I am the laziest person I’ve ever met.
I often admit that in my courses, and lots of people think it’s the silliest thing they’ve ever heard – they see me as highly focused and productive. But to me, “lazy” just means making something happen with as little effort as possible. Perhaps it’s equally true that I’m the most efficient person I’ve ever met. I’ve made it part of my life’s work to see how little activity it takes to get a result.
When I’m processing email, I use shortcut keys so every action is tracked and organized with the fewest keystrokes possible. When I leave for the airport, I leave early so I don’t have to rush later en route to the gate, when there’s more pressure.
None of this is unusual – most of us invent our own shortcuts for repetitive tasks. What might be newer for many people is being just as lazy/efficient about thinking. My system is designed so I never have to think the same thought twice. I capture ideas when they show up, so they don’t have to show up again. I only put on my calendar what truly must be done that day, so I don’t waste energy re-deciding later.
I keep separate lists: an “at computer” list, and an “anywhere” list. That way, when I’m working offline on a plane or train, I don’t have to rethink what’s possible. I decide the next action on every project up front and keep those current, so I don’t get stuck wondering “What should I be doing to move this forward?”. Once a week I review projects and areas of focus in my life, so I don’t have to keep remembering what I should be thinking about.
I wasn’t born organized, and I don’t do this for its own sake. I just worked pretty hard at not having to work hard. There are better things to do.
David, I understand what you are saying about not thinking the same thought twice. However, when I get an idea for a new project that lines up beautifully with my vision and purpose, I enjoy letting it roll around in my head for a day or two as I think of different ways to approach it. I’m capturing as I’m thinking, but allowing time for good ideas to “marinate” works well for me. Thanks for all you do.
John, frankly that’s what your mind is for, and it can be quite good at it. My essays start as a seed in my head, but mature generally within a couple of days–enough to sit down and write. Some times I write the ideas down, but mostly they just “cook” or marinate as you so describe.