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Ten Minute Jobs

Beware the “ten minute job.” It’s one of the principles of Murphy’s Law. If you expect a project to take only ten minutes, it’ll probably take an hour. Or three.

This usually applies to projects you don’t do often. and presume are going to be easy. Then something goes a little wrong. Maybe the screw heads on that door handle you’re taking apart are stripped. Or you realize you got the wrong part at the store, and now your computer is spread all over your living room in little pieces.

I’ve found that it’s always safer to overestimate how long something will take to do rather than underestimate. This way if something doesn’t go as expected, I’m not rushing to finish it because I’ve set myself a deadline that’s too short.

Remember to breathe and don’t let it get you down.

Busy Getting Things Done

Change your self talk about your projects and your time.

Several years ago I was becoming more than a little over-committed. I was running two home businesses, teaching both publicly and privately, and taking other classes. and doing readings. I was on the board of my church and was head of several committees. Because there were so few volunteers I’d often volunteer if nobody else would. Then there was housework to do.

I get exhausted just remembering it!

And maybe somehow I could find a moment to work on my novel. Maybe?

Not really. Most of my writing during that time was ad copy for the business, articles for my business websites or answering emails about purchases.

One day I sat down with my mentor and asked what on Earth I should do. “I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off!” I said.

“Every time I you say that you’re making the problem worse. And you say that a lot.”

So we discussed what I should say and my new mantra became, “I’m busy getting things done.”

Know what happened?

I slowed down my church activity. At the next board meeting I brought two friends and asked them to club me if I raised my hand to volunteer for anything. I passed a few of my committees on to others. When my board term was over, I didn’t run for the board again.

For a time, I slowed down the classes I was teaching to a public one per week and a private class every other. I set work hours when I would only take calls related to business.

And things started getting done.

Take a moment to consider the way you talk to yourself and others about your time, your tasks and your levels of stress and relaxation.

Are they positive metaphors or negative ones?

If they’re negative, what can you say instead?

If you dont know the answer, pretend for a moment that you do. Now if you knew the answer, what would it be?