Day #12 - Just Don’t Do It

Theme

Just Don’t Do It

Description

The art and joy of doing less

"The art of doing less isn't merely about becoming more productive employees or businesspeople (though doing less of what is unnecessary may result in greater productivity.) The true benefit of focusing on and taking a break from busyness is that it brings more kindness and love into our lives. With less busyness and unnecessary effort, more kindness and love can rise to the surface, leading to more effectiveness, energy, and focus. When we feel depleted, love is the best replenisher -- which includes the love we feel for ourselves, the love we freely give to others, and the love that comes to us from the people we care for and admire most.” (read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-lesser/the-courage-to-do-less_b_574807.html)

To Do

Do LESS

Quality over quantity

Examples from Zenhabits:

• A furniture maker can mass-produce a ton of cheap furniture that will fall apart within a year. Another craftsman might produce way fewer pieces of furniture, but make them beautifully and solidly, so that they’ll last for generations. If he makes them well enough, they might even be sought out and remembered for their great design.
• A programmer can write tens of thousands of lines of code, and produce a lot of software that works. A less productive coder can write a tenth of the lines, perhaps even editing down what she writes so that there’s less code, but they’re better written. This small program might be the most useful thing on many people’s computers, flawless code that just works.
• A writer can churn out lots of words (hundreds of thousands, if not millions), but have his work read by relatively few. Another writer can write a small but powerful blog post or ebook, and have the post be spread by thousands of people.

Nourish Yourself

Most everything I have been reading on efficiency and time management stresses the importance of PLANNING.  This goes for your nourishment as well.  As part of our 6-week challenge you have already planned when you are going to eat and when.  We talked about the benefits of the crock pot

Other time-saving tips (one I often employ) is taking the time to make something I really like and making plenty of it -- then freezing it in individual portions for ready use later (note the opportunity for portion control)

My personal tastes dictate I tend NOT to peel foods such as apples and cucumbers and potatoes, which of course speeds things up, and keep the vitamins in while cooking

So get cooking... and enjoy it.

Get Up & Go!

Stop to consider how the TIME of day you are exercising is working for you. Are you finding time for it?

As a reminder, this is from WebMd as posted in our Week 2 opening blog: 

It's hard to make time for exercise when you have a jam-packed schedule, but experts say that it may ultimately help you get more done by boosting your energy level and ability to concentrate.

"Research shows exercise can help you to be more alert," Brooks says. "And I've noticed that when I don't exercise because I'm trying to squeeze in another half hour of writing, I don't feel as alert."

Samantha Harris, a lawyer who works for a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia, says she recently started sneaking in a trip to the gym two or three mornings a week before her family wakes up. "It's been a real boost in terms of the way I feel for the rest of the day," she says. "I feel like my head is clearer and I've had a little time to myself." 

Tools

The ability to prioritize and make choices

Tip

Do things you ENJOY

Schedule time to RELAX

Do something on your backburner list NOW -- all the time you would spend thinking about doing it will now be free to do other things

Top 10 Time Tamers (from GetMoreDone.com)

How can you become more productive? Here are the most popular and powerful time tips, all in one spot.

1. Write down your long-term goals. Use the SMART formula; make them Specific, Measurable, Appropriate, Realistic and Time-bound.
2. Every day, divide your tasks into A, B and C priorities. Always start with a high priority “A” task, even if you can only accomplish a small part of it.
3. Block off time for activities that are important. Make an appointment with yourself, and don’t let anyone schedule anything for the time you’ve put aside.
4. Stop spending time on trivia. Don’t spend hours preparing a high tech presentation when a good conversation will suffice. And stop fussing over routine administrative tasks. Delegate or automate them.
5. Have the courage to say no. Don’t try to please others all the time. Create personal policies that make it easy to say no and stick to your plan.
6. Always start meetings on time. Don’t punish those who show up on time and reward those who are late. Do something however minor, but get started.
7. Slow down. Productivity isn’t about going fast. It’s about doing the right things. Stop rushing around, driving too fast and getting upset at things you can’t control. A couple of minutes gained aren’t worth the added stress.
8. Avoid procrastination by completing unpleasant tasks first. The tough stuff usually turns out to be not so bad. Break complex tasks into easy pieces and give yourself a reward for getting something done.
9. Don’t be a slave to technology. Communication devices are simply adding more and more ways to be out of touch with each other. Simplify your life and leave your phone off now and then. Plan for people to reach you some of the time, not all of the time.
10. Create time for balance in your life. Set aside time for family, fitness, social, educational and spiritual needs. Plan for balance the way you plan for work.

Tweak

Delegate one thing... just one... perhaps ask someone to walk the dog? Or to bring the cookies to the next book club meeting or chop the veggies for dinner?

Here is a cute blog on family chores etc: http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/keeping-home-healthy-happy-and-homey

Question

On what activities do you fritter away time with little to no benefit?

Thoughts

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” - anon

“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” -Steve Jobs

“Don’t count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count.” - anon

Tidbits

The Essential Time-Saving Guide for Busy People: http://zenhabits.net/the-essential-time-saving-guide-for-busy-people/

One writer’s commitment to doing less: http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/university_of_venus/do_less

Treat

Whatever relaxes and revitalizes you.... might it be doing crosswords or Sudoku? Perhaps pouring over a mystery novel or interior design magazine?

Want an activity that boasts tangible results?  How about crocheting a blanket for a loved one?

I used to relax after work by fiddling around with html code... the stuff of which websites are made... I did it to unwind in much the same way people watch television.  In the process I learned a handy skill that has benefited my friends insomuch as I have designed and managed a couple of dozen websites for myself and others.... oh and I am a sucker for Spider Solitaire

You may just find you enjoy this time and activity more if you have looked forward to it by planning it in your schedule

Blogs & Articles

5 Helpful Time Management TIps: http://www.egodevelopment.com/5-helpful-time-management-tips/

And yet another goodie from ZenHabits: http://zenhabits.net/the-lazy-manifesto-do-less-then-do-even-less/

In Sum

Less can most definitely be more when you compare the quantity of your activities to the quality of your lifestyle. Like anything, it takes some practice, but can be mastered with deeply satisfying health-giving results