Getting Things Done

Reposting an older blog post because it still applies! Getting things done is a topic that stands the test of time.

A friend once told me that she learned from me that she could get more done in less time than she thought. I didn’t realize that I had that perspective, but I guess I do. She said that I often would dive in and do things that she would have put off until she had open ended time.

Last week, I had at the top of my mind that I was going to figure out how to borrow books from my library on my kindle (that I can read on my phone! How cool is that? I might not be the quickest to sign on to new opportunities, but I eventually get around to it). My motivation was to save the money of purchasing them, especially for the expensive ones. I am a read-a-book-once type of reader, so paying $16 for an eBook makes me hesitate (actually, makes me never do it).

I had tried to get it done online, but realized my library card had expired and it required my presence at the library to reinstate me.

Getting Things Done

I had 30 minutes before an appointment, I was 10 blocks away. I got it done. Library membership renewed…with time to spare, actually. It took a visit to my son-in-law to figure out the rest of the downloads and sign-ons, but I am now happily reading borrowed books on my tablet AND my phone!

I didn’t need an hour to complete this. I didn’t need to postpone until I have discretionary lengths of time. 30 minutes was plenty.

“Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.” —Henri Bergson

Since it was brought to my attention, I try to take advantage of minutes to get important things done.

Chopping veggies for later’s meal gets dinner going earlier and uses a few minutes before taking off.
Running into Walgreen’s for exactly what I need on the way to an appointment keeps me from wasting time (and money) by perusing the aisles.
Looking around my desk for something I can do in 15 minutes before I leave for the day saves time tomorrow (and, maybe makes me look good by responding quickly).