A couple of months ago, while managing a large project, I found myself struggling to balance team’s performance monitoring, timely delivery of other KRAs, and an ever-growing to-do list. To improve my focus, I discovered the Eisenhower Matrix, which helped prioritize tasks effectively. Its components are • Quadrant 1: Urgent & Important (Do First) • Quadrant 2: Not Urgent but Important (Plan) • Quadrant 3: Urgent but Not Important (Delegate) • Quadrant 4: Not Urgent & Not Important (Eliminate) It helped me a lot keep focus on priority tasks, delegation opened opportunity gates for juniors in the team and better time management helped me being updated about every business information and strategy. All Managers must explore Eisenhower Matrix.

Quick tip for relaxing in between meetings- calming your nerves. How to do that- take a small break, sit for 2 minutes if you can, spread all your fingers, then tighten your fist as much as possible, then gently release. Do this a couple times or as many times needed. This helps your body come back to the now, away from the overwhelm in the mind. Start in the next meeting afresh.

End meetings 5 to 10 minutes early. Take that time to breathe, unwind, grab a coffee, go to the restroom - basically anything that can do a ‘soft’ reset. Research has shown back to back meetings can be really detrimental and cause meeting fatigue which leads to decrease in productivity. If you find yourself struggling to end meetings on time, try to bring the attention of the participants to the time and bring the meeting to a close.

BREATHE! Breath is ALWAYS available to you and incredibly effective for calming. PRACTICE SELF-COMPASSION: It’s okay to acknowledge that you may be struggling and you’re doing the best you can. REFRAME THE STRESS: See each meeting as an opportunity to grow, engage and contribute…. Or to just listen, observe and learn! STAY PRESENT: part of the challenge of back to back meetings is that the rest of the work world is still happening around you. Minimize distractions (responding to emails, IMs, etc). Avoid mental task switching. It’s EXHAUSTING! Stay present in the meeting. BE WHERE YOU ARE!

Ugh, back-to-back meetings are a marathon! To stay sane, I use these tricks: * Mini-breaks: Close my eyes, deep breaths, reset! 🧠 * Intentional entry: Set a goal for each meeting. 🎯 * Really listen: Engage with what others say. 🎧 * Hydrate & move: Water and quick walks help! 🚶♀️ * Acknowledge fatigue: It's OK to feel drained. 🛀 Little moments of mindfulness keep me centered, even when super busy!

This scenario reminded me of a book I recently read (Useful Belief, Chris Helder). In the book he mentioned a similiar scenario and instead of going into the day full of meetings with a "this is going to suck and be a terrible day" mindset, change your thinking. What would be a 'useful belief' in this scenario? - Yes, I have a day full of meetings, let me see how much I can get out of the day? - Let me see what I can learn from all these meetings I am attending. - Be present in the meeting and attentive, people will thus engage with me, and I will get more from the time. - Ask those in the meeting how I can be of assistance in this session, thus knowing where my value lies.

Stuck in back-to-back meetings can be overwhelming,but mindfulness can enhance your time management. It fosters focus,helping you stay present to absorb information and engage actively,leading to more productive meetings.Techniques like deep breathing reduce stress,maintaining calm amid chaos. Mindfulness also improves decision-making by encouraging you to pause and reflect before responding,resulting in better discussions. It enhances time awareness,helping you recognize when meetings go off track. Incorporating short mindfulness breaks between meetings recharges your mind,ensuring smooth transitions and sustained energy. By integrating mindfulness into your routine,you can navigate your busy schedule with greater ease and effectiveness.

When your whole day is filled with one meeting after another, mindfulness can help you manage your time more efficiently. By focusing on the current task, mindfulness can prevent your attention from being distracted by future meetings or other matters, thereby improving efficiency. It can also help you make informed decisions faster and avoid the accumulation of emotions and fatigue. In addition, taking a few minutes to breathe deeply or meditate simply between meetings can not only help you quickly restore your focus, but also bring psychological peace and prepare for the next work. This method can not only improve your time management ability, but also improve the overall work experience.

What I find useful is to schedule 20 and 45 minute meetings. Gives time to rest, prep for next session and as well be on time for next meeting👍

1. Improve Focus and Attention 2. Reduce Stress and Mental Fatigue 3. Enhance Time Awareness and Prioritization 4. Improve Decision-Making and Problem-Solving 5. Create Space for Reflection and Self-Awareness