11 Jun Time Surfing ‘Word of the week’ in Dutch newspaper ‘De Volkskrant’

Time Surfing has been chosen as the word of the week in the Dutch newspaper ‘De Volkskrant’, a weekly contribution by Henk Bovekerk. His source was a blog by Ernst-Jan Pfauth who in turn had read about it in an article by Joshua Rothman in The New Yorker. How a wave can roll from the Netherlands to New York and back again. And how wonderful that Time Surfing is receiving so much interest.

Henk Bovekerk writes that he hates tasks he *has* to do and would like to do work he enjoys. What is Time Surfing’s perspective on this theme?

The Right Moment
The first insight, which Ernst-Jan Pfauth also writes about, is that tasks that are difficult at one moment can be performed easily at another. The reason is likely that in the second instance, you are performing the task at the right moment.

If you have slept poorly or have a lot on your mind, it is difficult to also be creative. You are rowing against the current. But when you do something quiet first, such as emptying the dishwasher or taking something to the post office, your battery is recharged in the meantime, and you can get back to work refreshed. However, it is true that in the workplace, we have automated or outsourced many of these types of small tasks with the idea of saving time, which can make it seem difficult to step away for a moment in an open-plan office.

My experience is that there are still plenty of small tasks left that allow the brain to rest. For me, that is, for example, doing the invoicing or editing a PowerPoint presentation.

Cleaning your mind
The second insight is to take a closer look at the words ‘have to’. ‘Have to’ essentially means that we don’t like a task, but are still obliged to do it. I think everyone can name a few of these kinds of tasks. The remarkable thing is that these uncomfortable tasks can differ considerably from person to person. One person doesn’t like cleaning, while another does. One person finds reporting boring, while another finds it fun and useful.

What is the secret of people who enjoy cleaning or reporting?

What Time Surfing proposes here is that you change your relationship to this task. You will perform it in the future anyway, because it is part of your obligations. So you might as well accept it. Accepting means choosing to spend the upcoming period of time cleaning or reporting. Instead of doing it reluctantly, you dive in and do it with care. To your surprise, you will then notice that cleaning simultaneously cleanses your mind and that reporting creates order in your brain. ‘When you accept an action, it gains color,’ knows the Time Surfer.

Take your time
It is really worth the effort to take a close look at how you handle time and start working and living from a place of calm. It will transform your day from hurried and stressed to calm and pleasant. Here too, the principle applies: only when you invest in it will it pay off. It is usually not enough to gain insight alone. You also need to practice it. This works best with support in a group or with videos.

Online training Time Surfing with discount
In honor of Time Surfing as ‘word of the week’, you can order the online training Time Surfing this week with a € 25 discount.

The discount code is: calm25
This discount code is valid up to and including Sunday, April 26
Fill in the discount code in the field ‘coupon code’ under overview on the checkout page

• The online training consists of 12 video lessons of 10 minutes each.
• Every week, you complete a lesson and apply the content.
• You will receive an supporting e-mail for each followed video lesson.
• You can ask questions during every video.
• You will receive an answer within 24 hours.

You will notice the many benefits of working from a place of calm right from the start. You sleep better, your immune system improves, you feel fitter and sharper, you enjoy what you do more, you are more creative, and last but not least, you will also find that you are more productive.

Sign up for the videotraining

Feedback online training
‘I can’t praise enough how time-surfing principles are helpfull. The feedback I heard from other co-workers since I started the online Time Surfing course is that I seem to unfold and adapt to my environment with more ease instead of forcing and trying to control others. Projects get done, and tasks at the right moment.’
Mathious Boulianne, Recreation Mentor and Programs Coordinator, Canada

*This post has been automatically translated from Dutch