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Get up. Start work. End work. Eat dinner. Get a few things done. Sleep. Rinse and repeat. Sometimes it can feel like weeks, months, or even years, fly by without feeling like much has happened. As a time management coach, I help clients make many tasks in life automatic so that they can accomplish more in less time and with less effort. To optimize our efficiency and effectiveness, routine is a necessary part of our lives. The only issue is when youre so systematized that youre not fully experiencing the joy and meaning in your life. Youre just checking things off the list. But what if there could be some simple, accessible ways to slow down the passage of time and fully engage in your life? Im here to offer you good news: There are. With these three simple tricks, you can start to feel like youre experiencing your days instead of speeding through them. Savor the Little Things Lifes simple, everyday moments can be incredibly satisfying, if you let them. But so often, were rushing through an activity or multitasking through it so much so that it simply passes us by. Researchers encourage mindful attention where you take notice of whats happening in familiar experiences to sensitize yourself to the joy they offer. Ive found that some small, intentional choices can make a big difference in my life. One ritual that Ive incorporated when the weather is nice is to sit outside during lunch and eat without doing anything else in particular. This little break to just stop and notice the grass, the trees, the flowers, the birds, and anything else around me helps me to fully experience the beauty of the season. Another choice that Ive made is when I hold my daughter at night before bed to keep my phone away from me. Its not a very long timejust about 10 minutesbefore I lay her down in her crib for the night. Although the time is short, I find its some of the moments that I stop and appreciate the gift of her precious life the most. Shes growing so quickly, and I dont want to miss out on enjoying my daughter because Im doing something else while Im with her or always trying to head on to the next activity. How about you? Is there an area where you could stop multitasking and more fully enjoy the precious moments around you? Sprinkle in Novelty Another way to extend the feeling of time is to sprinkle in dashes of the out-of-the-ordinary that break up your routine. When youre only doing your habits, your brain blends together the experiences from day-to-day. But when you do something distinctive, you experience the novelty effect where your brain has a higher state of attention and stores the experience as a separate and distinct memory. This could look like signing up to attend larger events like going to a new work conference or taking a vacation to explore a different locale. Or you can add in novelty in much smaller ways throughout your weeks to help you feel like life isnt passing by in a blur. On the professional side, small moments of novelty could look like adding in some networking lunches or events where you connect with new people and see new places. Or it could look like learning a new skill that you havent tried your hand at before. Or it could look like setting up your computer at a new coworking space or coffee shop. On the personal side, you could attend a local festival instead of watching Netflix, check out a new restaurant in town instead of going to the place where youre a regular, or try out a new workout class instead of going to the one youve attended for years. Its completely fineand even goodto have routines and do standard things you enjoy. But mixing up your experience every once in a while can help you slow down your subjective experience of time. Is there some novel experience you could insert in your life this week? Stop Trying to Keep Up In a time not so long ago or far away, there were no smartphones, no apps, and no streaming services. And life was well, good. Another way to slow down time is to take away the pressure that just because you could do something that you should. Just because someone you follow posted something doesnt mean you need to read it. Just because some major world event is happening doesnt mean you need to be an expert on it. Just because a new season of a show came out that you like doesnt mean you need to watch it nowor ever. Most of the content created in the world is entirely optional for you to read or consume. Letting go of the need to engage 24/7 can dramatically increase your feeling of being relaxed and like you have more time. In my personal life, Ive placed boundaries on social media use. I dont even have accounts on some social media apps, and for the ones where I do engage, I try to limit myself to a few times a week. When I get the itch to engage more often, I try to pick up a book instead. Its a lot more satisfying to get through a relevant book than to scroll endlessly through a feed. Do you pressure yourself to keep up on content where you dont have an actual responsibility to engage? If so, how could you lower your standards to open up more time and space to just be? A lot of life is routine. Thats not a bad thing. But by trying out these strategies, you can slow down your perception of time and experience deeper satisfaction in the moments.
