Did the beginning of August take you by surprise, where you’re starting to wonder where Summer has gone? If every day is focus day, you’re working too hard!
However, here’s the trouble: If your schedule is anything like mine, you probably don’t have a big block of You Time available—it’s just not practical. So, the trick is to keep self-care a priority but break it down into something that is manageable. We’ll talk about small changes that can have a big impact in the August series, Self-Care, One Step at a Time.
Self-care has gotten a bad rap because some think it is weak or self-centered. But consider this: Doing quality work is almost impossible if you’re exhausted and mentally spent. Suddenly it’s clear why self-care isn’t a nice to have, it’s a must-have. You can use soft skills as a technique to help you wrap up the season refreshed and relaxed.
First, let’s discuss the idea of “prime time,” which you may have heard about for dating. The concept is simple: You gauge someone’s interest with the time given and when. For instance, does your crush make plans for Friday or Saturday early in the week? Blocking that prime time signifies you’re high on their priority list. On the other hand, do they call at the last minute for a quick lunch on Tuesday before rushing back to the office? If you want to get serious, that casual attitude may be a red flag.
Prime time isn’t limited to dating. Let me tell you how a friend transformed his family life with prime time.
Franco rolled his eyes when I asked how his family was doing. “Everyone is well, but my wife just surprised me. Now that the kids are in middle school, she wants to finish her MBA. She’s already booked the classes.”
“That sounds great!” I responded. “What’s the trouble?”
“The timing. The kids are young enough that we don’t want to leave them on their own too long. Constant babysitters are a hassle, so she’s asked me to be home in time for the hand-off. That means leaving at 4:00 twice a week,” Franco sighed.
No wonder Franco was skeptical! He’s one of the best deal-makers I know, with constant meetings, negotiations, and client dinners. So, a hard and fast out two days a week seemed aspirational at best.
However, everything had changed when we caught up after his wife’s graduation. He said, “I would never have believed my staff could adjust to a 4:00 cut-off, but they did. More importantly, I did. The time I’ve had with my kids has worked so well that we’ve decided it’s our new normal.”
Are you like Franco, where it seems self-care needs to wait until you kinda, sorta, maybe have time? Take the step of applying prime time, where you proactively set aside a period to recharge.
Intentionally turning down the stress and tension isn’t self-indulgent—it’s a way to practice the soft skill of productivity. And How do you get there? With tactics like being discerning about what you take on or creative thinking to cut big problems down to size.
Here are seven prime time ideas colleagues are using to recharge:
The clock is ticking on August. So, don’t wait until a pocket of downtime happens. Become a prime time pro and put some fun on your menu!