I was on an accountability call the other day asking my client whether he was getting intentional downtime, or T3 (time to think). He told me that it’s really hard! I did not relent. Instead, I encouraged him, saying that if he couldn’t take a few hours, then just do 30 minutes to get the flavor of it.
When he asked me if I tried my own T3 technique, I answered, “Bro, I take a full day off like that every month, and I used to do it weekly!” But interestingly, my client also didn’t give in and asked if I had done the 30-minute approach, and he challenged me to do it that week.
I thought that this would be easy! Surprise: It was not. In some ways, it was harder to justify 30 minutes than it was a whole day (what I call the 12-hour day from 6 am to 6 pm).
What I have come to realize is it’s all about planning and building the muscle (discipline) to pull it off and do it regularly.
Here is your simple three-step plan:
Schedule a 30-minute block on your calendar.
Commit to the time you’ve scheduled and leave your phone behind or switch it to airplane mode.
Use the questions below or attached to keep your mind focused on generative things.
What’s made me smile lately?
What’s making me smile less? Why?
What am I being hopeful for?
The payoff is worth it including more energy, creativity, and focus!
By the way, I did painstakingly get in my 30 minutes of T3. I spent my time walking from my office to a small park with a lake. No shoes, grounding time, and I got 3,000 steps in. And yes, my client is progressing with T3 time, too.
And since sitting is the new smoking, I now do at least 30 minutes a day. And I recommend you follow suit!
