in 2021 was that they found they were missing time to think and time to contemplate decisions and options. Every minute seemed to be taken either with work or with their families and personal lives. The theme was so prevalent that I started to contemplate why people weren’t contemplating. And then I realized that many of us have lost our commute times. We aren’t in our cars as much as we used to be. We are not on airplanes or commuter trains as much, and it seems many of us used that time to think and just be.
Pre-COVID, I used to travel about 50% of the time. Some of that time was spent on airplanes in which I would be required to sit in one place for at least a couple of hours. I would often use that time to read a favorite book or to do some journaling, but I would also use it to just think. I would use it to be fully present with my thoughts and to contemplate life and all that it has to offer us. When I started to hear my clients say they were having trouble finding the time and space to think, I realized that I was as well.
Scheduling Time and Space to Think
I’m not sure about all of you, but I find it a bit difficult to find contemplation time when I’m home. There is always something to do or someone to talk to. I walk every day and I often use that time to catch up on podcasts or phone calls with friends. We humans need time to contemplate! If we can’t be forced into it by commuting time, then maybe it’s time for us to open up that thinking time. Who says we can’t just drive around alone if we need time to think? Maybe we can find a nice coffee shop outside of our neighborhood where we won’t be disturbed, and we can sit quietly and contemplate life.
Everyone needs time to contemplate life issues and decisions. Schedule a regular thinking time each week and watch your creativity and decision-making skills improve. #contemplation #thinking #creativity Click To TweetLeaders (and we are all leaders) improve their leadership skills when they have time to think things through. It’s when they have time to think creatively and strategically about big and small life and career issues. What many of my clients decided to do when we realized they had lost their contemplation time was to put that time on their calendars. They started carving out a short time each day or a longer time once a week to just think. Some of them decided they might drive around and do that and some chose to find a space outside of their homes that allowed for some uninterrupted thinking time.
COVID has challenged us in many ways. It’s also given us the opportunity to become more aware of what we want for ourselves and our future. Planned contemplation time can be a creative way to get back to ourselves and to contemplate life’s journey.
Love,
Lisa Kaplin Psy. D. PCC