Once

Leo Babauta, with a simple, yet profound productivity tip:

Deal with something once. Do it now. Then it’s off your mind, and you can fully focus on the next matter.

Do most of us do this? We might read a bunch of emails, and say, “I’ll reply to those later. I’ll decide later.” We might see a bill or other piece of mail, and put it aside for later.

We put off small decisions and tasks for later, and they pile up, weighing on us at the back of our minds, pulling on us until we collapse under the weight of “later”.

Try dealing with it immediately.

Yup.

If you’re dreading making a phone call, make it now. Then it will be over, and you’ll feel at ease. If you put it off till the last minute, you’ll be anxious between now and when you’re forced to actually make the call, which could be quite a long time.