Finding time to focus is hard. Here's how to carve out strategic thinking time in a busy schedule.
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Log your time for a week. Soon you’ll start to notice slow times—maybe 8 to 9 a.m., before others drift in, or between 1 and 2 p.m., when half the office is at lunch. These are good opportunities to shut the door (metaphorically speaking—or literally if you’re lucky enough to have your own office) and be unavailable.
Treat thinking sessions like doctor’s appointments. When you first start, aim for two one-hour sessions of uninterrupted thinking. Mark this time on your calendar, and consider it the way you would any other appointment or commitment you wouldn’t break without a good reason.
Plan for your sessions. Before these sessions, think through which questions you’d like to ponder. Gather any research material you’ll need, so you don’t have to go online to hunt for a document (which can lead to checking your email, and your Facebook, and your Twitter account while you’re there).
Recognize that creating strategic-thinking time is a habit. And like a habit, it may not feel natural when you start out. The first few times, your mind might wander, or you may not get much out of the experience. But over time you will. Remember: People who plan succeed.
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