The Lazy Parent's Guide to Becoming Productive

Your life is already half over, if you’re lucky. For some of you, it could all be over tomorrow. You just never know. So what are you going to do with your day? Remember there is a difference between being busy and being productive.   Are you waiting for inspiration to make a record of your daily efforts? Something history worthy? 

 

As my dad would say, I have a special newsflash for you. You aren't going to know what is important unless you write it down. Seriously. You know what's important to you. Maybe you like to watch YouTube videos. How many YouTube videos did you watch yesterday, this week, this month so far, this year? Which videos did you watch? Keep track of the data. You may be surprised at how much you do every day, and what is important to you.

 

Make a copy of the spreadsheet I started to keep track of what you do today,  starting with a link to a video of Ben Harper singing "Better Way." Or make your own spreadsheet where you write down everything you do.  Make whatever changes you need to keep track of what you learn. 

You might want to write down what you ate for breakfast, and how you felt afterward. You might want to write down every time you talked to your mother, and what you talked about. The point is, I am sure you do more than watch YouTube videos. You have to write it down. That's how you know you've been productive, and not just busy. 

Track the data to see where the time goes, or you will forget. Forgetting what you are doing with your life is a waste of time. You spend the same amount of time as the person who keeps track of what they are doing, but you have nothing to show for it. You have no interest. It’s like the difference between investing your money in the bank with daily compounding interest, or giving it all away.  

 

Making a consistent effort is more important than how you feel about doing something. I might have a feeling of inspiration one day and the next day I feel like a grouch. If I only track what I am doing on the days I feel like it, I am not going to have the data I need to have more days like that. There is no magic trick to leading a fulfilling life, no magic trick to fulfilling your purpose in life. You have to make consistent efforts, and analyze the data. Lots of it. You are not going to be able to recognize a meaningful pattern if you leave stuff out. 

 

Let’s say that you are too lazy to use a system like the spreadsheet I shared with you. Then you are like most people. Most people have no interest in making change until something happens that makes them realize they have no choice but to pay attention to avoid suffering. Lazy people with no interest in learning think they have more choices than they actually do. 

 

Notice the true limits of your resources. You do not have an infinite amount of time. Observe how you spend your time, so you can decide if you would rather spend it on something else. Start to earn interest on what there is to learn.

 

Recognize that small changes can make a big difference, if you know the right change to make. Make choices with the data you have available, but keep gathering data. You will begin to see patterns emerge that will help you decide whether you need to change something.

 

Respond by making consistent efforts to build a future for your family. What you do is up to you, so long as your efforts are consistent. Set an intention to act for the benefit of others every day, and you will find a power to create results that is greater than the limited resources available to you. Less busy, more productive. 

 

Make good use of the time.

 

  

* GODSPEED stands for “Gather Only Data in Sync with the Purpose of Every Excellent Deed.”