The Fallacies of Efficiency

June 5th, 2007

Too many people are focused on the idea of time management, without realizing that the purpose of time management is not to be able to get more done, but rather to more get meaningful things done.  Most people have so many distractions and useless habits, that they could at least double (and for most many times more) their productivity with no increase in effort, by minimizing or eliminate a few unproductive habits and beliefs.Time management as a word is somewhat deceptive, because you cannot manage time.  Time just is, and the laws of physics manage it just fine.  The real goal of time management is really choice management; it is the art of refining how you choose to act in support of your professed goals.  Time management is at its most ineffective when it is just pursued as a way to fill your day with more activity in the pursuit of ever greater efficiency. 

Rather you should be striving to increase your level of effectiveness to the extent that you can be pleased with your accomplishments, and progress in that which is meaningful to your existence.   Instead of focusing on how you can get more done, instead focus upon that which you are doing that you shouldn’t.  This is harder than it sounds, because the same action that can increase your effectiveness when done to excess can also decrease your effectiveness.

For example, researching can teach you tools that will increase your skills and effectiveness, but if you do nothing but research, then you are nothing but a dilettante.

So if you wish to increase your level of effectiveness minimize activity that does not bear fruit. 

Expanding upon the example of useless research vs. effective research, here are two ways to decrease the amount of time you spend researching unproductively:

1)      Do not do any reading or researching until you have done at least three of the important tasks that you have determined you should perform today (these should be big rocks that will help you to progress within your life)

2)      If while reading or researching you find a useful, actionable tip, finish the article or chapter of the book, but then stop researching or reading about that subject for the day, and brainstorm on ways to integrate it into your activities.  Your goal is not to be an encyclopedic source of useful techniques and theories, but rather to better your life by implementing what you learn.

So in conclusion, use what you got. When it isn’t enough, then pursue increasing your capacity.  The pursuit of efficiency is a rabbit hole in which many people lose many years of their lives.  Instead of efficiency, focus on being effective.  Efficiency can help to get many things done, but effectiveness will help you get done the things that matter most.

 

 

Entry Filed under: Essays/Tips/Lifehacks