Using Science to Manage My Time
When I worked for an education association a few years back, I heard over and over about the biggest challenge for young people transitioning from school to the workplace: time management. Of course, this is not just a struggle for new entrants.
After finishing Section4’s Productivity & Performance Sprint recently, I would argue that labeling time management as the problem is not specific enough to redirect behavior. What does help? Being clear about who you are, what you ultimately want to achieve, and how you’ll track your progress. In other words, connect everything you’re doing day to day with what means the most to you over a lifetime.
In the two-week sprint, we learned to articulate our ultimate whys — what gives us meaning in life. Most people have a few, such as developing strong relationships with family and friends, building a business or a career, being physically and mentally healthy, having a spiritual practice.
The class culminated with a project to design a new habit, laddering up to an ultimate why. I wanted to adjust my morning habits to lead the day with prayer and exercise as opposed to first checking the latest news on my phone or TV.
Section4’s teachers advise students to begin with what’s core to your identity. You are a meditator, you are a runner, you are a considerate spouse, you are a writer, etc. When your habit is part of who you are, even if you miss a day, or two, or three, you know you’ll return to perform the habit. In my case, I needed to reframe thinking as a news hound to being a fully alert citizen. And build habits that emphasize that identity.
Our teachers’ method for habit design is spelled: Cue, Craving, Response, Reward (CCRR). For me, the cue is waking up each weekday. The craving is why I am doing this. The response delineates exactly where, when, and how long I will engage in prayer, then Pilates. The reward comes in repeating an affirmation each time I perform the habit, underscoring that I am caring for my well-being. Tracking the habit electronically keeps me honest and moving forward by celebrating small wins. Reflecting on progress and setbacks is part of habit formation as well. Two weeks into my habit, I’ve missed just a day of exercise. I slipped to check the news first that same morning.
To maintain a new habit, accountability is just as crucial as identity. We learned that having an accountability partner or group to share successes with and cheerlead us helps cement the habit for the long-term. To this end, Section4 gave students an opportunity to join an accountability group for a few weeks after the sprint ended, providing prompts and office hours via Slack. Understanding how people from different walks of life are shaping and maintaining their habits has been helpful to my growth.
I think everyone would benefit from outlining their ultimate whys and taking this scientific approach to habit formation. It’s time management in action.