Why I've ditched time-boxing for feel good circles

I have been a time-boxer for years now - if you saw a picture of my google calendar literally every little square of time would be allocated.

Time-boxing has served me well - helping me plan my weeks, manage my time efficiently and achieve what I set out to.

But for the last week and a half I have ditched this time-honoured and time-managing staple and moved to a new way - something which feels more free-ing and apt for where I am and what I need right now. It's an excellent addition to my intentional week.

Why the shift?

Well, through my intentional week practice, which involves a reflection on what's serving me and what isn't, I realised that time-boxing, whilst efficient, was making me feel boxed in, rushed and frankly, it was adding to my stress levels.

In the crazy pace of modern life, I had often given myself 30 minute slots within the day - to read a key document ahead of a meeting, or to review something someone had sent me for comment.

I was commonly either running over that time limit (making me feel panicked and inadequate) or squeezing the work in by working at pace (making me feel rushed and stressed).

I realised that no one else was doing this to me - I was being my own task master - and (and important part of self-coaching!) that I could change how I approached tackling tasks.

Finding what feels good

I remembered a tip I had gotten a while back from the whacky but inspirational Abraham Hicks (if you haven't come across her google now!). She was answering a questoin from a guy who said he wanted to feel less sluggish about his work and to instead get out of bed excited for what lay ahead.

At the time I was in the process of renovating my houseboat and so I had some significant tasks ahead of me and not all of them were pleasant.

I used her suggested process then, and I'm using it now. This is how it works in case you want to do it too:

• I look at my calendar and work out all the possible tasks I might want or need to do that week - including personal stuff and rest time. Anything I might spend time on during my working days.

• Each task becomes a circle on a page (and I keep adding them during the week as new tasks pop up)

• Then each time I have time ahead of me to choose how to use, I look at my circles and see what I'm drawn to.

• I circle the circle in a nice colour pen and off I embark on that activity, for as long as feels good (impending meetings or deadlines allowing)

• I keep doing this all week

• If there are any tasks I don't achieve I reflect on why, whether they are important and if so I move them into the weeks ahead

What did I find?

When I initially drew those circles I was nervous that I wouldn't get important but unappealing tasks done.

My circles included some things that I didn't think I would ever feel moved to do (eg calling HMRC).

But do you know what? By the end of the week I had circled ie addressed almost every one of my possible tasks. Because for whatever reason, at a certain point, it felt like that task needed to get done and I wanted to do it.

No forcing.

No rushing.

All intention.

All following what felt good.

I slipped up yesterday and went into headless chicken time box mode again. I didn't look at my circles, and I had a horrible day. So today I'm back on track, by which I mean, I'm finding my own path, based on what feels right in each moment.

What about you?

Are you feeling busy busy busy and want to rediscover the joy in your work?

Give FWFG Circles a go! And see a) how it feels and b) what you achieve. Like me, you might be surprised. And c) let me know how you get on!

If you haven't already got it - here's my free guide to starting (and keeping!) a weekly practice of setting intentions and reflecting on your learning. It's the best way I've found yet of being my own anchor and compass as I navigate complex times.

With love,

Becky