I vividly recall the first month after launching my recruitment business back in 2014, following two decades of office work. My new "office" was the converted TV room downstairs in my house. Each morning at 8:30, I'd dutifully sit at my desk, despite having no clients or prospects. I'd spend hours building my cold-calling list, clinging to the familiar routine.
At 10:30, my laptop clock would signal tea time. I'd trek the few steps to the kitchen, brew a fresh cup of green tea, and return to my desk. Before I knew it, 1 PM would roll around – time for my designated lunch hour. Another quick journey to the kitchen, a hastily made sandwich, and 45 minutes spent outside.
The afternoon brought its own rituals: a mad dash to pick up my son from school (skipping the sacred afternoon tea, of course), then back to my desk until precisely 5 PM. Only then would I allow myself to close the laptop and head upstairs to spend time with my boy.
It took a full month for the realization to hit me: I could go for a walk at 11 if I wanted. I could start later, finish earlier, or even work from the beach if the mood struck. Years of conditioning had ingrained the notion that simply clocking in and out equated to productivity.
This mindset, I realized, was a relic of the Industrial Revolution. Factory workers needed to be on the production line at specific times. Somehow, we've collectively clung to this outdated model, even when it no longer serves us.
One of my personal sanctuaries is a bubble bath. You might find me in one midday, and it doesn't mean I'm not working. More importantly, it shouldn't matter to anyone else how I spend my time. The greatest gift we can give ourselves is the freedom to use our time as we see fit.
I once had a client in sales who epitomized the "busy trap." She'd boast about crisscrossing the country by train to meet clients, building a pipeline worth millions. Three months later, she confessed that none of those leads had closed. We discovered she was keeping herself frantically busy because exhaustion was her only measure of productivity. She'd been wasting time and energy on in-person meetings that could have been easily vetted over the phone.
Take a moment to examine your own habits. How much time do you spend "being busy" to fill a void, quell anxiety, or appear important? What's driving this behavior?
The truth is, we work better when we slow down. I'm not talking about a snail's pace, but rather a mindful approach to work. Pause, think, act – and allow things to flow without force. You might be surprised at how much more you accomplish.
And who knows? You might even find that incorporating a bubble bath into your workday is the key to unlocking your productivity. The gift of time is yours – use it wisely.
Gail x
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