If you are like me, you are motivated to ‘get it done’ and create that sense of satisfaction that comes with completion. I enjoy crossing things off of my ‘To Do’ list. My effort has been worthwhile and now I can sit back and relax. While this may sound highly appealing, how often does it happen? There’s always the next thing to be done. And that assumes we have completed the thing we were working on.
Getting In Our Own Way
More often than not this turns our good intentions into a prison of our own making. One where we can’t relax until everything is complete or in its place. We are driven to keep going, often working way beyond the time we set aside. We neglect other things in our lives like family and leisure for the sake of getting it done. Does this sound familiar?
Diminishing Returns
Author Tony Schwartz, highlights another problem with this ‘get it done’ approach. We are most productive in 90 minute stretches, the best of which is at the start of each day. This is when we are fresh and have a clear head. The trouble is we often double down on getting something finished by working late in the day. We don’t stop until it is done, ignoring our growing fatigue and diminishing productivity.
A New Approach
Hopefully you see a new possibility. Instead of powering on in the spirit of getting things done, we are better served taking a break and picking it up again first thing in the morning. That also doesn’t mean getting distracted by email next morning. Set an intention and stick to it. You’ll be happy you did and who knows, maybe you can reclaim your evenings for the things you really care about. How would that feel?