How the Study Hall Concept Can Work for Leaders

My nephew enlightened me recently. We were hanging out on a school night, and he was not knee-deep in books and homework assignments. When I asked why, he shared that his study hall was scheduled at the end of the school day. He did this for a few reasons - to complete as much homework as possible before getting home and to prepare for the next day's classwork.  The effort he makes to get things done sets him up for an afternoon of basketball practice, time with friends, or in this case, me. 

The student, leader, and coach inside of me loved this idea. It is something my nephew intentionally built into his schedule, and leaders can do it, too. After a trial run with my own scheduled study hall, here are suggestions to get started:

Designate 15 minutes a day as your study hall.

Start small.  Aim to achieve at least 3 days a week.  Beginning with 15-minute study halls (and actually doing them) can lead to 20, 30, and eventually more minutes. These are meant to be incredibly productive times. You'll amaze yourself with how much you can get done in a short period.

Test different times of day.

My nephew found the end of the day works for him. Thus far, early morning study halls are ideal for me. Try a few before you determine the ideal time.

Create a study hall checklist.

What would benefit you most during this time?  What gets in the way of you starting or ending your workday on time?  What are you typically working on late at night?  Preparation for the time in study hall makes a tremendous difference in productivity.

Remove distractions.

When I am in study hall, I play classical music and turn off devices. My goal is to complete as much of the checklist as possible. Focus is key.

Over time, add the study hall to your routine. Leaders often come to me with a desire to set and hold boundaries. Study halls are an ideal way to do both. Consider them a way to ensure you are doing the things most important to you.

Dr. Katie Stone is the founder of Together Evolving.  Email Katie at katie.stone@togetherevolving.com to learn more about the transformational impact coaching has on you and your leadership.

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