My job takes all my time. 

I understand that feeling—the sentiment of not having time for your passions, friends, and family. 

The sensation of being in a washing machine that never stops and that you have no control over. Normal since we are in it 😀

And after all, we only have one life. Am I going to do only that? 

I’ve always been sensitive to this subject. How can I best manage these different balances? 

We don’t know what we don’t live in the end. Even though I thought I had a good grasp of it. During the COVID, where I worked from home, I realized how much I was missing—breakfasts, a chess game with my son at lunch, a quality exchange with my wife.

But don’t panic; there are solutions. 

So I won’t lie to you. It’s easy to understand but difficult to apply. 

Why is that? 

Because even if you had more time, you would not naturally go towards them. 

Since childhood, we are conditioned to do, do, do…School, Karate, homework, piano…

When we regain space, we find ourselves with “time,” and we don’t know what to do with it. Sometimes it even scares us. 

There are more cases of illness and depression at the age of retirement. And yet everyone is looking forward to it. 

So what’s your plan? 

At work, they say stop working “in” the business and start working “on” the business. That’s the only way to see the big picture and make better decisions.

Well, it’s the same with your life. You have to start working “on” it. Nobody’s going to do it for you. And I would even say that when you don’t do it, others benefit.

“Could you please …?” 

When you don’t have a clear view, your answer is often “Yes”. All those little “Yes” are the time you are missing. 

How do you do that? 

By taking time for reflection to understand, create options, and plan. 

Staying with our starting point, “my job takes up all my time”, there is no shortage of things to think about. 

• You have a job that takes up all your time but is boring and doesn’t pay much (the worst). How do you evolve? 
• You have a great job, but it still takes up all your time? Can you adjust it? What is your “enough number”? Do you dream of another life? 

By taking time to think, analyze, and evaluate your options, you have a chance to change the situation. And the feeling of renewed control that goes with it helps you enjoy the journey better. Remember, we only have one life, and we are in charge. 

3 steps to accompany your reflection. 

1. Read: Depending on your options, you will find dozens of books by people who have made the journey before you. This will help and save you time. You’ll read books on a current issue. Something that interests you. Discover my Resource guide: The 11 books that have influenced my career the most. (Including my favorite of all categories)
2. Write: Your biggest battle, the one that creates the most friction between you and your dreams, is the one within you. Writing about how you feel, what works and what doesn’t, will help you get better every day.
3. Plan: It’s not sure you will reach the direction. You’ll have to adapt along the way. But isn’t it reassuring? No need to have the perfect answer, but more principles that will guide you. 

What do you gain by doing this?

You go from “I’m locked into the machine that keeps running and I don’t know how to control it” to “I own the machine, choose my program, and decide how fast it runs.” 

So yes, it’s hard to think “on your life,” but it’s worth it. It’s much easier than spending 45 years in a machine with no control. 

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• Simple Habits Are Often Powerful. How To Amplify The Benefits Of Journaling?
• Books and podcasts help, but they don’t do the work for you. It’s hard to get started, but you never regret doing it. 4 steps to living your life to the fullest.

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PS: Whenever you’re ready, here are 2 more ways I can help you accelerate your growth through coaching:

• You are an individual: you have a penchant for action. You’ve achieved a lot. And yet you want more. Curious? Let’s connect for a free call and see if we can work together
• You want to be coached in the workplace: I help successful leaders become even better. And you only pay me if you succeed (yes, I am serious). Curious? Let’s connect for a free call and see if we can work together