We are all busy. We lead busy lives. We put more and more into each day. We rush from one thing to another and keep going. But are we failing to make time for one of the most important things – reflection.
I am one of the worst people for filling every minute of the day. In fact, I oversubscribe my day and try to squeeze far too much into each hour. As soon as one thing is finished I set off onto something else or I attempt to do two things at once. It can be quite productive in the short term but I think I am missing out.
My haste to do things means I often forget to factor in some time to reflect. Having the chance to step back from the hustle and bustle can help you to see things more clearly. It is the time to review, learn and develop that we all need to keep moving forwards. So why don’t we take time to reflect?
I think it has a lot to do with me feeling that is not productive time. That it is time somehow wasted. How wrong that is. For taking time out even for five or 10 minutes during the day, or at key times, can clear my mind and ensure I am not disappearing in the fine detail of what I am dealing with. After a tough week, I am taking some time to consider what could have happened differently or what I could improve in future. Reflection is at the heart of this week’s learning. Step back, take stock and then prepare the way forward.
It is a useful lesson for everyone but particularly the communication professional who may be under huge pressure to keep delivering results. Results are important but so is taking time to reflect.
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