Writing more in less time
November 15, 2010Thanks to Windows Phone 7 for sponsoring this post. See the end of the post for details on a Windows Phone 7 giveaway.
Windows asked me to write about doing more with less, so last night I decided that instead of making chocolate chip cookies, I'd simply shovel chocolate chips in my mouth. That's less, after all. That didn't quite satisfy, however, even after I let the chips sit in there for a while and melt. I considered adding some butter, but that seemed like too much work, frankly.
Then I realized I really like peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies so I shoveled some peanut butter in my maw as well. And what do you know? That was better than some stupid cookies. Better = MORE!
A quiet voice in the back of my sugar-addled mind told me that I was possibly not quite getting the concept of doing more with less, so I stopped to consider how the concept applied to my life. Then I fell asleep. But this morning I woke up, as one does, and my first thought was, "I have a half-hour to write this post." My second thought was, "Thank GOD." Because a small window of time is the only way I can get any writing done. And I do believe that's doing more with less, Windows! BLAMMO!
There is nothing that will murder any chance of productivity for me like waking up to an obligation-free, unscheduled day. Henry's going straight to a playdate after school and won't be home until 6, I have a slow work week, and I'm out of errands to run? Well, I tell myself, that means I have hours in which to consort with the muse, obviously! I'll sit down at my computer and oh, the places my mind will go! I have all the time in the world to write the best blog post ever written. No--five of the best blog posts ever written. Or I'll finally finish that novel I began in 1996. Hell, I can do all of these things. I have all the time in the world!
But when I sit down at my computer with all that emptiness stretching ahead of me, panic sets in. That's a lot of time. I need to get a lot done, in that much time. And it better be good, too, because I have no reason to phone it in. I have time. Time means quality. If I write something terrible, that means I'm a terrible writer. Crap. I'm hungry.
So I decide to make breakfast. And since I have all these hours ahead of me, I have time to make myself a real breakfast. No need for a bowl of cereal, like some rushed breakfast-eating chump. But before I do that, I should check Twitter and see what's going on. Oh, look, someone linked to a funny video! Thank goodness I have time to watch it, as I have so very much time. And look, there are all these related, also funny videos! I never noticed how many videos there are of kitty cats flushing toilets. Those are always fun. I normally don't have time to watch those, as I'm rushing about.
Then I look up and it's eight hours later and Henry is home from his playdate and I'm still in my bathrobe.
I am convinced, after all these years, that the two most useful tools in my writing arsenal are: 1) limited time and 2) low expectations. If I have four hours to write, I will expect greatness, or at least quality, and my chattering brain will be consumed with what "quality" means and whether or not I'm approaching it, and as a result I'll avoid work. I'll dawdle and daydream and check my email like it's the only thing keeping me alive. If I have an hour, however, I don't have time for these shenanigans. I have to focus. If I have a half-hour, my fingers better keep moving around that keyboard and words had better be appearing on screen, or I'm screwed.
Even when I have only fifteen minutes, I can get some quality work done. If I can sit down and still the endless chatter in my brain, when those fifteen minutes are up, I find that I've made more progress on a project than I had all week. Because I don't expect much from fifteen minutes. All I expect is a few paragraphs, and maybe to have gained some momentum. And sometimes that's all I need.
So hey, if you want a Windows Phone 7 of your very own, you can win one right here! To enter, leave a comment of 25 words or more about how you do more when you have less time. You've got until November 29 (midnight PT) and you can enter once a day. On the 29th, I'll pick a winner using random.org and post it here. Here are the official, long-winded rules about this contest.
Reader Comments (299)
I personally like the "bathrobe chic" look. I have decided that my bathrobe can double as a coat, which it often does, especially when I am running for the school bus with two kids in tow.
You are an inspiration!
http://mothersofbrothersblog.blogspot.com
MOV
Alice, I'm so glad you decided against shoveling butter in after the chocolate chips.
Here’s what I do. I bring a sandwich to work so I can eat it walking/driving to run errands or window shop during my lunch break. This accomplishes many things: (1.) I save money (2.) I eat a healthier (3.) I get away from the office and tiny lunch room (4.) I get off my arse and get some exercise (although sitting my desk all day reading blogs is very mentally stimulating) (5.) I get errands out of the way so I have no excuse to not hit the gym after work (but let’s be honest, it’s more time to go home and watch reality TV).
Hm. I'm exactly like you on the time thing. My job seems to be full of TONS of experiments, and NO time, so they all get done pronto. But in my life, I try to do more with less with food. I like using a few ingredients to make something wonderful. Also, using everything. That's doing more. I have to stretch vegetables and animals to use every part, and pay attention to what might be aging in my pantry or fridge to use it before I have to make that sad walk to the trash can to toss something that used to be great.
I find doing less makes you feel like you have more. I choose the one or two things that must be done and don't beat myself up over everything else.
