I Ask Myself This Everyday...

There’s a question I’ve been coming back to lately: Why am I here? Not in the big, existential sense, but in the very real, practical, middle-of-a-Tuesday kind of way. Why am I in this meeting? Why am I doing this task? Why am I using my time this way—right now?

If you’re using solid planning system, you already have a structure. You have likely identified your Big 3. You’ve looked at your calendar. You’ve moved things around to align with what matters most. And still, it feels like there isn’t enough time. But I’m starting to think the issue isn’t time.

It’s attention. It’s energy. It’s presence.

Think about how we approach other parts of our lives. When we’re trying to eat healthier, we slow down. We think about what we’re choosing. When we’re trying to get our finances in order, we scrutinize every dollar. But we don’t always apply that same level of intentionality to our time.

I had just come off several days of travel—Texas and back—one night in my bed, then out again. I moved straight into facilitating, then straight into sitting in a meeting—the kind of meeting I always attend. I hadn’t looked at the agenda. Then the presenter mentioned the next hour and a half, and it hit me: I have an hour and a half right now.

My first instinct? Open my laptop, catch up on emails. But I paused. I looked at the agenda. There were a couple of mildly interesting items, but nothing that REQUIRED me. So I packed my bag and left.

Here is the important part:  I didn’t stay and half-work. If I had, I’d be half-listening, half-typing, and fully drained. I wouldn’t feel confident about what I’d heard, nor about the emails I sent. This is why we feel like there isn’t enough time. We’re trying to do too many things at once and draining our energy. By day’s end, exhaustion makes it feel like time is scarce.

As I left, I saw others doing what I almost did—emails open, trying to squeeze every second. But there was nothing to take notes on. They were trying to be two places at once.

So here’s where I land: Be where you are. And if you can’t be there, leave. Of course, you can’t leave every meeting. Some are required. But that leads to an even better question: Who said I had to be here? If the answer is unclear, renegotiate for next time.

Before you multitask, ask: Why am I here? Is this the best use of my time? If not, what is? You may find you don’t need more time—just to use it differently. And maybe, you’ll find enough space to be present for yourself.