Category:
E-Commerce
Not long ago, leaders largely steered clear of the rough-and-tumble of politics. They inhabited a culture of impartiality, and for the most part stayed in their lane, rising now and then when called upon to offer observations about their specific sectors. Those times are over. We now live in an era of CEO activism, where shareholders, employees, and consumers expect corporate leaders to take a stand on issues far beyond their core industryissues like immigration, DEI, or gender rights. Whereas before, hardly anyone outside of their industry could pick a chief executives out of a lineup, todays business leaders from Howard Schultz to Bill Gates to Elon Musk are household names, with the ability to influence public discourseand policywith a single tweet. For a business, there are distinct advantages to taking a political stand. At the same time, there is a fine line between brand enhancement and brand destruction. In this climate, how can a leader be transparent about her or his belief system without alienating anyone? Rewards and Risks First, its hard, if not impossible, to reveal your belief system without alienating someone. Its almost a given: audiences and stakeholders these days may demand a political stand, but they can also be thin-skinned and easily offended when they dont agree with that stand. For the leader, the key is to avoid alienating significant portions of the constituencies and stakeholders responsible for the companys ultimate success: shareholders, employees, and consumers. When it comes to affiliating openly with a political figure or party, there can be advantages, such as privileged access and perhaps the ability to favorably influence policy direction. That said, there are also risks. Some of them are obvious: political fortunes are volatile, and public opinion is fickle, both of which can spell trouble for an aligned business. Political leaders have many priorities, and can shift their own positions on a dime, leaving a company that has publicly pledged allegiance with a case of whiplash. They are also prone to scandal, leaving aligned brands exposed to public outrage. Moreover, while there are certainly dangers in speaking out, silence can also have negative consequences in the public eye. Its important to realize that political parties, personalities, even movements come and go. Leaders are in this for the long haul; they should want their company to prosper for more than one election cycle. Recent events demonstrate the power of public opinion. The Trump administrations executive orders against diversity and inclusion initiatives split the business communities. Target rushed to align with the new directives, but Costco remained true to its own DEI stance. As a result, consumers punished Target and rewarded Costco. Staying true to the core Remember that politicians are paid to be politicians. Executives are not. Leaders are paid to ensure a company grows and prospers far into the future. That might mean rubbing elbows with those in power, or even contributing to campaigns, but it does not have to mean selling the soul of your identity, i.e. politicizing the brand or dragging a companys image (along with you) for the sake of a small short-term advantage. Reputations are hard to rebuild, and customers, once lost, are hard to reclaim. While a leaders personal beliefs may inform actions both private and professional, there are a few basic principles that can act as guardrails, providing the freedom to be transparent while preventing the leaders viewpoints and actions from creating conflicts and harming the companys fortunes. 1. Focus on values, not politics Nobody expects an executive and a workforce of thousands to agree on every issue. But a leader can set the tone by emphasizing core organizational values rather than personal political opinions. Companies are strongest when they articulate and consistently adhere to a clear set of valuesregardless of shifting political winds. 2. Tie beliefs to business mission As a leader, you are a steward of your companys missionnot a political spokesperson. If your personal convictions align with your businesss purpose, express them in a way that supports that mission. If they dont, reflect on whether your current role aligns with your values. A CEO thrives when personal belief and business purpose reinforce one another. 3. Build credibility through consistency While political trends are fickle, brand trust is built over time. Consumers reward companies that consistently uphold their stated commitmentswhether to sustainability, product quality, or inclusion. Consistency is credibility. 4. Respect dissent, invite dialogue Foster a culture where respectful disagreement is welcome. Employees should feel safe expressing differing opinions without fear of retaliation. Provide spacesforums, listening sessions, anonymous feedback toolsfor difficult conversations to happen constructively. Diversity of thought is a strength, not a liability. 5. Be strategic If you choose to speak out, do so with intention. Consult your communications team, evaluate stakeholder impact, and conduct a risk-benefit analysis. As Harvard Business Review contributors Aaron Chatterji and Michael W. Toffel advise: Select issues carefully, reflect on the best times and approaches to get involved, consider the potential for backlash, and measure results. Whos doing it right? A number of well-known CEOs have made a point of voicing their beliefs, and have not suffered for it. On the contrary, they have developed a leadership style that manages to be both values-informed and advantageous from a business standpoint. 