I believe that we actually get MORE free time during the Holidays than any other time of the year. (Especially if you travel!)

YOU may not think this is true because you are not (yet) ready to take advantage of all the “extra” time that - I am confident - is coming your way. Think of it as the “hurry up and wait” season…

Have you ever experienced something like this:

You’re on your way to a meeting or an event - or maybe a family holiday gathering! Suddenly, something happens that surprises you, and you find yourself waiting. Maybe the people you’re meeting with are running late, your flight is delayed, or the commute is extremely long… What do you do with that “extra” time?

These windows of time are wasted if you’re not prepared.

The reason I prepare so intensely is that I want to get as much of the little stuff done and out of the way during these nonessential times. Then when I do arrive, I have time to relax and enjoy the time with my friends and family!

Take 1% of your day (= 15 minutes) right now and prepare for what you can do when you’re surprised with some of this “extra” time. (I’ve shared my list below…)

Here are the “Top 10” things I know I can do in about 15 minutes. Feel free to use this list while you make your own!

10. Single-Task on ONE important project; here’s a podcast to tell you how
9. Unpack, purge and repack my travel bag or wallet
8. Start a “Jason’s Update” letter to send to one of my mentors
7. Review and organize the articles and content folders on Dropbox
6. Do a “Jedi mind clearing;” write down a list of +50 things that have my attention
5. Update the apps/icons on my iPhone, make sure what I need is right there
4. Clean up the desktop of my laptop computer (file, delete, send)
3. Listen to podcasts or audiobooks that I’ve downloaded to my smartphone
2. Review my calendar for the next 3 weeks looking for appointments/reservations to make
1. Call my mom (my dad, my sister, or a good friend)

More time is lost during the Holidays than any other time of year.

It’s not hard to see why the Holidays are a perfect time to set yourself up for success by having at least one small task that you could do to push your mission forward.

Don’t think too hard about this — your 15 minute activities might be listening to a podcast, researching gifts on your mobile phone, or simply slowing down and enjoying the moment (yes, consider a meditation/reflection process a task).

In the States, Thanksgiving is a week from today. Those who celebrate this holiday are surely preparing for a wonderful day of food, family and football. I’m personally planning to get out on my bike before I share a meal with Jodi’s family in Pasadena, CA!

I am very grateful for the time I have to reflect and realize what I have.

Please take a moment and think about when you are at your best. During this time of year many people realize they are tired, stressed out, or feeling overwhelmed by how much there is to do. Starting today, for the next few days, I’d like you to focus on what you can do in order to be at your best for yourself and your family during this Holiday season.

One thing I do daily (yes, every day!) has changed the way that I work during the Holiday season. This daily activity has changed the way I experience my life.

• I feel more productive.
• Less stressed.
• More excited.
• Less overwhelmed.
• More engaged.

Want to know what it is that I do? Watch this 2 minute and 30 second video I made for you:

Thank You

Don’t rush the gratitude process.

In the video, I talk about my process of writing thank you cards. I started doing this daily many, many years ago. In fact, some weeks, I send 10 or even 15 hand-written cards. It’s my Gratitude Process, I call it.

Let me start off by telling you what thank you cards are NOT:

• They are not a marketing tactic.
• They are not something I outsource.
• They are not something I’ve automated.

On one level, writing a letter has become my primary way of saying “thank you” to someone. On another level, this daily practice has become a meditation of gratitude. Sure, the recipient of the card might get a warm-and-fuzzy feeling when the card arrives; that’s a bonus. The main purpose of me writing cards is:

• It takes me time to sit down and focus on something I’m grateful for.
• I’m training my mindset. I’m actively searching my memory, my experiences, my surroundings for something GOOD.
• This process focuses my mind, my heart and my soul on being grateful.

It’s not about “the doing” or the activity of writing… No, it’s more subtle than that. It’s a practice I’ve cultivated on awareness, so for 5-10 minutes a day I get to “be” in the mindset of gratitude. If writing a thank you card is a new practice for you, then this is the perfect time of year to try it. In our society, it’s normal for people send holiday cards to clients and co-workers during this time of year. Try it out for 5 days, and see if it adds value to your experience.

When I say THANK YOU, I mean it. Yes, I want the person to feel that gratitude as much as possible. And I want to give myself that gift as well. When I finish writing one of these cards, I feel good. I feel engaged, motivated and inspired.

The ROI of Gratitude:

From a productivity viewpoint, I have three reasons why I’ve continued this process ever since starting my company in 2007:

1. Engaged employees are better employees. At least once a week I acknowledge someone on our virtual (and growing) team for a job well done.
2. Recognized clients are repeat clients. When I see one of my clients in the news for something positive, I acknowledge them on their important work, and I thank them for doing it.
3. Vendors who know me, take great care of me. Hotels, restaurants, airlines, technology companies, rental car agencies, you name it! I’ve written a thank you card to someone there. Occasionally, I’ll get a little extra (an upgrade, an advance notice on a product, a fruit plate, etc.). I believe it’s because we’ve had a long-term relationship that writing cards has added to.

I’ve gotta ask, “What’s your great story about taking time to write a thank you card?” Leave your story in the comment area below. I’d love to know!

Best wishes,

Jason

PS: Next Tuesday I am going to share an exercise with you that just might completely change your mindset so that you can be more present during Thanksgiving, and enjoy the time you share with family and friends at a deeper level.