As I See It / January 2006
Time Out
It seems like everyone has run out of time. There is too much to do, too much that should to be done, too much that must be done and way too much that never gets done.
It certainly isn’t because people are inefficient. In the past 25 years, economists estimate that US productivity has increased by more than 70%. Yet, Americans in the 21st century work more hours than peasants of the Middle Ages, and spend less time at home with their families because of it. Women are busy staying busy, but all that work hasn’t improved their life. Individual debt is up and leisure time has decreased. Many women don’t even take the leisure time they’ve earned. More than 25 % of Americans will take no vacation days at all next year.
Overnight delivery, fast food, instant messaging, express lanes and Internet access ought to make a little extra time, but, no one seems to have it.
It’s an equal opportunity dilemma-everyone has the same 24 hours each day that are not enough. The minutes and hours are so precious, the way we use them matters very much. Time wasted on mistakes, miscommunication and meanness isn’t a crime, and probably not even a sin, but it is certainly a shame.
Mistakes happen, sometimes from poor eyesight, sometimes from no vision at all, but preparation will reduce mistakes. Not every disaster can be foretold, but if something hits that no one saw coming, maybe it was because no one was looking. A few minutes of preparation makes life easier. The simplest effort, like writing down the directions, making certain the phone number is right or checking a due date, will save hours of driving around in circles, or just running around in circles.
With so many communication devices, the possibility for miscommunication should be minimal, but many people will find the opportunity. Speak up. Say it twice. Be concise. Be clear. Write it down. Good communication is a sure time- saver. And it’s free. It also saves lost relationships, apologies and bad feelings. Guilt and misunderstanding can be so distracting and require so much effort to handle, they divert whole chunks of time just to contain them. Plus, good communication is the most effective tool for building bridges-physical, social and emotional-and bridges are great time savers. The cost of bad communication is measured not only in lost time, but in dollars, effort and tears.
Still, nothing wastes time on the monumental scale that meanness does. Whether it’s the hours laying awake plotting revenge, the spiteful comments that ruin another person’s day or life, the malicious gossip that eliminates any chance of uplifting conversation or the one-upsmanship intended to put down one individual while elevating the other, meanness sucks out all the energy and passion that make achievement possible. Bad enough that meanness steals time from those that initiate it; trivial nastiness leaves no room for great thoughts or significant contributions. Worse, meanness soils all it touches even without actual contact because just the breath of meanness can leave a life, or a dream, in ashes. Like no other time waster, meanness poisons the possibilities of the future for everyone.
Working smarter, not harder has been a corporate axiom for years, but with deadlines, layoffs and recessions, no one has time to stop what they’re doing and figure out a smart way to do it. If working smarter isn’t in the cards, work with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm kicks up productivity like additives in race cars. Real passion can double or triple results.
Plan ahead. Be nice. Get excited. Have a happy new year-and time to enjoy it. PL
Copyright © 2005-2006 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
Femme Fair 2006
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