Time is important, but we end up wasting most of it. Take a look at how you have spent your day, you probably didn’t accomplish much.
In fact, an average adult spends 5 hours every day on social media which adds up to 15 years over a lifetime. But there is actually a different reason why you end up wasting your time.
I remember when I was in college. At the beginning of the semester, I would imagine myself writing a great assignment, because I have over a month to work on it.
Every single night, I would research a little bit, and write a little bit. So over a month, I will write a perfect assignment. But what would end up happening is that I would start working on that assignment only a day or two before the deadline.
You probably had the exact same experience. It’s not a surprise because that’s the nature of any human being. According to Parkinson, “work expands, so as to fill the time available for its completion”.
For instance, I have to write this article. I will not finish the task before the deadline, one way or another I will find a way to prolong it.
Let’s say you have to write a short essay. It will probably take an hour or a maximum of 2 hours. But you decide to dedicate your entire day to finish it.
When your brain realizes you have more time to finish the job than you need, your brain will complicate the task to fill the empty time.
Here is how. When you just start writing, You suddenly remember that you forgot to call your doctor. So you will call him first and then get back to work. It is only going to take a few minutes.
You will start working much slower. You will get distracted after writing each sentence. You will want another cup of coffee or check your Instagram.
After every distraction, you need some time to get back your mind to the task. But at the end of the day, the goal is to stretch the task for all the available time.
You end up spending an entire day accomplishing a task that only requires 2 hours. That’s why if you want to stop wasting your time.
You always have to set the minimum amount of time for any task. In fact, it is dangerous when you give it more time than it requires.
Because in the process you feel like you are busy, you are working, you are writing that assignment, you are working on that video, so you can’t work on anything else.
You cant even rest because you are “working”. But in truth, you aren’t accomplishing anything.
Here is what you should do.
Write down how much time you need to accomplish a certain task, then cut it in half and work only under that period of time.
If you need 2 hours to finish that, give yourself only an hour. Don’t worry about the quality, your job is to finish the task before the deadline.
You will be amazed by how creative you suddenly become, ideas will flow into your mind from everywhere around. You will think of new creative ways to get it done.
I am not talking about some kind of hypothetical, unrealistic, extraordinary abilities. This is something that happens to all of us when we are under such circumstances.
That’s why you finish your assignment right before the submission. Because if you do not submit it the next morning, you are going to fail.
Don’t stretch the time hoping that you will do a better job, you will simply reduce your productivity and waste your time.
Thank you for reading and stay informed @Information You Need to Know.
Also read:
How to Increase Productivity: The Ultimate Psychological guide