While trying to work through some time management issues, many people recommended the book The One Thing – The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan.
If you struggle to find time for anything like me, then this book is for you!
No time for decluttering? Can’t find time to relax? Doing 8 things at once and still struggle to finish anything?
Or maybe you finish things but they’re never as good as they could be.
Then this book is definitely for you!!
I’m so glad this book was recommended to me because I was so frustrated with the time crunch I’ve been struggling with for the past few years.
Writing a review is new for me because I don’t have much time for reading. I’m giving it a shot though because I like this book so much and this time management topic is VERY important to me.
One thing that I was happy about right after opening the cover is that this book is easy to read. It doesn’t take up much already scarce time to get through it. I finished it in less than 2 weeks. That’s a record for me!
I’m a super slow reader but this book was no problem! It’s very thought provoking and fun with the main points summarized at the end of each chapter. Anything important is underlined too. Very helpful.
It might be an easy read but it’s packed full of invaluable advice!
Improving Your Work Productivity
My work days have been more productive and I’ve been able to work a little closer to 40 hours a week instead of 50-60 hours. On a regular basis, I get distracted and then things take longer than they should. This leaves so much less time for decluttering!
If you tend to have a hard time focusing too, you’ll get lots of practical advice to help you eliminate the distractions and be more productive.
Instead of thinking about all the other things that need to get done, concentrate on the one thing (the most important thing) you’re working on until it’s done. No multi-tasking either!
The book helps you determine what those most important things are that you need to get done each day in different areas of your life and then focus on those.
Am I doing enough of my One Thing?
The book kind of aligned with my latest thoughts of whether I’m doing enough today so that I won’t be mad at myself in six months. By doing the one most important thing today, it will be enough in six month.
You can apply these principles in all different areas of your life:
- finances
- physical health
- personal life
- spiritual life
- key relationships
- business
It seems to work. It’s based on building excellent habits and then taking it further each time you master one. Since we all pick up new habits at different rates depending on our own lives and how big the habit is, there’s no set time frame. Once you have truly mastered the one thing, it’s time to level up.
The other most important thing that the book touches on is boundaries. It would be wonderful if we could all help everyone else all the time. If we did that though, then nothing of ours would ever get done.
Remember – Saying yes to something means saying no to something else.
Have you tried Time Blocking?
Lastly, there’s a chapter devoted to time blocking for The One Thing that you are trying to achieve. It goes along with the boundaries that you put in place so that you have enough time set aside to work on your One Thing.
I’m still fairly new to time blocking but next week I’ll tell you all about my favorite FREE calendar app that I’m using!
It’s nice to gain a little bit of time. It’s like unlocking a door to productivity. We all have 24 hours in a day so it’s important to make sure we aren’t wasting too much of.
Sounds like a book I need to read!
I had high expectations when I read it since so many people had recommended it and it didn’t disappoint! 😊