For those who have read even a small amount of my material, you find out fast that I am passionate about time.
I guess that is why I am fascinated by the scientific concept of black holes. They are known as regions of spacetime where gravity is so intense that nothing—not even light—can escape. This makes them invisible and detectable only by their gravitational effects on nearby objects. You had me at spacetime, and yes – one of my favorite movies is Interstellar.
Black holes typically form when massive stars collapse under their own gravity after a supernova. As a result, there are distinct properties of a black hole, some measurable and others theoretical that point to a phenomenon where no human being should plan as a destination vacation or holiday.
Analogizing this to our daily lives, I interact with people every week who struggle with staying out of their own time managed black hole. Unlike the natural occurrence in space, people can escape the professional and/or personal cosmic sinkhole they have created.
The core of the black hole where all its mass is concentrated. Singularity is a point of infinite density and zero volume, where the known laws of physics break down.
Too many times (pun intended), people adopt a “first in first out (FIFO)” mentality that places all focus on the last item that comes to their attention. It gets done quickly at the expense of other priorities that get stacked up. Important items get zero attention. At that point, the schedule begins to break down. Excuses can increase and deadlines are missed.
Prevent singularities by carving out dedicated time for the FIFO moments. It’s okay to say, “From 3:30pm to 4pm 3 days a week, I am going to spend addressing any late breaking issues and either solve or create a plan to solve.”
The boundary around a black hole is the event horizon. Once something crosses this boundary, it cannot escape. It’s the “point of no return.”
A last-minute meeting from the boss appears on your calendar during the time you wanted to devote to completing an activity that same boss has asked to get done by the end of the day. You’re at an event horizon, knowing that attending the meeting, the task is not getting done.
In this case, shift the event horizon. Before excepting, state why you had protected this time and what you need to accomplish. Explain what will be impacted by attending. Let the boss be the one who must choose the point of no return. In some cases, the answer could be, “I want both.” At that time, be ready be ready to counter with the singularity example, where the density of the requests will lead to a breakdown in productivity.
I had to do it…I mean we’re talking about time here. 😀
Identify your time opportunities for a more productive and time quality life.
Most black holes rotate, often at extremely high speeds. Rotation causes frame-dragging, where spacetime itself is twisted around the black hole.
When I ask to look at a person’s calendar, I frequently see a lot of white space peppered with meetings – usually sent by someone else. “What happens if someone puts a meeting in that open spot when you have something planned?” The answer, “I go to the meeting and figure out what to so later.”
Being reactive in your calendar planning will get you dragged into the priority of others, twisting up your own plans. Invest time before the week begins and fill the white space. Whether you designate the time as busy (obstructing others from taking it) or placing an activity and arranging the time as free (allowing another to the book that time), you have decided beforehand what is important. You are calendar frame-dragging, twisting your priorities around your needs – allowing for opportunities of negotiation.
Our focus can be disrupted by external factors beyond our control. Interruptions, too much talk and not enough action, and struggling to say no – all can place you in your own time management black hole. Being aware of singularities, shifting the event horizons, and filling the white space on your calendar will help prevent a black hole crushing weight of deadlines and conflicting demands.
David Buck is the author of the book The Time-Optimized Life, coauthor of The Retirement Collective, and owner of Kairos (Time) Management Solutions, LLC. Learn how to apply the concepts of proactively planning and using your time. Take the Time Management Analysis (TMA), the Retirement Time Analysis (RTA), or all the other free resources offered to help bring more quality time into your life.
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