Your time in six months is not free
Datum: 2025-11-26 09:57
Take a look six months ahead in your calendar. Then, in six months, the weeks will surely look comfortably airy? You probably haven’t booked them particularly full yet. That’s great! Then you can happily say yes to all meeting invitations then, because you have the time! You have plenty of gaps in your calendar then.
For you who prefer listening to reading, this post is also available as an episode of the ""Done!"" podcast:
The ”Free time” trap
Hold your horses. Saying yes to meetings just because we “have time” is a common trap. For those who indiscriminately book things in the calendar, this “first come, first served” prioritization principle will result in busy weeks where there is no time for anything other than meetings except during evenings and weekends.
Your time is for the important
Your time in six months is not free. Treat your hours then as equally valuable as your hours tomorrow. Before you know it, the day in six months will be tomorrow. Then, you want to have planned it consciously, so that you have the time you need for your important tasks — whether they are meetings or something other than meetings.
Do this
From now on, if not sooner, value a meeting request according to the same criteria regardless of when the meeting takes place. If the meeting is important (that is, it contributes to the goals you are trying to achieve) it’s great if the invitation comes far in advance. Say yes with joy and enthusiasm!
If the meeting is not important in relation to what you are trying to accomplish in your work (the goals you are seeking to achieve), ask yourself if you really should say yes — even if you have plenty of time in the week the meeting is proposed to take place. Would you have said yes if you had received the request on short notice and it was to take place tomorrow and you already had an almost full day? Doesn’t it contribute to your goals you have now, will it really contribute to the goals you have then? Will you then regard it as important and as well spent time?
You own your schedule
If you value your time no matter when it comes, you will be more in control of your own schedule than otherwise. You can make your weeks how you want them to be instead of them just happening. You own your schedule. You don’t feel like a victim of circumstances. The difference is huge.
How do you do it?
How do you say yes to the right meetings far in advance? Do you have any tricks or mindsets that work well for you? Please write to me and share!
(Do you sometimes find yourself in meetings you didn’t really need to attend? Try the counter-question that makes your meetings more efficient!)
You can get even more structure!
If you want more tips on how to create good structure at work, there are many ways to get that from me - in podcasts, videos, books, talks and other formats.
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