Putting in Pockets — 10 Tips

First, a definition: “Pockets” are the difference between calm and crazed. You can determine how much of your life is your work and how much of your work is your life. What pockets do you need to strike the right balance? Put one or more of these tips into play:

1. Decide on all dinners at the beginning of the week. It’s a relief not to have to worry and wonder about what you’re having or fixing for dinner during your school day. On Saturday or Sunday, decide exactly what each dinner meal for the upcoming week will be. Put it on your refrigerator or in your planner. Shop or delegate accordingly.
2. Distinguish between urgent and important. Stephen Covey has brought the Eisenhower Matrix to widespread attention. There are parts of your life and your work that are both urgent and important, parts that are one or the other, and parts that are neither. Focus on what’s important, including that which is urgent and important. Chuck the rest. Read 4000 Weeks if you haven’t already.
3. Spend time with people who aren’t in the same field or discipline as you. Regardless of the field you are in, without the perspective you gain from those outside your field, you really have no perspective (which includes having fewer pockets).
4. Say “no” to non-essential tasks. While you might enjoy serving on the “Sunshine Committee,” it might do more for your sunny disposition to get your job done.
5. Work when you’re at work. Don’t be lazy, disorganized, or unfocused and then claim that you don’t have enough time (or pockets) to complete your job.
6. Ask (and answer), “Is the stress of this job within my tolerance?” All jobs require periods of stress. Constant stress, however, due to lack of pockets, toxic environments, expectations beyond your limits, or requests to work in a way that violates your principles…creates an unproductive environment. It takes a toll on you. Are you willing to pay that price?
7. Expect those around you to do their jobs. Every person in your organization has been hired to do a job. Lead by exhibiting, promoting, and supporting a strong work ethic. Enabling anyone who is not doing their job serves no one. It removes your pockets, it cheats the other person of the satisfaction of doing great work…and it deprives customers, clients, students, colleagues, the community of what they deserve.
8. Ask your family and friends if they think you love your job. Listen and learn by what they say and then take any actions that would put pockets in your work and your life.
9. Listen to your language about doing the work that you do. Do you love it? Is it fun? Are you energized by what you do? If so, why? If not, why not? If you are approaching your limit of toleration for this particular job, field, or career, then it’s time to make a change–or at least to step back and take a long view.
10. Give yourself time alone. Rest, recuperate, regenerate, refresh, refocus, re-energize…all by yourself.

Which of these ten do you need (and want) to put into place starting this week? Really. Which one?

Feel free to access my free tips booklets about pockets here: