Episode 119: Catching Up
On this week’s episode, Peter and Robyne unpack a topic that many of us can relate to: the pressure to accomplish, complete, and “catch up.” What strategies will help us perform to the best of our abilities? How can we avoid feelings of failure while still rising to meet all that life demands of us? Plus, making sure that time is not just an expenditure but also a reward.
Listen
Show Notes
We cover many topics in this episode, including:
- When taking on a project, try using a barometer of “Does that energize me and elevate me?” or “Does that deplete me?” to help decide whether it’s worth taking on
- It may feel impractical and unrealistic to follow your personal and professional dreams to their end, but if you’re able to take that opportunity, it’s never a waste because there is always important information to be learned
- People with ADHD have a very different relationship with time - a phenomenon called ‘time blindness’ causes an unrealistic perspective of what can be done in a finite amount of time - it can also cause an uneasiness when there is a major task to do later in the day, because it causes them to fear accidentally missing it
- Time management strategies don’t work if you have too much on your plate
- Recognize that when tasks are seasonal or cyclical, you’re most likely setting yourself up for failure to think you will ever ‘get caught up’ on them - they will be back again before you know it
- Similarly, not leaving a realistic amount of time for you to complete a task also leaves you feeling like you’ve failed
- To avoid this persistent feeling of failure, create an ‘open to do list’, and a ‘closed to do list’ - the closed list is your priority, but it only has 3 slots - you can move an open ‘to do’ item to the closed list, but only if there is a slot available. Only when a closed item is completed to a satisfactory level may another open item be added to the closed list. Finishing all three items in a day leaves you feeling accomplished rather than feeling like you’re never getting anything done
- Prioritizing the key tasks that need to be completed in order to accomplish your goal is essential too
- When you're able to stay on top of tasks, reward yourself with time - time with loved ones, time to relax in the morning before starting work, time to do something you enjoy
- The state of decision-making, or ‘cognitive dissonance’, is one of the most uncomfortable cognitive states for people - sometimes it’s better to just make a quick decision and deal with the occasional regret than to sit in cognitive dissonance for too long
Time management strategies don’t work if you have too much on your plate. – Robyne
Additional Resources:
- Deep Work by Cal Newport
- Dr. Robyne’s podcast: Resiliency Redefined
- Time to Connect, co-led by Peter and Dr. Robyne, is an interactive session purposefully designed to unite, recharge, and elevate team cohesion and performance, leaving your people with a renewed sense of unity and resiliency. Click the link to learn more about how Time to Connect can support your team.
- Your Time - Peter and Robyne’s asynchronous learning experience is now available! Please click the link to learn more.
Credits:
Hosted by Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe and Peter Katz
Produced by Trevor Campbell
Edited by Sean Ban Beaton
Theme song by Peter Katz
Podcast cover art by Trevor Campbell
Show logistics by Erin Marshall and Jenna Green
Connect:
Connect with Peter Peterkatz.com | Peterkatzspeaks.com
Connect with Robyne Drrobyne.ca
Follow Peter and Robyne on social media:
Peter Katz: Facebook: @peterkatzmusic | Instagram: @peterkatzmusic | LinkedIn: Peter Katz
Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe: Instagram: @dr_robynehd | LinkedIn: drrobynehd
*The information presented in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional if you require assistance.
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