This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Someday Is Today" by Matthew Dicks. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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When should you delegate tasks? How can you streamline your decision-making process? Who should go on your “adversaries list”?
To reach your full potential and accomplish extraordinary things, Matthew Dicks says you must first learn how to make the most of your time. Stop wasting time on unnecessary tasks, accomplish necessary tasks as quickly as possible, and reap the most benefits from the tasks you spend time on.
Keep reading to explore Dicks’s five main principles for maximizing efficiency.
Principle #1: Differentiate Between Important and Irrelevant Tasks
To make the most of your time, Dicks says that you first have to disregard irrelevant tasks. Only then can you focus on things that are truly important to you—not to your boss, your friends, or any other outside entity. He explains that we waste time on irrelevant tasks because we make decisions based on our current thoughts and feelings, which are largely influenced by our environments (like the people around us), not what we truly want or what’s best for us long term.
To maximize efficiency and avoid wasting time on tasks that feel important but are actually irrelevant, Dicks recommends performing only tasks that would matter to your future self. This will ensure you’re spending time on things that truly matter to you (not someone else) and benefit you in the long term. To enlarge your perspective ask yourself: Would the task at hand be important to your 100-year-old self? Would they want you to do it? Or, would they recommend that you spend that time doing something else?
Recruit Others to Handle Necessary But Unimportant Tasks
Dicks recognizes that certain tasks must get done even if they’re not important to you. For example, repainting the house might not be important, but it must be done to prevent home damage. To manage necessary but unimportant tasks, recruit others to help you. You can do this in one of three ways:
- Pay someone to do the task for you.
- Assign the tasks to a subordinate or willing party—for example, an employee, apprentice, or friend.
- Ask someone to help you complete the task so you accomplish it faster.
Principle #2: Minimize the Duration of Routine Tasks
Second, Dicks recommends minimizing the amount of time you spend on recurring, routine tasks—such as doing laundry or cleaning the dishes—regardless of whether they’re subjectively important or not. Dicks explains that, since you perform these tasks repeatedly, they could take up large portions of your life. Getting them done faster will create more free time that you can devote to pursuing your goals.
Dicks presents three main tips to minimize the time you spend on routine tasks:
Tip #1: Create Efficient Systems and Routines for Completing Tasks
Dicks notes that using systems and routines to complete tasks will help you streamline the process and save time. For example, reduce the time it takes to dress your child in the morning by creating an organization system for their clothing—that way, you won’t have to waste time looking for certain items. Further, create a dressing routine that streamlines the process and ensures you don’t forget anything—brush their teeth, comb their hair, put on their socks, underwear, pants, and shirt, and then put on their shoes.
Tip #2: Minimize Decision-Making
Minimize time-consuming decision-making by planning choices in advance and limiting your options, Dicks recommends. For example, you might currently spend 30 minutes every night rummaging through the cabinets and deciding what to make for dinner. Instead, pick three starches, three vegetables, and three proteins for the week and eat them in different combinations so you don’t spend time coming up with and preparing complex meals.
Tip #3: Multitask When Possible
Dicks notes that multitasking will help you get more things done at once so you have more free time to dedicate toward your goals. For example, instead of taking 10 minutes to eat dinner and then another 10 minutes to review tomorrow’s schedule, review the schedule while you eat dinner.
Principle #3: Focus on the Macro Rather Than the Micro
Third, Dicks suggests focusing on the big picture rather than a task’s details. He explains that people waste time by focusing on small details that they think are important but that don’t really matter. They do so because they desire perfection—they think every small detail needs to be immaculate. However, this wastes time because most tasks and projects don’t need to be perfect—they just need to get done.
To avoid the trap of perfectionism and micro-analyzing, Dicks offers two tips:
Tip #1: Stop Worrying About What Others Think
Dicks explains that people often focus on unimportant details—like whether they should wear red lipstick or clear lip gloss—because they’re concerned about how others will perceive them based on their appearance, level of effort, and so on. Realistically, this is a waste of time because people don’t pay attention to these things.
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Here's what you'll find in our full Someday Is Today summary:
- Why most people delay taking action toward their dreams and goals
- Tips for accomplishing extraordinary things in life
- How to maximize your time, efficiency, productivity, and creative potential
