4 Ways to Do Less and Get More Done Today
You get more done when you do less, and you get less done when you do more.
Constant busyness produces shallow people. Most of us do too much of what matters less. I think it’s a compulsion because busyness is a status symbol.
Busy is the proper response to, “How are you doing?” You’re a loser if you eat dinner at home, coach Little League, take weekends off, and don’t send emails at 1:15 a.m.
70% of Americans said they “never had enough time,” in 2011. It rose to 80% in 2018. (HBR)
If you don’t have a crazy schedule something’s wrong with you.
4 ways to do less and get more done:
#1. Become a one string banjo.
Life is a disaster when everything is urgent. It makes you feel important, but the opposite is true.
Important people do important things. I’m not talking about being too good to pick up trash in the parking lot. I’m talking about choosing one or two places to invest your time, energy, and talent in order to make meaningful contribution.
Get more done by choosing one important thing to do today.
#2. Make your own decisions.
A person who lets others run their life does what matters to others.
Don’t live to only serve yourself, but don’t let others run your life either.
Realize you chose to work where you work. If the downside of your job is heavier than the upside seek a new job.
#3. Go to bed.
What fool believes tired people get more done? You get more done by getting enough rest. Too much rest is exhausting. Too little rest is debilitating.
#4. Put white space on your calendar.
Back-to-back meetings indicate poor management. Get more done by realizing schedule management is self-management.
How can you do less to get more done today?
Still curious:
How to Manage Your Schedule When Your Hair is on Fire
A Formula for Your Best Day Ever Pt. I
4 Simple Reasons Your Calendar is Out of Control
Ooof…#4 hit hard. A much needed reality check.
Ain’t it a kick in the pants. When I talk to leaders about 50 minute meetings they look at me like a cow looks at a new gate. When I bring up the idea of scheduling open time their heads explode. I hope we come to appreciate the difference between activity and productivity.
One of the best things I’ve learned is to schedule myself and not accept meetings during that time. And don’t ‘cancel’ your own time.
I love the idea of 50 minute meetings! Hardest part is to figure out how to get everyone to honor the 50 mins. Honoring time is more of an issue–meeting within the scheduled time–starting and ending on time.
I’ve seen this so often in my field with people entering leadership roles for the first time. It’s as if it is a right of passage by simply stating they are too busy or they don’t have enough time. In many cases I witness the same folks spending more time talking about how busy they are and how little time they have rather than accomplishing one of the task that they just spent an hour or more talking about. What you wrote spells it out very clearly and will be shared with some of them. Thank you!
Ask my wife to stop delegating tasks to me.
So often focus can only be done by a mind that has time to think and evaluate. Thank you, Dan.
I usually schedule work time on my calendar, so coworkers viewing my Outlook don’t see openings and think I am available for a meeting. It also helps if it doesn’t just say “desk time” or “return calls” – it needs to be specific (e.g. “Review Draft Budget”, “Phone Conference with Shelly” etc.) – it’s also a good way to chunk out time for project-specific tasks on your to-do list, and provide a reminder to do it!
If you are physically in the office, schedule the meeting in a conference room. And not near your desk. I try to schedule them on a different floor entirely. Otherwise, someone walks by, sees me by myself, and decides to ask me a quick question. (Quick questions never seem to have quick answers, by the way.)
Or I shut the door and put on my headphones. So it looks like I’m in a virtual meeting. Just be sure your computer screen faces away from the door or the jig is up.
Great challenge.