Maximize Productivity: Achieve More in Just 60 Seconds
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Chapter 1: Overcoming Procrastination
Many of us struggle with procrastination, myself included. I was the type who would avoid hanging up clothes after a long day, often leaving items in the car for weeks simply because retrieving them felt like a chore. This tendency to delay small tasks can become burdensome, consuming more mental energy than actually completing them.
My husband, however, serves as an excellent model of productivity. He seamlessly fits small tasks into his schedule. For instance, upon returning from a trip, he quickly unpacks and organizes everything in just a few minutes. Meanwhile, I used to leave my suitcase open for days, secretly hoping my clothes would magically return to their hangers.
A 60-Second Challenge
I decided to conduct a little experiment: what if I committed just one minute to tackle the tasks I was avoiding? Surprisingly, I found that many of these tasks require only a minute to complete! Here are a few examples of what can be accomplished in just 60 seconds:
You can finally perform that post-exercise stretch you keep postponing. Trust me, during that one minute, you'll be surprised at how time stretches, especially if you attempt a plank. You'll surely realize how much can transpire in just a minute.
Another task you can complete in 60 seconds is emptying a rack of the dishwasher. Want to go further? Use another minute for the second rack—or you could continue to ignore it and hope someone else will take care of it. Have you ever noticed how much time is wasted arranging dirty dishes in the sink instead of just unloading the dishwasher?
You can also clean out your vegetable drawer, discarding any spoiled produce you intended to use for healthy meals. How about putting away that suitcase sitting in your room? I bet it won’t take more than half a minute.
You might finally retrieve that item from your car or place your new insurance card in the glove compartment, which has been sitting on your desk, vulnerable to getting lost.
What about those clothes you wore over the past few days? Hanging them up seems like a daunting task, yet it only takes seconds to return a sweater to the closet. You can also make your bed, arrange your mail into categories, or take out the trash and recycling—all within a minute or so.
Now It's Your Turn
Set the timer on your phone and say, “Hey Siri/Alexa/Google, set the timer for one minute.” Start with just one minute out of your day, which contains a total of 86,400 seconds. Even if you sleep for eight hours, you still have 57,600 seconds to use. Choose a task you've been neglecting and commit to it for just 60 seconds.
By dedicating even a minute each day to those tasks you've been avoiding, you can shift from bad habits to good ones. This small change can lead to greater happiness and a more organized, productive life.
Medium suggests this piece is a four-minute read. My apologies! Feel free to skip the plank for today.
Chapter 2: Quick Tips for Better Productivity
In the video "What you can do within 60 seconds," you’ll discover various tasks that can be accomplished in a minute, showcasing how small actions can lead to significant changes in your daily routine.
The second video, "60 Seconds to Change Your Life" by Jason Fladlien, offers insights into how one minute can make a profound impact on your life, motivating you to embrace small yet effective changes.