Breaking The Busy Habit
Why should I learn to say 'no'?
Saying 'no' is very hard, particularly for enthusiastic people. We tend to want to do things, we tend to want to accommodate other people, we tend to want to get involved. But, the most important word you can learn is "No", because if you can't say no, then you get over committed. Then you don't do anything well, everybody suffers, including you.
Won't everything fall apart if I slow down?
Just the opposite. Everything will get better if you slow down. It's almost like a Buddhist principle, but it's true. If you slow down, you'll get more done better. Guaranteed. Guaranteed. Try it, today, and you'll see.
Will organization help me lead a more balanced life?
Yes, the better organized you can become, and you don't have to be a neat freak; or Martha Stewart; or have a the perfect closet, but, you need to be well enough organized that disorganization doesn't keep you from reaching your goals.
Are sticky notes an effective system of organization?
Sticky notes for some people are, that's why the man that invented them is a multi-millionaire. For some people they're great. For me they're clutter. I got rid of them because they're just sticking all over the place. But for some people they're wonderful. So find what works for you, don't just go to Staples and buy a thousand dollars worth of stuff because it will just come home and sit on your floor like a big pile. Be judicious, find what works for you. If it's sticky notes, great, if it's a list, great, if its an alarm to remind you about something, great, if its a rubber band on your wrist that you tweak to remind you, great. Whatever it is that works for you, color-coding, here are a ton of books out now about how to get organized; find what works for you and then use it.
Can technology help me become less busy?
Technology is a tremendous asset as long as it does not use you, you use it. You can reach people in a heartbeat. Doing research, you used to have to go to the bowels of a library, now you are one key stroke away and Google from everything that has ever been known or thought from human existence. It is an incredible blessing as long as you dont let it take you over and teal you and distract you; this technology allows us to get worked done as a writer; it's amazing how much it has made my work better and easier.
Does multi-tasking really work?
Multi-tasking is a myth. You cannot pay attention to two tasks simultaneously. You can have your heartbeat and walk simultaneously but that doesn't take your conscious attention. You can't read two books simultaneously. What we really mean by multi-tasking is switching from one task to the next in rapid succession. And it impairs your performance. Just as reading two books while reading page 2 and reading page 3, you'll get confused which book was telling you what. You can do it but it's stupid to. You're much better off reading one book and then read the next book.
What if I'm too busy to even get organized?
If you're too busy even to get organized, it's time to stop, take stock, maybe consult with a coach or a friend, and say, look, what am I doing wrong here? Because you're only going to dig deeper and deeper into the chaos. If you're too busy to get organized, you're just a disorganization factory, so you need to get some help from a friend or a coach to get you back on track.
