Task at Hand, Task at Hand
I own one functioning watch, that I wear only as an accessory. I don’t set an alarm clock to wake up, I take pride in being punctual, and I’m the unspoken timekeeper for my family. Let’s just say I have deep respect for time, and an internal clock I’ve carefully cultivated over the years.
With the help of a simple visualization technique and a single mantra, I’ve learned to collaborate with time—to honor it and maximize it.
A quick disclaimer that what I’m about to lay out is likely what you may already do—what the rest of the world might do. But maybe not everybody. Maybe not people as loco about time as me.
Blocking
In theater, blocking is when actors work out their movements on the stage before the actual performance. Stand here for this scene, walk over there on this cue, move and turn this way under this light for this particular line. When the real scene plays out for the audience, the actor is positioned in the best possible place at the right moment.
I employ this concept every day all day to keep me focused on what’s ahead. The only difference is I’m blocking “scenes” in my head (not pretending to perform them on a stage). If I’m engaged in one activity—for instance fixing my kids’ breakfast—I’m playing out the next big movement in my mind, which would be getting them dressed, their teeth brushed, their shoes on. While doing that, I’m laying out the scene for the next movement of getting them out the door, in the car, and off to school.
Simple, easy stuff. Almost like seeing into the future, if only a few minutes at a time.
Task at Hand
We all fall victim to multitasking. We believe in our heart of hearts that we can do a few things at the same time. We can’t. It’s called task switching, and it’s a complete waste of time, let alone entirely inefficient. (Ask my wife and she’ll tell you how I chide her for trying to eat while cleaning the kitchen)
If you fall into the multitasking trap, get distracted easily and move onto another thing, or can’t focus, tell yourself, “task at hand.” In other words, concentrate only on the task you are engaged in at that very moment. Give it your all. It doesn’t even have to be a task. It can be talking to your spouse, reading to your kids, or getting ready in the morning. Even your teeth miss out when you stop brushing them to pick out your socks for the day. Task at hand, task at hand.
That’s it. No science to it. See it, be it.
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