1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, 2 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: tip is to know what you could get done if 4 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: you have unexpected free time. Just like you have a 5 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: backup slot to make sure you have time available for 6 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: important activities, it is wise to have a backup task 7 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: so you can put your time to good use even 8 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: if what you are planning to do doesn't happen. Today's 9 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: tip comes from a participant in my September reset project. 10 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,160 Speaker 1: She realized that she wanted to have a backup task 11 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: in mind in case an appointment canceled. I really love 12 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: that idea. Without a backup task planned, when something cancels 13 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: and we don't know what to do, it's easy to 14 00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: end up processing email, tidying the house, or doing something 15 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: else that feels productive but probably doesn't need to consume 16 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: more time than it already is. With a little forethought, though, 17 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: you can be ready to pivot to a backup task 18 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: when an appointment cancels or unexpected free time comes up. 19 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: At work, you could have a list of professional development 20 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: tasks that would help you build your skills. Then, when 21 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: you have unexpected free time, you could spend it learning. 22 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 1: You could create a spreadsheet listing learning opportunities, videos you 23 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: want to watch, articles you want to read. Then when 24 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: you pursue one of the opportunities, you could note the date, 25 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: a few words about what you learned, plus any ideas 26 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: for how you can apply your insights to your work. 27 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: Another natural place to look for a backup task is 28 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: your task list for to tomorrow or the tasks you 29 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: have slated for later in the day. This lets you 30 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 1: get a little ahead. I love to plow through these 31 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: small tasks I have on my list for the next day. 32 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: Then when I start work the next morning, all that 33 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 1: is waiting for me are the big projects that I 34 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: know I really should spend my time doing. If you 35 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: are in a role where a lot of your meetings 36 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: get canceled, you might want to regularly tea up projects 37 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: to have on hand. This might mean looking ahead in 38 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: your calendar and identifying big projects you can start early. 39 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: You could also develop ideas for speculative projects work your 40 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 1: boss has an assigned to you, but that you think 41 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 1: could be beneficial to you or your company. Speculative work 42 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: is great to work on when time presents itself because 43 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: it's likely to be something you're excited about, but there 44 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: is no deadline to add pressure. After all, nobody is 45 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: expecting it. I think it's a good idea to have 46 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: back up tasks for non work time too. What will 47 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: you do if your friend with the tricky work schedule 48 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 1: cancels your plans for a midweek lunch when you are 49 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 1: already getting ready to go to the restaurant. What about 50 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: if you end up waiting a long time for a 51 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: doctor's appointment. What if you are planning to pick up 52 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: your daughter from a friend's house after your yoga class, 53 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: but the host asks if you can delay by an 54 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: hour so the kids can finish a puzzle. Most of 55 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: us just pick up our phones and start reading headlines 56 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: or looking at social media posts. But my guess is 57 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: that if you thought about it, you could come up 58 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: with something else to do with this time that might 59 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 1: be more productive and fulfilling. So if you are trying 60 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: to squeeze more productivity out of your days, or if 61 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: you often find yourself annoyed when plans change, consider planning 62 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: backup tasks. You can avoid spinning your wheels or feeling 63 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: grumpy when your schedule changes. Unexpectedly. In the meantime, this 64 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making the 65 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. 66 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach 67 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:12,119 Speaker 1: me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast 68 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, 69 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 70 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.