How to Face and Overcome “One-More-Thing-Itis” Six Ways
Are you one of those people who’s always trying to squeeze in just one more thing? Do you relish the idea of checking another item off your “to-do” list? Then you might have One-More-Thing-Itis. I should know; I have it, too.
One-More-Thing-Itis
One-More-Thing-Itis
Maybe you think that only people with ADHD have “One-More-Thing-Itis.” But these days with social media, many people feel like they have too little time to finish the important things. Maybe it’s multitasking or maybe it’s information overload. Many of us lie in bed at night thinking “what did I forget to do?”
Do a Brain Dump
Do a Brain Dump
Eric Lofholm suggests spending 14 minutes every morning putting everything down on paper and then prioritizing everything. Even if you don’t get to it all, writing it down helps. And to do that, grab a pen and paper, suggests Mike Vardy in How to Do the Ultimate Brain Dump. ”
“There is something about writing something down that makes it stick; you connect better with the tasks, projects and goals you have on your plate when you write them down rather than enter them into a device.” says Vardy.
Keep Track of Time
Keep Track of Time
Do you know how much time you spend doing your every day chores? Neither did I, until I started tracking with Noko! (I’m not an afilliate, by the way, just a big fan!) Stop guessing how much time you spend! I seriously wish I’d found Freckle a long time ago! But if you don’t want to spend the bucks, you could always get an app or use an egg timer! Here’s my article about Time Management for Baby Boomers: Managing Social Media, if you’re so inclined.
Arrive Early
Arrive Early
One of my dad’s favorite sayings was “if you’re on time, you’re already late.” Did you have the same dad as me? I don’t arrive early because my dad said it was a good idea, though. I arrive early because it affords me the luxury of goofing off for a few minutes before an appointment. I’ll bet a lot of other early birds are the same way. Once at the airport, that thirty minutes turns into a sweet, sweet pumpkin latte coffee break. At an appointment, you can check out the magazines in the waiting room. And of course, it impresses the heck out of anyone you’re meeting with.
In the excellent article Always Late? How To Be On Time — For Real, by Refinery 29, there are suggestions for figuring out “what kind of late you are” so you can figure out how to be on time.
Forget Perfectionism
Forget Perfectionism
Are you a perfectionist? Then you know that everything could always be a little better, smoother, more polished. Better to do your best and get it done than wait until it’s perfect! For more tips and tricks, check out This Could Be So Much More Awesome! By moi.
Enlist Help
Enlist Help
Some people get others to help them be on time. You can set reminders on your phone ahead of time, or have a friend call you. If you need a professional nagger, they’re probably available, too! Sometimes it’s other people (a spouse, kids, coworkers) that make getting out on time difficult. If an activity is helping you become the best version of yourself, it might be worthwhile. If not, consider outsourcing it.
Sharpen the Axe
Sharpen the Axe
Remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe“? Like mise en place allows you to prepare a meal faster, getting prepared ahead of time lets you focus on the task at hand.
How Do You Avoid One-More-Thing-Itis?
Or maybe you don’t suffer from it at all. Do you? Leave me a comment and let me know! And thank you.
Multitasking is important to getting things done but can be a whole rabbit whole if you’re not careful. No is a powerful word and there’s nothing wrong with serving a niche.
Hi Bridget,
Not many people are good at multitasking, maybe not even rabbits!
No IS a powerful word. I like that one, thanks!
Carol
Hi Carol
I always feel that I could be doing more: one more blog post, one more social media post, one more email.
I try to prioritise my tasks, rather like Mike Vardy suggests in the article you linked to. I try to bear in mind the Pareto principle and focus on the actions that are mostly likely to give me a return.
Like Mike Vardy, I habitually write down everything I need to do in my big A4 diary. I’ve actually been trying to look at digital solutions. I’ve tried the latest ‘cool’ productivity apps like Todoist and Any.do, but I can’t get them to work in the the way that I want.
At the moment I’m using Google Keep supplemented with my diary. It’s working quite well for me.
Thanks for another thought-provoking post.
Clement
Hi Clement,
We both have that desire to squeeze one more task into our day.
The Pareto Principle is excellent.
Digital solutions don’t work as well for me as writing with a pen on real paper. Must be a tactile thing. Even if I do many of the same tasks daily, writing them down works the best here.
I don’t know about Google Keep. Will have to look into that!
Thank you for all your support. I appreciate it very much.
Carol
I love how you offer other links so we get even more out of your blog posts Carol. Thanks.
I have to think that my military background helps me stay organized most days so no “One More Thing-Itis”.
However, I do have to share our version of the arrive early quote. We (hubby and I) are always early and we go by the quote “if you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. If you’re late. you’re #$%^@” hehe I’ll just leave it at that. We now have two of our nephews using that when someone shows up late. hehe
Hi Patricia,
I had no idea you had a military background! How interesting! My dad served in the U.S. Airforce. I love your saying: sounds like something my whole family could get behind.
Some days, I wish everyone had this same philosphy.
Thanks for stopping by!
Carol
Good advice on the One-More-Thing-Itis syndrome! I suffer from it too. I am big on making lists and checking them off. I have come to a point in my life that even if I don’t get through the whole list I know there is always another day. Where I tend to suffer is when I feel pressured because of a deadline. I like to make deadlines and I try to manage my time so I can meet the deadlines that i have set.
“Better to do your best and get it done than wait until it’s perfect!” – I absolutely agree with this. I strive for doing my best and getting it done. I don’t expect perfection I just expect to do my best.
Thanks for the advice!
Hi Justine,
Do you ever write things down after you’ve done them just so you can check them off the list? Or write down “make a list!” as the first item of a list, just to get a sense of accomplishment? (I do that!)
Sometimes the bigger deadlines are hard to break down into bite-sized chunks. And sometimes that causes paralysis.
Thanks for sharing your way of doing things, too, Justine. I appreciate that!
Carol
Carol, did you know that if you are planning an activity with a bunch of Finns you need to show up several hours early in order to not be late? Finnish people, especially older Finnish people, always show up so far in advance of an activity that often it hasn’t even been scheduled, or invented, yet. What would you call that type of -itis?
Lisa,
I think it might be way-too-early-itis! Or Finn-itis?
Wait–I have to go get the door! The Finns are here, just a little early for Halloween.
Carol
Hey Carol,
Most of the people think about that one more thing. They never get satisfied what they have. And it’s because of the eagerness to achieve more.
It’s important to write it down and work for it. Sharpening your axe is really needed. The tools you have should be well-maintained to accomplish your task.
Thanks for the article.
~Ravi
Hi Ravi,
Yes, we’re all junkies for success. Slowing down for a moment or two rather than squeezing in that one extra chore is, if not a path to enlightenment, maybe a way to be just a bit more “in the moment.” Sounds silly, but it could help.
Thank you for stopping by!
Carol
Great reminders! Especially at this time of year. (Taking a deep breath now as I write). Thank you for taking the time to remind us all. We got this. We really do!
Hi Beth!
At this time of year, it’s wrap-one-more-gift-itis! But rushing around doesn’t make the holidays more meaningful or fun.
Thanks for taking the time during your busy week to comment!
Gratefully,
Carol