I am all about things being "good enough" these days. Pictures that normally would stay on the computer until I had time to tweek them in Photoshop now get uploaded straight to Flickr and links sent to the grandparents. Freedom from perfectionism, it's liberating.
I was out of work for six months and was amazed at the things that took me ALL day long to accomplish when before I crammed them into a 48-hour weekend. Wondered how I did it all with a full time job.
Also: the computer is totally a time sucking activity.
I do more with less by keeping lists lists lists. Or, I should say, one master list which I keep on a steno pad and add to almost anytime a thought enters my head. Seriously, I will wake up in the middle of the night and add entries. This practice is a de-stressor for me, as it relieves the pressure of worrying about forgetting something.
Oh yes, things can only get done when I have a deadline and it is imminent. All the time in the world means all the time in the world to mess around and find every leaked Black Friday ad ever published. Something due in 30 minutes means my butt better be in high gear!
I have managed to minimize the things I must accomplish to be happy. On weekends, it's usually nothing but be with my kids.
I know EXACTLY how you feel! I'm currently sitting here avoiding writing an essay that WAS due Sat, but I asked for an extension for today. I've yet to start. EGADS! Thanks to your witty posts, I'm keeping myself occupied until 11:25pm when I'm sure inspiration will strike and I'll whip out a glorious piece!
I recently reduced the amount of clothes in my closet by half. I find myself being more brave and creative with my outfits now.
I definitely agree with the saying: Need something done, ask a busy person. I used to have 50 hours/week for work, working from home for myself, and barely got anything done. Then I had kids and cut my work time in half, and suddenly I was productive and focused with my time.
Doing more with less time means prioritizing... so I am religious about planning out my week on Google Calendar. That way, I have a visual of all my tasks, and the little reminders that pop up on my computer and on my phone help poke me into doing things to cross it off my task list.
I do more with less moolah by making the hubby his lunches. He misses all you can eat Mexican, but loves my sandwiches!
When I have less time, rather than run around trying to get a million tasks accomplished, I focus on the most important. Then I set the timer for the maximum number of time I can devote to the tasks, and work my tail off on getting them done. I don't multi-task, but instead finish each job one at a time and then if I have time left over, I will move on to any random things that I can do in the time I have left. This approach helps me feel more organized and actually allows me to get more done.
I love to push things off to the last minute for the same reason you do, it gives me less time to think and stress. You know what doesn't keep me from stressing? Worrying about trying to hit a 25 word minimum. Actually, no that wasn't that hard after all.
Same same. Last night I got off work at 4:30, had to come home and change, had a meeting at 5:30, returned from that at 6:45, still had to cook dinner for the family, clean up the trainwreck that is our kitchen, and get baby to bed. At 9:00 I sat down to write my weekly freelance article, and I usually like to be in bed by 9:30 so I can get up at 5:30 and start all over.
One of my better articles ensued. 30 minutes flat. Including recipe and edited photos. BOO YEAH.
It's all about discounts and coupons.You got to follow those stuff and be smart and use them at the right time.This is how everything turns out to be so cheap.
When I have all the time in the world to check Facebook fifty million times, or aimlessly peruse what's left of my daughter's Halloween candy, I don't get a whole lot accomplished. But when I've got exactly two hours to: grocery shop, prepare snack for eleven Brownies, round up and return overdue library books, sweep up the mounds of glitter left over from my daughter's latest creation, and corral the seventeen piles of laundry molding in my front-loader, I get it all done!!!! (Granted, I am often a caffeine-fueled, shaking, and sloppy mess, but it gets done and I pretend I am Mary Poppins! Sort of.)
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
Doing more with less is all about creativity. This year I decided to make some holiday gifts with fabric scraps I already had. I ordered some bulk lavendar and I am going to make sachets for all my amigas. Now I just need to dust off my sewing machine!
Dear Alice,
It's like you're living in my head.
Love,
Me
I am the QUEEN of multitasking...! If you watched me clean my house, you might wonder how anything gets done, but at the end you would be AMAZED at the results! I start one thing only to be distracted by a different project, remember I had something else going on, only to be pulled away to something else. But in the same amount of time I get 10x the cleaning done! It's fabulous.
When there is a really important deadline, the more time i have the more stressed out i get... so i actually like some pressure
I'm with you on less time resulting in shockingly more productivity. I find I'm the most productive on one project when I OUGHT to be working on something entirely different. Dishes to do? Hmm, I have friends and family I haven't spoken to in ages! Qualifying exams to study for? Wasn't there a novel I was working on? As a result, I'm a graduate student submitting building permit applications this week for the house I'm building with my man, trying to power through the last 1/3 of the novel I'm writing. Some people might call it multi-tasking, but let's be honest. Procrastination is my most powerful tool for productivity.
You really have to make time for yourself. It's very difficult in these times but to remain productive you need even 15 minutes to just think and do nothing. I have always believed in Work Smarter Not Harder and I try to find ways of making connections that combine but do not cut corners. Maybe that's why I love the internet so much. I have discovered a lot of useful ideas.