This chapter is for:
• How to increase work efficiency
• Ways to improve attention span
• Is it possible to regret our dreams becoming reality?
• “The devil in the details” and some other dream traps
• Do 6 pack, bookworm badasses exist?
• From KFC through M&M to McD as workout routines
• How one can be losing while winning and winning while losing

And indeed national holidays were just around the corner, which gave me the option to catch up on my other tasks. But then came …

Setback №1

The club knew no rest/pause. Which was good, no changes as far as group sessions are concerned. But it also wasn’t good, because:

Setback №2

Even though at the time I was lucky to have 4 day holiday, I had 1001 things on my to-do list and I kept saying to myself that I’ll find a time, but only a genie could’ve made my wish come true.

On the first day, Thursday, I was working at home and it was going faster than you could sell a plate of hot pies in a canteen, but I intentionally stopped at 3 PM so that I could go on my Zumba session. It wasn’t easy, I love working, but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.

I came in, eagerly waiting for the one-man-many-ladies sweat intense Latino dancing session after a two-hour spa marathon.

My enthusiasm was cooled down a bit at the reception:
"Hi, I’d like to register for the Zumba at 6 PM"
"You mean the Zumba from 7:15 PM?"
"Wasn’t it from 6?" (whilst hoping to change the situation, as we sometimes want, by feigning ignorance)
Instead of getting reality re-written for my own convenience, she implacably stated:
"Oh, they moved it to 7:15 a month ago"

Setback №3.

Temporarily I decided not to get registered to think things through.

Dream traps

TnT#3

Whenever a change occurs in the expected, think it over!
We often build ourselves up to a particular mindset and once entered we prefer to stick to it, simply for the sake of convenience. Careful! This is often used as a manipulation technique. A tiny bit of info is given, just enough to get an idea and to form expectations about something, and then – the last minute change. Voila, the trap is sprung.
I’ve observed quite a bit of serious situations where people tend to fall for the bait rather easily. For example the cryptocurrency boom or the tiny font found at the bottom of a lot of contracts or the “I agree” tickbox on any software application. In all of these cases, we tend to say “Yes”, without actually being aware of the details.
“The devil is in the details”.
I say this because sometimes details change the point entirely. In our desire to obtain our goal that is just within our grasp, by neglecting we walk straight into the trap of our own temporal blindness, by the single-minded pursuit of our dreams. Sometimes it turns out we’ve signed a contract for a far greater price than the one that we’re willing or even being capable of paying, both metaphorically and literally. Whoever dealt with divorce lawsuits, premarital or purchase contracts or (double) mortgage loans knows that the smallest detail might become the Most important thing.
So, whenever you see there is a small change, think on how great the impact might be, before acting.
Don’t give in to the impulse to finish things hastily!

I went to the dressing room, sat and started thinking.

Even two hours of (lost) time is a lot, giving the fact time is never enough. After all, I have dreams to make true, tens of thousands of fans to attract (still 8000 and counting), and business strategies to expand etc. ;)

Having already lost an hour to get ready for the workout and get here, if I directly go back, I won’t be able to do much more than visit the local store. Two hours lost without merit. :(

I could’ve gone to the fitness room to lift a bit, but that’s something one could do at any time. I could’ve visited the spa, but then I was not going to be in working condition, because of its relaxing effect.
To wait for an hour an a half for Zumba was a bit too much, but three hours and 15 min?
I felt much the same way Edmond Dantes did on the island before finding his treasure and becoming the Count of Monte Christo – robbed.

The evening had already been spent, so I decided at least I should get what I came for.

And there I was in the spa – lying on a heated lounge chair with a book in hand, seemingly a dream come true.
Don’t some of us dream of a book near the fireplace as already mentioned?
I turned on my tablet and began reading “To Have or to Be. The Dilemma of Human Choice” by Erich Fromm (this is the full title in the Bulgarian edition). A bit ironic having in mind the title and the difficulty of choices in this situation, wouldn’t you agree?

Back then I couldn’t see it like this, because I was reading the chapter where he examined the relation between Judaism and (its/) Jewish values and the content of the Torah through the prism of the nomadic life they had chosen by leaving the settled (and well-off Egyptian civilization).

Are you still following?

Because of the complexity of the book, it was a bit difficult to follow at times.
I read I read, I read, I kept on reading and at a certain point, I’ve had enough.

When I looked at the time, to my surprise only 15 min had passed.

Seriously?

Usually I read while on my way to work on the subway. A 15 min habit had become the natural norm for my attention span. Regardless if I read a book or a student’s assignment, I know I’ve never lost my time while on the run.
I took a look at the sauna. Should I do something else and then start again? I’ve decided against the idea as sauna and steam baths relax and gradually have an exhausting effect. Not a good way to prepare for a dynamic sport.

TnT №4

Save your strength, you’ll need it!
We also tend to overestimate our ability to tackle multiple tasks (not even necessarily at once). Be it because we can’t say”NO!”, or out of being overly optimistic about the time, it’s going to take, or simply because we like to prove (to) ourselves how capable we are and this is not a good method. Most often we would end up exhausted (and mistakes are quick to follow) and ridden with guilt when taking a break while the job waits.

I look again at the book, I make a deep sigh and I start again.

Again I read, I read, I read, I kept on reading and at a certain point, I’ve had enough.

Sadly, by looking at your timer, time doesn’t go any faster. And barely 1/6 of time has elapsed. :(

Reading a book, same as being on the computer is a static situation. On the computer, however, it is easier to pass the time, because we have various ways to spend it (e.g. Facebook, emails, other social media, making notes, etc). And while we are shifting our tasks, ideas may come unexpectedly, the same way a seagull might unexpectedly snatch your snack at the beach.

TnT №5

Diversify (your) tasks/routine!
Our productivity can be measured by/on a curve. The fact that we’ve decided to do something doesn’t automatically mean we’ll do it well. There is a pre-work interval of 3 to 15 min (varying by person and task) followed by a “work-mode” interval of 30 to 90 min. Not a good idea to get distracted then, for you may need to start again from zero. For the purpose of work, multitasking is less effective in this case, because it shortens our work interval.
The secret of effective work is to focus on what you are doing. The third and final interval happens when a drop in focus and flow occurs due to exertion. When you know it’s coming, finish the fragment that you’re working on. If you force it, you risk errors piling up and later on you’ll waste time fixing them and sometimes they could be serious or irreparable. Once you’ve ticked the box on the assignment, don’t start immediately with the next one.
As the popular commercial puts it: “Have a break, have a kit-kat!”.
Take 5 - 15 min break, change activity, have a snack/brunch or simply stretch. With renewed strength, your eagerness for work will come much easier. This working technique based on cycles is a.k.a. “Pomodoro” (from the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Francesco Cirillo used while he was developing the technique in the 80s).
Some people even prefer to set their cycles on 40-60 min with breaks of 5-10 and not a second more, but I abstain myself from such punctuality. After all humans are not clockwork machines scheduled to begin and cease work by the minute. Try and find the duration of your working cycles. With time you’ll know how much work is appropriate on a daily basis and this will result in better planning. You’ll be surprised how much this will improve your productivity and the work itself will become easier and more enjoyable.

To be continued in Part 5