1. Satya Nadella (Microsoft). Nadella openly discusses empathy and his Hindu faith, speaking often of caring for his son with special needs. He is upfront about his personal values of humility and purpose, but does not impose these upon the firm directly, emphasizing instead organizational culture and customer impact. Under his watch, Microsoft has quadrupled its market capitalization. 2. Dan Schulman (former CEO, PayPal). Schulman has been vocal in support of social justice and economic inclusion, which he links to his personal Jewish ethical values. PayPal pulled out of North Carolina to protest anti-LGBTQ legislation, a move that was criticized by the right but rewarded by stakeholders, with shareholder returns remaining strong. 3. Rose Marcario (former CEO, Patagonia). Markarios Buddhist beliefs and environmental ethics were strongly aligned with Patagonias corporate mission. So when the company sued the Trump administration over its intention to dismantle and sell off national monuments, it mobilized the companys core outdoor audience and strengthened the brand, with increases in both consumer loyalty and profits. 4. Ken Frazier (former CEO, Merck). In 2017, Frazier resigned from President Trumps American Manufacturing Council following the administrations tepid response to the white supremacist marches and ensuing violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. Fraziers action was see as deeply principled, and Mercks shareholder value was not damaged. Other CEOs (UnderArmour, Intel, et al) followed suit, in part because Fraziers action created a public demand for moral leadership. Finding balance In the end, leaders must balance their own need to reveal their personal beliefs with the greater good of the organization. This is both an internal and external journey that requires a high degree of reflection as well as an appreciation for the complexity of the company and its role in both the market and society. Its an extremely challenging time to be a leader, but also an exciting one.
Category:
E-Commerce
One of the best predictors of your happiness at work is whether you have colleagues that you are close with. You dont necessarily need to be friends with your colleaguesthat is, you may not want to hang out with them outside of workbut you do want to have people you feel you can talk with and share your experiences. Unfortunately, many people feel like they dont have anyone at work that they know well at all. Workplaces have gotten more efficient, and so there is less time for people to engage in small talk that solidifies their relationships with others. In addition, even at workplaces where everyone is working on-site, there are still many meetings done via videoconference, so it is hard to connect with your colleagues before or after to say a few words. If youre feeling lonely at work, there are a few things you can do. Make space and time for relationships Developing better relationships with your colleagues may seem like a waste of time, but it isnt. Not only does it help to predict workplace satisfaction, but having close colleagues also helps to build trust. Some amount of trust building involves demonstrating to people that you will carry out tasks that you promised and do your work well. But, a lot of trust is built through relationship development. You tend to trust people you know well. When you let people in on details of your life, youre showing some vulnerability, which also builds trust. Indeed, when you think about it, the people you are closest to in your life are people you share a lot of your life with. They know what you like, what you want, and what you have done. They have shared good times and bad. That sharing influences trust in the workplace as well, and so it is valuable to set aside some time to build your relationships with others. Take some initiative When youre feeling lonely at work, you may also feel rejected by others. You may look around and see other people having conversations and wonder why nobody has talked with you. You might even start to wonder if there is something wrong with you that is preventing other people from wanting to engage with you. Rather than wallowing in the feeling that you dont deserve to be close to your colleagues, do something about it. Invite a colleague for coffee or lunch. Bring in pictures of your kids, pets, plants, or the products of your hobbies. Create chances for people to get to know you better. Over the years, I have collected and built a variety of Lego models. I have brought the finished models to my office, and I display them there. They are there in part because I think they are fun. But, they are also here to generate conversations when people come to my office. It creates a light moment to talk about something unrelated to work that builds my relationship with colleagues. It is a small thing, but I think it has an impact. Build a group For many people, it can be awkward to try to build relationships with one person at a time. If youre socially awkward, you may not want to have sustained conversations but you would still like to feel that youre part of a team. In that case, you might want to find or start a group at work that gets together on occasion around an activity to build a community. Use lunch hours once or twice a month to start a book club or take time before or after the workday to do a volunteer effort. A group that has a common goal is a great way to feel connected to your team. That spirit can feed back on the workplace. Constructing a group like this is different than the traditional team building activity that workplaces often create. Those activities are often forced on a group. They are done once. They may be fun, but they dont create anything sustaining. The groups I am suggesting are intended to persist over time to develop a set of relationships and lay down a collection of memories that ultimately create a more cohesive workplace.
Category:
E-Commerce
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