How To Be More Efficient

Nahu
Nahu
Sep 7, 2018 · 3 min read

Being efficient - it seems like such a simple notion.

We’ve all heard the adage ‘work smarter, not harder’.

Too bad there’s not a follow-up line with that quote that explains how we do it…

… But I have come up with a theory that’s worked for me and freed up a lot of time.

It’s not revolutionary but if you’re a master procrastinator like myself I guess you may as well join me for the ride.

The Theory

So there’s a book called ‘Thinking Fast & Slow’, it’s a fascinating book if you haven’t read it yet and an interesting look into the human mind and how it works.

The book’s written by Daniel Kahneman, who won a Nobel Prize in 2011. (So may be more qualified to discuss this than I am)

He divides the way we think into Systems 1 & 2 -

System 1 being the fast, instinctive system and System 2 being the more logical and deliberate.

We use System 1 for all of the standard activities we don’t need to think about like brushing our teeth, driving our car or sitting on Instagram.

System 2 however is an active process we use our brain for when we need to switch on and think.

Activities such as writing this blog, deciding what we want to do with our future or trying to work out whether I cook pasta for the 3rd time or finally try a new recipe - are all System 2 processes.

These systems are operating in the background of every choice that we make.

With all the tasks and work that I must complete, there’s generally a distinction between the type of work I do.

Work such as responding to emails, creating PowerPoint decks or general life administration are all System 1. However the more focused work like writing, designing new campaigns or trying to research new topics are all System 2.

When I broke these down however I realised I was often in the habit of doing a lot of the System 1 tasks like responding to emails or making phone calls, earlier in the day because they were easy and gave me a feeling of accomplishment.

The reality is, these tasks could be completed at any time & this meant that I was often left with a tired & fatigued brain to perform all the tasks that I should ideally be most alert for.

Switching these tasks around, making a list at the beginning of every single thing that I wanted to accomplish and splitting them into active process or menial, boring administration tasks has liberated my time.

I’m able to attack the creative and interesting tasks earlier in the day when I’m fresh and then knock over the boring tasks in the afternoon when I’d be bored anyway.

Time is the only resource that we all share and it’s the most important one we have.

The way that we spend the 24 hours we have each day is what sets us apart.

“One must work with time and not against it”. Instead of chasing the day and trying to meet the deadlines, I’m now in control and its given me the choice to live a life that I choose & not one that I am pushed into.


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I’ll be writing daily, providing perspectives on a variety of issues & exploring the big questions that we all share.

Nahu

Written by

Nahu

A Gen-Y kid's reflections after travelling the world. Mindset growth, self-development tips & everything that lies in between.

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