Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24)
This is another of those obvious proverbs. If you’re a hard worker, chances are pretty good that you’re going to be looked to when it comes to getting things done. If you know what you’re doing, you’ll be asked to do it. If you’re lazy, the only way you end up doing things is if someone effectively stands over you with a (figurative or literal) whip. One thing I’ve noticed is that it’s a whole lot easier for the diligent to become lazy than for the lazy to become diligent. Entropy works even in psychology.
It comes to mind that, in order to be positive today, I should share a trick or two that I’ve learned to increase diligence. Let’s start with a BAD trick. Don’t do this – don’t just “don’t do this at home,” don’t do it, period. For years, I used anger to fuel my diligence. When I worked at the library and had to go shelve books, I did two things. I collected the biggest books I could find (thus reducing the number I had to shelve in order to look like I’d done a lot of work) and I found something to be angry about. It didn’t matter what, all that mattered was generating the emotional energy and focus needed to keep my mind off what I was doing while still empowering it. The general concept is great. Generate the energy needed and keep your mind off the tedious task. The specific source was the problem. Anger is as addictive as any other chemical. Please, don’t do anger. I think I’m still recovering.
A better solution, I think, is to make a game out of it. It’s not about being diligent, it’s about seeing how much you can accomplish – quickness and quality are key – in a given time period. I’m probably rehashing another frequent story, but I clean in five-minute intervals. I know writers who do “word sprints.” They set a timer for five minutes, or ten and see how many words they can write – the hope being that they’re good words. It’s basically wild-writing, but it gives them somewhere to start later.
Another idea for getting things done is to give yourself permission to not want to do it. Stop worrying about psyching yourself up to it. Another rehash, but I learned this one when I was starting to jog. I complained to God that I didn’t wanna. He said, “OK, you don’t have to, but are you gonna?” I don’t have to want to do whatever it is I have to do to be diligent. I just have to do it.
The last way I’ll mention is the old “carrot” trick. Agree with yourself that when you get the task done (and done right) you get to so two things: 1) something that’s good for you, and 2) something you’ll enjoy. If you can put the two together, you get a gold star.
It comes to mind that, in order to be positive today, I should share a trick or two that I’ve learned to increase diligence. Let’s start with a BAD trick. Don’t do this – don’t just “don’t do this at home,” don’t do it, period. For years, I used anger to fuel my diligence. When I worked at the library and had to go shelve books, I did two things. I collected the biggest books I could find (thus reducing the number I had to shelve in order to look like I’d done a lot of work) and I found something to be angry about. It didn’t matter what, all that mattered was generating the emotional energy and focus needed to keep my mind off what I was doing while still empowering it. The general concept is great. Generate the energy needed and keep your mind off the tedious task. The specific source was the problem. Anger is as addictive as any other chemical. Please, don’t do anger. I think I’m still recovering.
A better solution, I think, is to make a game out of it. It’s not about being diligent, it’s about seeing how much you can accomplish – quickness and quality are key – in a given time period. I’m probably rehashing another frequent story, but I clean in five-minute intervals. I know writers who do “word sprints.” They set a timer for five minutes, or ten and see how many words they can write – the hope being that they’re good words. It’s basically wild-writing, but it gives them somewhere to start later.
Another idea for getting things done is to give yourself permission to not want to do it. Stop worrying about psyching yourself up to it. Another rehash, but I learned this one when I was starting to jog. I complained to God that I didn’t wanna. He said, “OK, you don’t have to, but are you gonna?” I don’t have to want to do whatever it is I have to do to be diligent. I just have to do it.
The last way I’ll mention is the old “carrot” trick. Agree with yourself that when you get the task done (and done right) you get to so two things: 1) something that’s good for you, and 2) something you’ll enjoy. If you can put the two together, you get a gold star.
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