Problem
As a manager, you spend a lot of time dealing with distractions. This means that it is rare that you sit at your desk for a long period of uninterrupted time to focus on a single topic. It would be nice but that is the main purpose of your job as a manager.
However, it is sometimes necessary because you too have some tasks to complete that require concentration.
Did you ever get the feeling that even when you have some free time on your schedule, many days fly by without being able to accomplish a single thing of significance?
Because your attention is constantly directed to many topics for small periods of time, it is very hard to switch to concentration mode.
This is also the reason why you are going to feel like checking Youtube, TikTok or Twitter. Because it requires a conscious effort to concentrate all your attention to a single task and make progress on it. It is a lot easier to spend half an hour swiping a screen with entertainment to get the feeling of being “up to date”.
The concept that most people do not realize is that you have a finite amount of energy in the day. As the day goes by, your energy bar is drained to the point where you lack willpower to do anything else.
Scenario
It is 10am, you get out of two meetings. You sit at your desk and check your agenda.
Strangely enough, you have 2 hours of free time before lunch, followed by back to back meetings until 4pm after which you are also free.
You need to call Henry back because he tried calling you yesterday and also need to send an update report to your investors.
Finally, you need to finish your slides presentation for your pitch on Friday.
But... After two meetings, you feel like checking LinkedIn to recharge your battery before addressing another topic.
What should you do?
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