TIME MGT-
Module 8
         Module Eight: Setting a Ritual Rituals are powerful in motivating, disciplining, and providing focus for individuals. For most people, the word “ritual” typically evokes an image of a repetitive life, with every moment controlled and managed, and no room for spontaneity. Rituals and routines, however, can actually help increase the spontaneity and fun in your life. Since routine tasks are already planned for, you have more energy to spend on the tasks that will bring you closer to your goals and bring more joy to your life. What is a Ritual? A ritual is a practice of behavior that is regularly followed by an individual in a set manner. Rituals are favorable to help you form your daily rhythm, and create timely patterns. When your current needs shift, it is important to shift and rebalance your rituals as well.  In fact, you can build any type of ritual in three easy steps. 
·       Identify the Task. Let’s say you want to build an exercise ritual. 
·       Identify the Time and/or Trigger. For example, perhaps you normally exercise right after work. 
·       Identify the Sub-Tasks. For you, perhaps your ritual involves going to the gym, getting changed, stretching, doing 45 minutes on the treadmill, performing three reps of weights, and doing a lap around the pool to finish things off. Then, you shower and go home. Remember, a ritual shouldn’t be set in stone. Once you establish a ritual, it can be modified at any point in time, depending on what works for you. Rituals play an important role in your daily clockwork.
Morning Rituals The best way to set yourself up for a day of productivity and success, is to adapt to morning rituals. Morning rituals will allow you to begin your day in an organized manner, and gain control of time before the hustle of a busy day. When we start the day with a fresh perspective as well as positive manner, we are able to secure better focus on what is in front of us and plan accordingly.  Not everyone will follow the same morning rituals. It is important to establish which morning rituals work best for you, and stick to these rituals. Remember to give yourself enough time in the morning- never start your day in a rush! Some examples of morning rituals that will successfully influence the day ahead, include: Eating a nutritious breakfast Morning meditation Exercise Reading Prioritizing your tasks for the day

NIGHTLY RITUALS

Similar to how morning rituals will help to secure focus on what is in front of us, nightly rituals will do the same. Nightly rituals should include reflecting on the achievements from the day, and thus provide encouragement for the days to follow. These rituals allow you to decompress, as well as train your brain that it is time to rest. Adequate rest is essential to maintain peak focus and performance levels. 


Establish a ritual for half an hour before you sleep. Here are some examples of nightly rituals that will benefit your sleep schedule, and set you up for success.

Filling out your productivity journal for the next day

Light reading

Meditation

Journaling

Taking a warm bath

Enjoying a cup of tea 

To ensure that your next morning will run smoothly, it is best to organize any work-related material the night before. This includes preparing snacks or lunches, and laying out an outfit. 

EXAMPLE RITUALS 

Rituals are meaningful. They allow for a sense of control and security, and help us to focus on what is most important. Rituals are powerful in conquering recurrent challenges throughout the day, and managing time.  Here are some rituals that many people find helpful in maximizing their time:

Take a half hour each weekend to plan meals for the next week, including lunches and suppers. Then, make a grocery list and get everything you will need. Appliances like slow cookers and delayed-start ovens can also help you make sure supper is ready when you are.

Try to exercise for one hour three times a week, or half an hour each day. One easy way is to go for a brisk walk at lunch, or do yoga in the morning before work.

Instead of checking email, news, and websites throughout the day, set aside one or several periods (for example, morning, noon, and at the end of the day). Then, batch and sequence your activities (for example, e-mail, news, and Facebook). You can batch many types of tasks in this way for maximum efficiency. 

Set up a system for maintaining your Productivity Journal. This can be as simple as ten minutes in the morning to update the day’s list, ten minutes at noon to update what you have already done, and ten minutes at day’s end to evaluate today and create a starting list for tomorrow.


PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATION

Linda found that whenever she had a few spare minutes at work, she would go to check her email, look at Facebook, and check out new sites.  However, while she had planned to only look at these websites for a few minutes, sometimes she would lose track of time. She needed a way to maximize her time without losing track of time on websites.

Linda decided to set up several time periods throughout the day when she would check work sites, like her work email and work calendar, and personal sites, like Facebook and news sites.  She checked them first thing in the morning, at noon, and at the end of the day.  Once Linda got into the ritual of checking these sites only three times a day, she found that she used her time more wisely and accomplished much more throughout her day.


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