Whenever I talk to people about productivity the one thing I keep hearing is…
“I just don’t have time for everything.”
But here’s the thing. There IS time for everything. You just need to stop fighting the "proactive reactive battle.”
Let me explain…
Most people struggle with time because they only focus on reactive problems. Which means, most people only deal with things that other people or events assigned to them. For example, when somebody comes to you with a request and now you have to deal with it. Or, you get an email about a contract that fell through and it needs your attention… and so on.
There are four triggers - I call them reactive activators - that set you off into reactive mode. And the better you become at avoiding these triggers, the more time you’ll be able to claim back… and be free to focus on things you want to be doing.
Reactive activator number one: Your email.
Tell me, what’s the first thing you do when you get into your office? How do most people start their day?
That’s right, by checking their email…
There’s always something in your inbox that demands your attention...
I mean, you never know. There might be leads coming in, you could have a problem coming in, there might be a funny video or joke coming in. There’s always something in your inbox that demands your attention...
But the worst of all is what’s attached to your email. You know what that is? The internet. And that makes it very easy to let hours slip by.
Reactive activator number two: Your phone.
Think about it. You’re on a constant stand-by for anybody who’s got your number. Because we’ve all got our phones with us 24/7.
Which means, you could be falling into reactive mode at any moment throughout your day. You could get a new listing. You could get a call that a contract has fallen apart, or that something's not going to close... and so on.
Reactive activator number three: Other people.
If you’re in an office surrounded by people, it’s very easy to get caught up in conversations. These could be productive conversations. But they could also be unproductive conversation. Either way, they all set you off into reactive mode.
And last but not least…
Reactive activator number four: Your thoughts.
How many times have you gone into reactive tailspin that started with a simple thought? You start thinking about one thing... and that reminds you of something else... and then you remember, “Oh, I should call Bob…” And then you call Bob and it leads you into, “I’ve got to do this, and this, and that…"
See, these pop-up thoughts happen all the time. And they start so small you don’t even notice them. That’s why, this activator is the hardest to get rid of.
But the good news is, once you’re aware of these triggers, you can start putting safeguards in place to protect yourself against them.
And soon enough, little by little…
You’ll realize you DO have time for everything ;)