The opposite of efficiency is of course inefficiency. But what does that mean?
Inefficiency could be defined as:
“the state of not achieving maximum productivity; failure to make the best use of time or resources.”
One way of being inefficient is to start to do a task, leave it and come back to it later.
An example would be picking the post up off the doormat, rifling through to see what’s there and then putting it in a pile to deal with later. The pile gets bigger and at some point you have to hunt around and find the phone bill because you’re pretty sure it’s due to be paid.
Another example – you get the iron out and just iron one shirt for work the next day. Each night you have to go through this task but if you took some time after the laundry was done to do all the ironing you would have a clean set of clothes for the whole week and would only have to get the iron out once!
This can apply to your home-life or work-life. Just look around you wherever you’re reading this (unless of course you’re on a train!) and see what things have been left to be done “later”.
Do it Now
One of the best ways of creating an efficient lifestyle is to apply do it now not later whenever possible.
At Work
If you receive letters and written memos, decide on a specific time(s) of day to deal with this and then take all the letters/memos and answer them. Don’t pick up one, put it back, pick up another etc. You are just doubling the work – each time you pick it up you’re almost guaranteed to read it and even work out what to say in reply.
One of my favourites is email. Email arrives all the time and it’s easy to stop what you’re doing, get distracted, read the email and then carrying on with what you’re doing. 9 times out of 10 you’ll have formulated a rough response to the email in your mind but then put it off to answer later.
Dealing with email could be handled the same as written letters and memos – choose specific times of the day to answer them. But if you do read an email then answer it – do it now not later. That way it’s done and you won’t have to re-read it, re-think about what you were going to say and it keeps your inbox relatively empty!
At Home
A very simple example would be getting undressed at night and leaving your dirty clothes on a chair (or the floor). In the morning, or at some point when you want a tidy room or it’s laundry day, you have to move these dirty clothes to the laundry basket. Instead – do it now not later – put the clothes straight into the laundry basket when you take them off!
Washing the dishes – everyone’s favourite! After finishing a meal wash the dishes – do it now not later – otherwise you have to hunt around and find the sharp knives or rinse out a cup when they’re all dirty.
Try It
Try it out for a day and see what a difference it can make. There are of course times when you literally don’t have time to do it now – perhaps you get up late and rush off to work without having time to wash your breakfast dishes. But if you try to organise your life so you can do it now as often as possible it will save you time in the long run.
It actually gives one a sense of satisfaction and a sense of satisfaction can lead to a general feeling of well-being so give it a go!