It takes courage to make the claim that this is the ONE must-do thing to do in December that will help you be where you want to be in 2012. But we know it works.
What’s more, it’s EASY to do and based on scientific research. And we proved it on our holidays.
So does that give you a clue?
Let’s go back a step first.
A year ago we read about a bunch of neuroscientists who spent a week in an e-less (no access to email or mobile phones) region of Utah hiking and kayaking. More to the point, they were there to examine what happened when always-connected people stepped away from their devices and rested their brains. They believed that looking at how attention, memory and learning were affected when we ‘escaped’ the gadgets was important science.
We decided that if it was good enough for the scientists, we might as well have some of that, too. So during our holidays this year it was important for us to look at the effects of our break on our thinking and attention when we returned to work. We admit that we both struggled and did do some work. But we had at least a week without work, resting our brains by enjoying the activities of our chosen holiday spots, whether kayaking and snorkelling in Thailand or exploring the food and wine of Tuscan hill towns.
So this is what we found.
When we really turned off (all our e-stuff, that is!) and relaxed, we returned with better ideas, plans—and our usual big thing—focus. It was more than a refreshing break!
The scientists talked about the ‘three-day effect’. Check out their story in the New York Times here.
Better still, write your own story this December. Most people have time off sometime this month so make sure you do. Give yourself three clear days without having to answer work emails or phone calls or do anything work-related. It works for any Time Management Styles.
For real impact, before you start those three days, write down the main thing you want to achieve in each of the areas of your life in 2012. Then forget it—for at least your holidays. Next, listen to the ideas that start bubbling up to answer how you’ll achieve those goals. For some people, they get great ideas in the shower or when they wake up. With this more focused practice, it’s like a holiday bonus!
*** We’d love to hear your stories and we’re offering a 45-minute coaching session as a prize for the best ‘bubble up’ story–think of it as a relaxation response. Please send them to us at contactus@timemattersnow.com by January 13, 2012.
All the best for some great ideas for 2012!
