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 think you illustrated the phenomenon pretty accurately; when the hours stretch out before me, for me to fill as I choose, I accomplish very little, if anything. When I have 1 hour only, I focus and multitask and don't fart around online, and usually accomplish more than I expected, with time to spare.
Really, to do more with less time I should really just close my browser window while I'm at work, but then I wouldn't be able to enter contests and win things for free! :)
Doing more with less sometimes means working on the go. Which is where my laptop and a good smartphone comes in handy. Go windows phone
I could do more in less time if I didn't find myself procrastinating by looking over all of the lovely blogs out there. Darn you distraction! I once set up my computer so that I had a work login separate from personal, and it didn't have any blogs bookmarked. Life was good...until I started typing them in by hand and ultimately bookmarking them. ::Sigh::
I stay organized with Microsoft OneNote, which helps me do more with less time.
I am writing less, more often. Kind of like getting past the "I will run a marathon," and starting with the 15-minute jog. More potential for success. And I'm less likely to get sore and give it up, too!!
I could do more in less time if I didn't find myself procrastinating by looking over all of the lovely blogs out there. Darn you distraction! I once set up my computer so that I had a work login separate from personal, and it didn't have any blogs bookmarked. Life was good...until I started typing them in by hand and ultimately bookmarking them. ::Sigh::
http://randomroro.blogspot.com/2010/11/i-have-seen-it-all.html
This made me laught to no End today!!! Hope it helps!
Im Jamaican and love when people mix it up.
SN- just discovered you today- my friend Michi @ http://michi41.blogspot.com/ sent me here..
awesomeness
I have always been a master procrastinator. And I usually do my best work at the last minute. It definitely has to do with the pressure - it gets something flowing that just makes me amped up and I plug through whatever I have to get done. For example, I have a list of things I want to get done to my house this weekend before my FIL comes to visit next week. We moved just a few months ago and I have not felt pressured to do any of these things until I had the looming visit of an out of town guest. Now I will be running around like a crazy person trying to get sh** done. And I will likely also be driving myself mad trying to ascertain what I need to do in order to host Thanksgiving at my house for the first time. Should be good times! Luckily I do have some lists and will attempt to prioritize so as long as I get at least some of the must-do items checked off, I'll feel good.
I think I do more with less time because I have to..I just make sure to hurry fast. ;)
I end up doing more somewhat wasteful things (like entering contests) when I have less time! Procastination, I curse thee!
Well, I try my best to use as less water as possible. I have this huge fear that we are going to run out of water like yesterday. I tell my husband all the time how long it takes him to wash his hands. It drives him nuts!
My husband and I use google calendars to stay organized, which is the key to maximizing the little time we have.
I'm especially productive at work after I've wasted half the day surfing websites - once I realize that it's 3pm and I haven't accomplished anything, that's the time when I start working in earnest.
Isn't doing more with less the definition of being a mom. I do more with less when it comes to time, more with less when it comes to money, more with less when it comes to being creative with my kids time. Just tonight we made Thanksgiving leaf decorations from paper bags, water colors and cut outs from cookie cutters. And you know what - it was the best craft we have done in weeks! They loved the whole thing! And my heart was more full!
More with less - a mom's mantra
It's all about the pressure (*echo* pressure, pressure, pressure). I used to work best under pressure. Give me multiple tasks and a tight deadline and watch me fly. And dazzle and amaze with my skillz (What's with this Z thing anyway?). I have never been one to do the task right away. Wait until the last minute and whip myself into a super efficient frenzy is my mode. I am a life-long master procrastinator.
I don't know if my first comment is still up (You can delete it!), but when I read this the first time, I thought you said we had to comment in 25 words OR LESS. Ha! Oops. I kept thinking, "look at all these people who don't follow directions!," as I was compulsively recounting the words on my computer screen. 22? Perfect!
Ahem...
Anyway, I find that having a schedule and having small, reasonable goals works. I was a writer for six years before becoming a medical student, and often, I worked from home. The first year, I was a new college grad and thought the flexibility was awesome. I'd stay out until 3 a.m., wake up at noon, and get nothing done. The next year, I had a self-imposed schedule: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. : Sit at computer. Be productive. 1-4 p.m.-ish: Eat lunch, run errands, be non-productive. 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m.-Finish work day. 7:30-forever: DONE! It worked well this way, as did giving my goals that I knew I could accomplish. For example, I have to write two columns today. MUST! BEFORE TV TIME! Or, in medical school, I'll try to get through a certain number of lectures by a certain time. If I know I have a reward at the end (Facebook time, blogging, etc.), I can usually stick with the plan.
Hope that helps!
My husband and I conserve water by showering together! Win-win. Win. :)
I also work better with distractions around. not something crazy but some background music or reruns of my favorite tv show so i can look up and take a bit of a break
By using Quick Steps in Microsoft Outlook, I do more and do it quicker.
I cancelled cable last year. I still watch plenty of TV through Netflix and Hulu, but I now spend way less time channel-flipping while zoning out on the couch. Having to consciously pick the show I want makes me pay more attention to what I'm doing.
I do more with less time by utilizing the dishwasher. Such a life saver.
I'm trying to do more with less time by exercising at home. (This also falls under doing more with way less money!) I can work out and get the dog some exercise while she jumps around me, and I don't have to try to schedule time to go to the gym - my gym time is the 45 minutes before that load of laundry is done drying, or the hour the chicken will take to roast before dinner. Score!
When I need to do more in less time I time myself! I set the timer for 20 minutes and get to work! Focused bursts of time that have an intent purpose tend to help me quite well when i am procrastinating or unmotivated! BUT they help quite well when I know I have to get things more things done than I think I have time for. It almost always turns out that the time was there..I just needed focus!
Microsoft OneNote is an awesome tool for, well, uh, taking notes. saves me looking for a paper and pen each time an idea some to mind. And i believe the win phone 7 has it integrated too.