Are you working beyond your means?

While doing some writing this morning, I came across this quote:

“You must always work not just within but below your means. If you can handle three elements, handle only two. If you can handle ten, then handle five. In that way the ones you do handle, you handle with more ease, more mastery and you create a feeling of strength in reserve.” — Picasso

Interesting, especially when you consider that most of us probably do the opposite, constantly stretching to handle 12 things when we're really only capable of handling 10 effectively, and maybe 5 with mastery, if Pablo was right.

And I suspect that he was. We know that multitasking, in general, costs you more time than you save—perhaps 20-40% of your productivity, in fact. Interruptions that disrupt your concentration can cost you 20-30 minutes as you reload deep context.

I've talked to a number of folks who've instituted "email-free" days or half-days, where the team simply shuts down their email clients and focuses on their real work. To a person, they've found this to be an incredibly rewarding and productive experience.

So here's my first New Year's resolution: Work Below My Means.

Yeah I know, there's still a few weeks before New Year's, but there's a lot that needs fixing, so I better start now :-)

Comments

[Paul]

Not to get all Zen on you but, I think finding balance might be a better path.

By pushing harder we increase our capabilities and get better at whatever we try.

However, we have to know when to back down as well.

Weightlifting could provide an analogy. You have to keep pushing harder to get stronger. But, if you over do it, you find your self moving backward and actually getting weaker. And, sometimes the key to big gains is simply to take a break.

[Rich]

The analagy of Weightlifting may not apply. Pushing to get stronger adds bulk which may help in pushing again but does not necessarily make one more agile and multitasking capable. My experience has taught me to blend wisdom with dedication. Keep 80% of myself in the moment and 20% observing myself for improvements and intuitive inputs. What have you experienced?

[Mark Freedman]

Yep -- the benefits of human multitasking is a fallacy. I use the calendar to help me focus on one thing at a time:

http://markfreedman.com/index.php/2007/12/11/using-the-calendar-to-focus/

[Vasudev Ram]

Pretty interesting quote.

I think it would definitely help at least in some situations if not all.

Thanks for sharing it.

- Vasudev