Dane Jensen, author of the book, “The Power of Pressure” (2021) recently wrote an article for the Harvard Business Review discussing how time management often increases the stress we face instead of reducing it.

Dane’s bottom line is that we’re looking to simplify. Each of his three recommendations brings you closer to that end.

Let’s look at applying his ideas to attaining our dream level goals.

Reduce the Volume of Tasks

Think of each to-do item as part of an agreement you’ve entered in to towards accomplishing a goal. Pressure (importance + uncertainty) increases each time you add more to-do items to your list.

How then do you add in preparing and planning for extended travel when you’re already working with limited free time and energy?

Dane recommends blocking out time on your calendar to accomplish tasks that you’ve assigned to yourself. Most of us automatically add meetings and events we’re planning on attending, but how many of us remember to block off time to accomplish our dream level goal Action Steps?

Start with a manageable and reasonable amount of time (e.g. 1 hour / week or maybe 15 minutes / day) and make sure it has its own spot in your calendar.

Replace Decisions with Principles

This one is all about reducing cognitive overload. When we’re facing an endless stream of decision of all sizes and importance, the demands on us mentally can push us beyond what we can handle. Cognitive overload can lead to mistakes and feeling overwhelmed.

Some famous examples of principles in action:

  • Wearing the same color t-shirt and jeans to work every day
  • Meeting-free Fridays to focus on work
  • Taking Saturday mornings to play tennis
  • Hiring an assistant (even just for a few months during your busy season)
  • Automating a process
  • Eating the same foods for breakfast every day
  • Setting up automated bill payments

How do we apply this approach to our dream level goals?

  • Create your road map from Goal -> Categories -> Topics -> Action Steps
  • Schedule time every week in your calendar to work on the Action Steps
  • Outsource Action Steps to trusted experts

“Distractions sidetrack us from accomplishing our tasks and making our most important decisions. Distractions are a particularly corrosive contributor to feeling overwhelmed because they prevent us from feeling that we are making progress against the sources of the pressure.”

Dave Jensen

Use Structure, Not Will Power, to Minimize Distractions

Some examples of Structure in action toward our dream level goals:

  • Turning off our laptop’s Wi-Fi for set periods of time during the day to focus without the temptation of surfing social media. Alternatively, you can leave your cell phone in the other room while you focus on your Action Steps.
  • Establishing weekly Family Office Hours to review upcoming events, activities, what’s needed for each, etc…, and make the info available for everyone to see (e.g. wipe erase board in the kitchen). This can greatly reduce, even eliminate, the constant stream of “what’s happening tomorrow?” questions or “Hey Mom! I forgot! I need X in the morning!”
  • Including realistic gaps in your schedule to help you transition (mentally and physically) from one thing to the next. For example:
    • Scheduling yourself to be on the other side of town immediately after a medical appointment is guaranteed to add pressure due to the uncertainty how long the medical appointment will take.
    • Stop at a park and sit in your car for 15 minutes before pulling into your driveway to mentally shift from work + commute mode into family mode. Don’t scroll your phone during this time…listen to music or call a long distance family member or just sit in silence listening to the sounds of the park.

How do you approach managing your time? Any recommendations that work for you?