Protect The Time That Protects YOU
We all schedule meetings.
We schedule appointments, deadlines, projects, and commitments to everyone else. Yet the first thing to disappear when the day gets busy is often the one appointment that keeps us functioning: the time we've set aside for ourselves.
I encourage people to think about their calendar differently.
If you've blocked time for lunch, that time isn't simply about eating. It's about creating a pause in your day. Yes, there will be times when an unexpected meeting comes up or an urgent issue needs your attention. Life happens. But instead of deleting that time from your calendar, move it.
Protect it.
Your lunch break doesn't have to happen at noon to matter. What matters is that you don't quietly give it away.
One practice I love is naming calendar blocks with affirmations or positive intention words instead of tasks.
Rather than seeing "Lunch" on my calendar, I see Center.
That simple word changes my mindset. I know this block is reserved for me. Maybe I take a short walk, sit outside, practice a few deep breaths, journal for five minutes, or simply enjoy a quiet cup of tea. The goal isn't productivity, it's returning to myself before stepping back into the demands of the day. I always say to my team, go outside, close your eyes, and put your face to the sun. Is surprising how many of us in healthcare don't leave the building. Those small moment with nature have an amazing affect on our spirit.
The same idea works throughout your schedule.
If I have a block dedicated to focused project work, I might title it I Am Productive. Instead of seeing another task to complete, I'm reminded of the energy I want to bring into that time. Before a difficult conversation, your calendar might read I Am Calm. Before a leadership meeting, it could say I Lead with Confidence. Before heading home, perhaps I Am Present.
Our calendars don't just organize our time, they influence our mindset.
Imagine opening your schedule each morning and seeing reminders of who you want to be instead of only what you have to do.
Those simple words become small moments of intention woven throughout your day.
Protect the time you've set aside for yourself. Move it if you need to, but don't erase it. And consider letting your calendar speak to you with encouragement instead of obligation.
Sometimes the smallest shift in how we plan our day creates the biggest shift in how we experience it.
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