Episode 38: [Replay] Throw away your 'busy badge!'

High Wire Woman with Rosanna Berardi

Hello HWW - Enjoy this replay of a favorite episode reminding us to remove our busy badge and start living life fully.

It’s the first week of December, and we’ve officially entered the “busy” season. I’m not talking about tax season for accountants. I’m talking about the holidays, which is the crazy, busy, madness season for all working women. Think of the last time you asked a friend or colleague “how are you doing?” I guarantee all of them responded “busy” or “busy, busy” or “crazy busy.” We wear this badge like a medal of honor. It protects us from all of the things we don’t want to do in life.

But I challenge you to think about what wearing your “busy badge” really does to your life? I’ll go first. When I say I’m “busy,” that’s a signal to leave me alone because I’m disorganized and don’t have a grasp on what needs to be done in my personal and professional life. I go from one thing to the next, putting out the hottest fire, responding to the client who is screaming loudest. I don’t have a plan on my “busy” days. I’m a hot mess.

Sound familiar? Us “busy” ladies go through our lives this way. We teach our kids that their lives will be like this too. Wait—what? Do you want your kid to live your life? Especially on your worst days, when you have too much to do and not enough hours? I certainly don’t.

In 2021, I am throwing my “busy badge” away. Flushing it down the toilet, where it belongs. I’ve been researching time efficiency methods over the last few months and think they are my ticket to freedom. Here’s a few I like:

1. OHIO—this stands for “Only Handle it Once.” This nifty acronym can apply to your personal life (your mail or laundry) or your in-box. Stop reading the same emails over and over. Instead, block 20 minutes on your calendar to read and RESPOND to emails. Read and respond…ONCE. If you do this cumulatively, you will get back a lot of time and feel way more in control of your life.

2. Pomodoro technique—this is an oldy, but goody. The concept is we can only effectively focus for 25 minutes at a time. The Pomodoro technique encourages us to set a timer for 25 minutes and devote our attention to a project. It then recommends taking a five-minute break. Depending on the task at hand, you can get an alarm for a series of focus times and breaks. There are plenty of apps that mimic this concept. Try it—it really works.

3. Time blocking—this one is HUGE! As lawyers, we have a lot of responsibilities each week. Meetings, conf calls, emails, drafting, marketing. It’s tough stuff to get accomplished. However, I recommend two ways to time block:

a. Weekly: on Sunday night, spend 10-15 minutes and look at your week ahead. Enter all of your “musts” in your calendar as appointments. Please include time for getting your nails and hair done! Block out your client appointments, calls, etc.

b. Daily: look for gaps in each day. Or pick a day or two that you will only work on drafting or client correspondence. If you have the flexibility, make every Monday or Wednesday am your drafting days. Block 25 minutes each day for emails.

These ideas aren't brain surgery. They are simple and basic techniques. However, they work. Just like we know that if we want to lose weight, we need to eat less and move more. Not that complex. But few of us ever accomplish our weight goals because we don’t have a plan. Spend a few minutes every day and time block. Time block as if your life depends on it.

Being “busy” wasn’t your life or career goal. Rather, you were put on this earth to do meaningful work. Try some of my recommendations and let me know when your “busy badge” start to collect dust.

RB