Where do all the hours go in a day? They just seem to fly by, don’t they? When making a career change, or walking through any type of life transition, a daily dose of P, S & B is something that should always be incorporated. So what does P, S & B stand for? (No, it’s not an acronym for a sandwich.)
Years ago, I took a Stephen Covey What Matters Most class. One of the tips offered, and one that I have successfully incorporated into my daily living (for the most part – some days are better than others) is a little thing I add on my calendar called P, S & B. Basically, we should take 5 or 10 minutes at the beginning of each day (or at night before you go to bed if you prefer) to do what Covey called Planning and Solitude. I later added the B into the equation for Brainstorming.
P, S & B is a quick and easy time management tool. Simply ask yourself the following question. “What do I want to accomplish today?” Take into consideration different facets of your life. For example, you could ask what you’d like to accomplish pertaining to your career change and transition, at your current job, in your relationships, physically, spiritually and financially. Also, part of my Balanced 6 approach includes self growth and fun. For me and I’m sure many of you – it’s important to have fun and continue to learn and grow.
Here are 6 tips to help get you started:
1. Schedule your P, S & B at a time that you can be most consistent with on a daily basis. (Recommend first thing in the morning or last thing at night). Honor yourself by keeping the appointment.
2. Review your calendar. Take a look at your change goals. Once you’ve identified what your goals are for that day, estimate how long it will take you to complete each one.
3. Now — get those goals scheduled onto your calendar, and preferably an online scheduler so that you can set alarms/reminders that will prompt you to get moving. (TIP — make sure to also add P, S & B into your calendar at the time you’ve determined is best for you).
4. If you need multiple days to complete specific goals, consider prioritizing your list – A, B and C, and add the future days/time to your calendar.
5. When completing your tasks, turn off your phones and however tempting — don’t look at email. Concentrate all of your efforts and be laser focused on completing the task. If necessary – put up a Do Not Disturb sign, or even bright yellow crime scene tape so that well-meaning interrupters will get the message.
6. Be kind to yourself and celebrate accomplishments – even the smallest ones. Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t get to everything in one day. No judgment, progress not perfection — just carry it over to your list for the next day.
I have come to treasure my P, S & B moments. It’s a great time for quiet reflection, and to ensure that I keep moving forward towards accomplishing my goals. So now that you have a pretty neat time management tool, consider what transitions you want to make, and take 10 minutes to P, S & B it!
If you are serious about making a career change, consider hiring me as your career coach. Schedule a free introductory call today.
May you enjoy career bliss!
Leslie
Leslie Attwooll is a career management expert, a national speaker, and author of Should I Stay Or Update My Resume? Take 5 Lunch Hours To Decide. She helps individuals take control of their professional lives; to identify, assess, decide upon, pursue and secure rewarding jobs they love. As a certified professional coach, a former headhunter, and an employee engagement manager at a Fortune 50 company, Leslie offers a unique perspective on how to successfully manage one’s career. In addition to working with clients individually, she also delivers fun and engaging workshops on career transition, career management, career satisfaction, and job search skills. For more info and to receive Leslie’s FREE career newsletter, go to www.CareerLunchBag.com. Find Leslie on Twitter: @LeslieAttwooll.