It’s easy to try hard, to give 100% at what you’re doing. To be all that you can be, to live like there is no tomorrow. Be careful if you do this, tomorrow might not be as pleasant as you would have hoped!
If you give 100% at something, you don’t have anything left over. You think you can give 110%? How? Caffeine? Sugar? Go ahead, try it out. You’ll crash. The harder you try, the harder you’ll crash.
I’ve done it, and seen it in other people. When you try to live up to your potential every day ever day, you’re going to get tired and over worked. Try a little less, and have some left-over. That way, when you actually need to do something extra, you may be able to do it. Try living life at 80-90%, you’ll have so much more to give. When problems come your way, you’ll be able to take care of them. You won’t be grumpy because you have no time to do it. You have extra time.
In my day, everyday, I usually have a couple of hours that I don’t plan to do everything. It’s amazing, without fail something comes up that I need to work on. I receive a call to go to lunch, or a client needs something looked at right way. I can do it, because I don’t plan my days to full capacity.
Meetings, oh meetings. I’ll often have meetings that are from 8-9, 9-10, 10-11…. That means my day is booked for three straight hours. If anything comes up, uh-oh! I can’t help anybody or do anything. With meetings, leave a break in between so that you can answer your voicemails, use the bathroom, or get a drink. Otherwise, you’ll just be late.
Need more inspiration to try a little less? Check out the Underacheiver’s Manifesto! It’s an easy read, and provides great inspiration.
Hadn’t read this one yet. Another example is getting ready to go out the door early so if you get a last minute call, etc., you are not late.