Set aside to do work that is important but not urgent.
In his book The 7 Habits of Highly-Effective People, Stephen Covey gives excellent advice for rejuvenation.
He suggests we divide our work into four quadrants and then spend more time in Quadrant II doing work that is important but not urgent.
The urgency of our fast-paced lives often demands that we spend time in Quadrant I doing work that is both important and urgent. We are thereby tempted to procrastinate doing important work that does not scream for immediate attention because it is not urgent.
The work we do in Quadrant II will vary from person to person. For me, work that is important but not urgent includes physical exercise, journaling, project planning and reading.
I set aside two hours every Tuesday morning. I mark “Q-II time” on my calendar. I usually spend this time at my favorite table in a local coffee shop. There I have wi-fi access, but I deliberately turn away from digital distractions because they pull me back into the world of the urgent. Just for two hours, I want to remain there in my private sanctuary where I can get away from the bustle that awaits.
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This idea was originally created as part of the Rejuvenation Project, a month-long challenge to find one actionable idea per day that could help me to 1) keep my batteries charged, 2) remain focused on career priorities and 3) rejuvenate the creative spirit.
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