I am currently reading The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha. I want to make a list of the changes I want to make that will hopefully reduce the number of decisions I need to make and create more time. It’s important not to jump in too fast, so only a few to start with.
Most are stolen directly from The Happiness Equation, but I guess that is the point of the book.
Emails
Emails are my biggest distraction at work. I reply to them throughout the day, most of the time at the expense of actually achieving what I originally planned to complete. The nature of my job means some emails are urgent and cannot be ignored. However the vast majority of my daily emails can be dealt with the following day. Setting aside 30 minutes at the start and end of each day will not only allow me to dedicate time to responding to emails, but reduce the distraction they have on my focus throughout the rest of the working day.
The main hurdle to this will be how to identify which emails are urgent and which aren’t. Some people mark emails as important when in reality they really aren’t. Other don’t utilise Outlook markers and an urgent email will not be highlighted as being important.
High time ‘low importance’ tasks
Automating decisions
I’m already quite good at some of these. What shirt I wear tends to be whatever happens to be closest when I hope the wardrobe. I go to the same place to buy my lunch and buy the same thing, boring I know but it removes a decision. I walk to work the same way dependant on the weather. My aim is to identify similar decisions that really don’t make any difference to me, but I make each day anyway.
Low time low importance tasks.
Tasks that could be done there and then
I’m particular good at delaying tasks that can be completely in 15-30 minutes. They sit there and become another task that needs completing among a mountain of other tasks. This could be as simple as arranging for an invoice to be paid. Doing things when they arrive is a much needed improvement for me.
Low time high importance tasks.
Wish me luck!
