Sometimes I fall victim to not giving my own “Type A” quirks enough credit. Until a wildly popular book made me rethink their power.
I finished reading “Atomic Habits” by James Clear today and immediately said out loud, “Well, I could have written that.” A quiet voice in the back of my head whispered (once it was done laughing at me), “Then why didn’t you?”
Hmmm. Good question.
Outside of the practical pieces of 1) not having a relationship with a publisher and 2) it never occurred to me, there is the needling aspect of point 2 – it never occurred to me. And, again, that question. Why didn’t it?
These days I am a master at managing my schedule. I wasn’t always like that. Once upon a time I was constantly late for meetings, unaware appointments were even on my calendar, often failing to eat or take a bathroom break because I was meeting myself coming and going all day every day. Sounds exhausting, right? It was a recipe for disaster, disorganization, and burnout. Not to mention the reputational hit I took for being habitually unprepared and late – it was unfortunately a bit of my (un)professional brand.
Until it wasn’t.
It took a wonderful new manager/coach less that one week of observing my frenetic dance to ask, “How’s this system working out for you?” System? What system? Well, that was exactly her point. She gently suggested I take control and ownership of my time. She introduced me to the simple, powerful technique of time-blocking. Small, simple, impactful. Atomic. Suddenly my entire team knew they could count on Fridays as my day to review all paperwork, contracts, take emergency meetings, and review deadlines for the upcoming week.
That simple win sparked a fire within me that continues to blaze. It might look ridiculous to an outside observer, but I have EVERYTHING on my calendar. Note, I said calendar. Not multiple – just one, and it is the golden source for all things that happen in my life, professionally and personally.
Here’s a snippet of what’s non-negotiable on my daily schedule: 6:00 am wake-up, 6:30 am mediation time, 8:30 am review all appointments and related files for today’s meetings, 11:30 am lunch, 2:00 pm meditate, 4:30 pm close out day, 6:00 pm make dinner, etc.
It might seem silly, but this system keeps me on track and provides the guardrails for my day. I plan my day around these items, while also maintaining organization, balance and calm. I am fully present and prepared throughout my day. That is my new identity.
And this gets to one of the points James Clear makes in his book in terms of identity-based habits vs. outcome-based habits. New identity = new systems and beleifs. And new beliefs drive actions. Like the book states, “tiny changes, remarkable results.”
So, maybe I’m not a spur-of-the-moment person. But I am the person you can count on to show up fully engaged for virtual coffee. or to be on time for Snow Cone Day at my son’s school. I am also the person who won’t try to “squeeze in” a meeting by short-changing another project or appointment. More than anything, when I am with you, I am with you 100%.
I think that’s a pretty atomic outcome.
