Life Hacks and the Practice of Tanka: 14 Time Management Techniques for Effective Time Use
In our daily lives, we use brain resources when we are conscious of tasks or what we need to do right now.
However, those resources are limited, and when that limit is exceeded, work performance declines.
The capacity of those resources is called cognitive resources.
In daily life, it seems that we are overusing these cognitive resources, leading to increased stress.
To avoid wasting cognitive resources, it is important to reduce the number of things you have to do (^^)
To that end, it is said that it is good to categorize the huge list you have written down into the following three categories.
■ "Do now" to-do list
■ "Do soon" to-do list
■ "Do someday" to-do list
It would be great if you could make it a habit, but to save cognitive resources and reduce mental distress, it is important to establish the following three things, so please try to be conscious of them.
1. Reduce the things you have to do as much as possible
2. Reduce the things you need to remember (prospective memory) as much as possible
3. Ensure you complete only your routine work
However, since it is important to use life hacks that suit you, I think you should choose the methods that are easiest for you rather than forcing yourself to fit into what is presented (^^)
Now, for those who want to think about what life hacks are,
"You who read me, are you sure you understand my language?" (from J.L. Borges' "The Library of Babel")
I will introduce concrete examples of hacks combined with the practice of Tanka, which I think can be called the repetition of presenting a way of life in the first person (self-making). Will you be driven into a daily world where such (hack-like) ways of living are considered desirable?
Please check it out (^^)
1. Create a TO-DO list
Create a so-called action checklist.
Furthermore, do not just create it once and leave it; update it sequentially as needed.
For that reason, digital media (such as mobile phones) are easier to manage.
Additionally, break down requirements as finely as possible and write them out in detail.
2. Allocate time
Allocate time for the contents of your to-do list. If there are tasks that can be done in a short time, you will see things you can do during unexpected "gap time," such as waiting for a train.
3. Setting and adhering to deadlines
Set deadlines for each task and try to adhere to those dates as much as possible.
Setting clear goals creates pressure, but it also increases the compliance rate.
4. Efficient use of time
For example, avoid unnecessary time constraints as much as possible, such as checking emails only at set times each day, not checking the same email multiple times, postponing email checks if you don't have time to reply at this very moment, and not reading the same document two or three times.
5. Organizing your desk
Keep your desk organized so that you can find the stationery you need immediately when the time comes.
Furthermore, keep your desktop and email software inbox folders neatly organized.
6. Be possessive of your work
Create an inbox for documents addressed to you and have them collected there.
Otherwise, your desk will become cluttered with documents addressed to you and turn into a dumping ground.
7. Avoid interruptions
If you have absolutely no time, close the door if you are working in a private room.
Inform your colleagues of this as well to signal that you do not have time to respond.
8. Don't Forget a Collaborative and Cooperative Attitude
In the case of collaborative work with colleagues rather than solo tasks, I assume that my colleagues' work will finish on schedule, and they are proceeding with the intention that my work will also finish on schedule.
However, there is no guarantee that those expectations will work out 100% of the time.
The possibility that one party might (due to some trouble) hold the other back cannot be denied.
It is safer to strive to finish work earlier than the deadline in advance.
This is because even if a colleague falls behind in their work, if you have finished "as planned" ahead of the deadline, you can use the remaining time to help them.
9. Stop Unnecessary Follow-ups
While verifying progress, analyzing, and providing appropriate advice are necessary, when it reaches the level of "interfering" or "butting in," it is nothing more than a nuisance.
Since you have assigned "responsibility" to individuals and delegated tasks, you should leave it to them.
If you try to grasp everything from A to Z yourself, not only will you cause an overflow for yourself, but the efficiency of those receiving the follow-ups may also decline.
10. Stop Regular Meetings
If a regular meeting is truly necessary, strive to finish it on time.
If it has become a "meeting for the sake of a meeting," it is nothing but a waste and should be reviewed.
11. Maintain a "Busy State"
Always maintain a state of being involved in at least one project to keep a sense of tension.
Furthermore, by being involved in multiple projects rather than just repeating routine work, you can refresh both mind and body and ensure you remain active.
12. Choose Projects Carefully
No matter how seriously and sincerely you work, if the task you are handling is worthless, your motivation will drop, it will be a waste of time, and you will be unable to manage your time.
It is important to judge whether the target project is a plus for the company and for yourself.
For example, you must have an attitude of asking yourself, "Will this be a plus for my career?" or "Is it okay to spend time on this task?"
13. Stop Procrastinating on Unpleasant Tasks
It is human nature to want to put off boring tasks.
However, by tackling "boring tasks" first, you can work with a positive mindset, knowing that "once this is finished, I can move on to work that interests me."
Conversely, if you put them off, you may be plagued by the thought that "I have to do that unpleasant task after this," which can lower the efficiency of the work you actually enjoy.
For example, if you are not good at staring at numbers, you should finish accounting-related tasks first thing in the morning (when your mind is sharp).
14. Setting "Rewards"
Time management is not limited to pure work tasks.
It also includes finishing work or tasks, taking a break, and recharging your energy.
Also, by setting "rewards" for yourself in advance, your motivation should increase, your work efficiency should improve, you should be able to complete tasks as planned, and your time management should go well.
("AskMen.com" presents "Time Utilization and Management Techniques for Using Limited Time Effectively" to meet the needs of people who want to "use their time more effectively," and this is a quote from there.)
"Placing the writing down of to-dos at the top of the to-do list in my brain"
(from Shiso Makino's "Seiryu")
"By the roadside, clear water flows in the shade of the willow; I stopped for just a moment"
(from Saigyo Hoshi's "Shin Kokin Wakashu," Summer Poems 262)
"I bought commercial-sized cornflakes and couldn't finish them, which was a good thing"
(from Arifumi Kawamura's "Taikutsu to Vibes," in "Nemuranai Ki vol. 6")
"Between the legs of my younger sister, which the jeans outline thinly, the days come and go"
(from Nao Kojima's "Ginkgo and Pelican," in "COCOON" issue 10)
"Having slept enough without dreaming, my body has found the strength to squeeze a lemon"
(from Mikiko Yokoyama's "Gogo no Cho")
"Calling myself 'Ku-nea-mu-n,' I crush diamonds every night, how sad"
(from Shion Mizuhara's "Tanka Kenkyu," August issue)
"I have walked with all my might, but it was a dream that I was on the wrong path from the start"
(from Kazuma Ooshita's "Shitsutsu")
"We live, laugh, eat, and sleep in a strangely bright communal graveyard"
(from Saya Kishihara's "Koe, Aruiwa Oto no You na")
"FUCK while on my period is hot / We end up staring intently at the sea of blood"
(from Amari Hayashi's "Bedside")
"Always lacking time / Even if I say that / If I had it, I would just sleep it away"
(from Mayumi Honda/Kyono Honda's "Neko wa Fumazu ni")
"As if playing, the clouds move in the twilight; the near mountains are dark, the far mountains are bright."
(From Mokichi Saito's 'Tsuyujimo')
"I wish there were as many kinds of peace as there are bottles of shampoo lined up."
(From Michio Ohno's 'Aki Kaidan')
"The trees and grasses I thought to plant, I never did; perhaps my life will pass away just like this."
(From Minoru Shibuta's 'Seiya')
"A Starbucks alone as a reward for working hard all week."
(From Matoga Yoshimoto's 'Hidamari')
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