Tasks Are Like Your Appetite
David Buck
| Time Management Expert | Revenue Catalyst | Driving Success through Strategic Planning & Execution | Author of "The Time-Optimized Life" |
A common time management snag is people treat their tasks like an “all you can eat buffet” restaurant that you dine at every single day.
You walk up to the counter and begin to fill your dish with all this great looking food (don’t forget the desserts). With a full plate or plates, you head back to your table and begin to enjoy, only you find that about halfway into the meal you’re full. There is still a lot of food left.
Thankfully, the eatery offers you a to-go box, and you load up the remaining meal and think, “I’ll just save it for tomorrow.” At home, you open your refrigerator and place the carton in there with all the other left-over meals from previous days. Some of food in those containers might be even getting spoiled.
The next day you wake up all refreshed, pass by the refrigerator on your way out the door, and head back to the buffet for a new meal, and the cycle starts all over again.
A rudimentary approach to creating and managing tasks relies on knowing your “hunger level” before you sit down to eat. If you consistency finish your tasks and are a member of the “clean plate club”, then press ahead since you know your appetite for the number of tasks you can handle. However, when there are still items left at the end of the day, you are planning too much and need to start out with a smaller plate.
A meal can consist of a variety of courses with a particular flow, and let’s treat those like tasks.
Task 1 – Appetizer
Task 2 – Salad
Task 3 – Side Dish One
Task 4 – Side Dish Two
Task 5 – Main Course
Task 6 – Dessert
Typically, the most important part of the meal is the main course (for this example – consider it the primary). Therefore, the first thing you need to do change the priorities to start eating the foremost and essential food first. Your meal might now look differently.
Task 1 – Main Course
Task 2 – Side Dish One
Task 3 – Side Dish Two
Task 4 – Salad
Task 5 – Appetizer
Task 6 – Dessert
Next ask yourself, what do I really need to eat (task accomplish) today? Take the lower-level tasks and plan them for another day or if you still have an appetite, allow yourself to get-up from the table and add them later. Your meal now looks a lot different.
Task 1 – Main Course
Task 2 – Side Dish One
Task 3 – Side Dish Two
Task 4 – Dessert
Only if I am not full.
Task 5 – Salad
Task 6 – Appetizer
Note: personal choice, I will take a dessert anytime over a salad or appetizer.
As you enjoy your meal, you now minimize any to-go box requests. At the end of the day, you’ll feel full and satisfied. You won’t be stuffed or get sick to your stomach because you tried to eat too much and now have to look at and figure out what to do with the leftovers.
Bon appétit!
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David Buck is the author of the book?The Time-Optimized Life, owner of Kairos Management Solutions, LLC, and founder of the Infinity Lifestyle Design program. As a certified professional retirement coach (CPRC), David works with financial services providers helping their clients create a post-career lifestyle strategy. To learn more, contact him at?[email protected]?or visit?Infinity Lifestyle Design.
Book a quick call to discuss Time-Optimized Lifestyle planning?HERE.
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2 年Thoroughly enjoyed this meal - well researched, and plate presentation top notch........will def. revisit.
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