Just Seven Things

Exploring why and how we do what we do, and how we can do it better

Archive for the category “Stress”

16 Nov 2012

Time Management and Satisficing

Massage by Steve Woods

Massage by Steve Woods

Satisficing is defined as ‘a decision-making strategy which attempts to meet criteria for adequacy, rather than to identify an optimal solution’ – Wikipedia. It is a blend of words: satisfy and suffice.

Most tasks tend to expand to fill the time that we give to do them.

I started thinking about whether satisficing could help explain why it is sometimes possible to create some great work in the 30 minutes before a deadline and yet produce a similar quality (if more long-winded) product if you’ve given yourself a day to do it.

I wrote about whether I create these time bound situations myself to thrive better under stress. Now I wonder whether satisficing is the flip side of this. That of producing something that satisfies and is sufficient for the time given.

Read more…

Posted in Focus, Habits and Routines, Learning, Management, Stress, Time Management and tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
23 Jul 2012
1 Comment

Mind Control and the Completeness Obsession

Network Neurons by Gerard79

Network Neurons by Gerard79

I’m thinking a lot about whether I trust myself.

Not in the bigger sense of being out of control at certain points (I’ve controlled those remaining outposts of wildness over the years: only now to be seen when an invited house guest..) No, I mean whether I trust my mind enough. When I wrote about trusting my creativity within confined time slots I kind of papered over the nagging little voice.The nagging little voice is an element within me that is both good and bad. One of my strengths and also my hindrances? I talk a good game about taking an 80:20 approach. To operating within the time slots. But the little voice is always there in different guises.And what does it say? First, it continually asks ‘why’? Good in a number of ways, but it wants to know how and why things work from a people perspective. All the time. And sometimes it doesn’t relent until I’ve settled. The bad side of this is that it is over-rationalising and attempts to compartmentalise too rapidly at times. It attempts to exert too much mind control and not allow the grey. Read more…

Posted in Conscious and Unconscious, Control, Mindfulness, Stress and tagged , , , ,
02 Sep 2010

The Power of Less: Babauta’s tips

I was struck by some productivity principles in the heart of Leo Babauta’s book, ‘The Power of Less’:

– Slow down and enjoy every task. Pay attention to it and be in the moment to enjoy it.
– Do one thing at a time and do it well.
– Find the stressors in your life and ways to eliminate them.
– Create time for solitude. It’s important to just have some time for yourself.
– Do nothing. Don’t afraid to be lazy.
– Know what your simple pleasures are, and put a few of them in each day.
– Practice being in the moment at any time during the day.

Posted in Change, Focus, Habits and Routines, Happiness, Mindfulness, Reviews, Stress and tagged , , | Leave a comment

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