, the quicker things can begin to shift. You always have a choice.
Let's consider some little shifts we can do to take back control:
1) Come to work with a realistic idea of what you want to achieve that day. There are all kinds of fancy ways to do this (you can add yourself to the waiting list for the next iteration of Reclaim Your Time if you like) but at its simplest you can just bullet point three things you'd like to get done today when you arrive at the office/desk or on your commute. This might be a combination of a 30 minute writing blast, an annoying admin task and an email crunch. Check in at the end of the day if you did this.
2) The first hour(s) of the day is/are sacred. Use the first hour of the day to get something done that means something to you. I try to do my daily writing crunch at this time, before I do anything else. Before I plan the day (or sometimes if I'm working from home and it's summer, before I even get dressed).
Avoid chit-chatting with colleagues at this time. I'm all for connection with colleagues, but if you're hanging around for ages, getting coffee and talking and getting distracted, it's something to think about
3) Don't start your day with email. And when you do log on, respond to emails by priority, not time. Know who your email VIPs are (your boss, your dissertation students, collaborators, whoever) and scan for those first, alongside any "fires". If you open an email, deal with it then. This is the touch-it-once policy. Reading an email and then thinking you'll deal with it later just creates an open loop in your brain. Schedule send is your friend if you need it. Notifications need to be off, that noise is too compelling and sparks dopamine and cortisol simulataneously.
4) Stop multitasking
Again, apply the touch-it-once policy. Two, three or more tasks open in different tabs creates chaos and flipping between each one, doing this all day long, leaves you feeling unfulfilled at the end of the day
5) Slow the fuck down
The ringmaster's mindset:
1) You are in control. You are the ringmaster
2) Looks for long-term solutions, not sticking plasters.
3) Keeps calm and in control in the face of "fires" (i.e., alarming emails)
4) Sets clear boundaries and is persistent when there's resistance, leads by example in respecting their own time
5) Doesn't play the victim and blame everyone else for their woes
So from this point forward, you're picturing yourself as the ringmaster of your time. The beasts are email, interruptions, knocking on your door, procrastination, perhaps some/all students. Anything like this that is going to take you from having discipline over a chaotic environment.
What one thing could you put into place this week to start becoming the ringmaster?
