5 Minutes: Intentional Time

My son, my first born child, will be a teenager on Monday. I am taking a vacation day, and we’re celebrating with my world famous pancetta mac and cheese and Top Golf. Yes, you read that right. Pancetta in the mac and cheese. It’s a heart attack on a plate and completely delicious.

The older my children get, the more I believe those people that told me “Enjoy it while it lasts, because time flies.” They weren’t kidding. It seems like yesterday he was a baby, cuddled up with me on the couch, watching Nemo. He loved Nemo.

I’ve adopted a new mindset with them. No matter what I’m doing: work, homework, volunteer work, if one of my children comes to me, I stop everything and give them 5 minutes minimum of my undivided attention. This is no small feat. I have work-induced ADHD. It’s a struggle to stay singularly focused, and the phantom phone alert is a real thing. I feel the haptic on my wrist when there’s nothing there. I’m making an effort to be more intentional with my time and energy, though. I know how tough the teenage years are, and I don’t want my kids to feel like they can’t come to me for at least 5 minutes.

It’s not just my kids, though. I’m more intentional in my time with friends, staying present and in the moment. I’m more focused in my 1:1s with my team. I already mentioned they’re amazing, right? Why would I want to short change them? I have an hour a week devoted completely to each of them. It’s modeled after the Manager Tools 1:1. If you want to be a better manager, check out “The Basics” on the site. In the 1:1, they start the meeting and can talk about anything for their part. Work-related or otherwise. They’re people first after all, and I want to know about that part of them as well. E-mails can wait. I turn my phone over. If we’re face to face or over the phone, I’m focused and listening.

Take a look at your schedule the last week or month, were you intentional in your time? If not, what can you do today to make even one step towards being more intentional in how you spend one of life’s most precious gifts?