Daily Dose 44: Profitable Inefficiencies

When people think about time management, they often think in terms of becoming more efficient, taking less time to do a particular job, or eliminating wasted motions. When we automate a particular task, we are doing just these sorts of things.

At some point in the automation process, however, we become as effective and as efficient as we can be. No matter how we streamline bed making, it will always take some time to make a bed. The only way to get to zero is to not do the job!

No matter how quickly you check email, it will take time. No matter how quickly you read, it will take time to read that biology chapter. Once we reach the point of being as efficient as we can be, from that time on, we must maintain the task or habit, and only attend to it at an evaluation time.

The Flip Side of Efficiency

The flip side to efficiency tasks is a group of time users I call profitable inefficiencies. Here are tasks that seem inefficient in the short term, especially when under pressure. We want keep a certain constant vigilance about such tasks because it becomes very tempting to set them aside when the pressure is on.

But these are profitable inefficiencies. They do us good in the long run. They provide value and fulfill important priorities in life, unlike wandering back to the refrigerator four times while cake baking, when once would have worked just as well.

Examples of Profitable Inefficiencies

Spiritual disciplines

Taking time to pray, read Scripture, and speak about Christ can almost always be excused in the present time—too busy, too tired, too whatever. But they warrant top priority time because of their long term benefit.

Executive Oversight time

Taking time to write out schedules, or make a chart seems wasteful of time—just get in there and do some cleaning, don’t just think about it. But, a chart or a practiced process that can be used for years is not inefficient, especially if it can be shared.

Breaking bad habits

Breaking a bad habit usually means we need to be “inefficient,” at least until the new habit is strongly entrenched.  Are you trying to put things away in their proper place every time? You need to be inefficient and walk back upstairs rather than dropping that sweater on the table until you go upstairs the “next time.”

Multitasking with a mechanical maid

If the washer can be doing laundry while you clean the rest of the house, by all means, take the few minutes required to put it to work.

Five Minute Fix-Ups

Turning out lights, straightening pillows, hanging up one shirt, will always seem inefficient as you are passing by, but in the long run they maintain order and promote an engaged mindset. Whether in school, home, or office, knowing the things you can do in five minutes, and regularly attending to them is very profitable in the long run.

Adequate Sleep, Wise Eating, and Body Movement

No less than seven hours sleep, healthy eating, and keeping your body moving during the day are powerful profitable inefficiencies.

Protect Profitable Inefficiencies as You Become more Efficient

Whenever you are thinking about how to improve an area, always consider the profitable inefficiencies. Protect them with your alertness and they will protect you from unfulfilled priorities over the long haul of a full life.