Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 4002:
Mr. Money Mustache reframes productivity by turning time into a visible, ticking constraint, showing how a simple countdown can eliminate distractions and sharpen focus. By working against the clock, you not only get more done in less time but also build a lasting habit of efficiency that improves both income and personal satisfaction.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/03/12/get-more-from-your-day-by-counting-the-seconds/
Quotes to ponder:
"When you get a task done in an efficient manner like that, you get the full reward of the accomplishment, with none of the extra non-rewarding guilt and time suck that comes along with procrastination."
"That simple change of going from “get something done”, to “get as much done as you can within a fixed time limit with a counter” makes all the difference for me."
"Getting a whole bunch of great work done in a short time is a worthwhile goal for any worker."
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_01] It's time to refresh your yard during Spring Backyard Days at The Home Depot. Get low prices guaranteed on propane grills starting at $179, like the NexGrill 3-Burner Gas Grill. Or get $50 off a select Weber Spirit Grill and bring big flavor to your backyard. Then set the scene with Hampton Bay String Lights that bring it all together. Shop Spring Backyard Days for 7 days at The Home Depot, now through May 6th. Exclusion Supply, see homedepot.com slash price match for details.
[00:00:30] [SPEAKER_02] This is Optimal Living Daily. Get more from Your day by Counting the Seconds by Mr. Money Mustache of MrMoneyMustache.com And I'm Justin Malik. I'm going to jump right into today's post as we optimize your life. Get more from your day by Counting the Seconds by Mr. Money Mustache of MrMoneyMustache.com
[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_02] I've only got 59 minutes left to finish this article for you, but I'm glad to have this time limitation because it'll keep me from going into my usual random sidetracks and wasteful web surfing that can easily end up burning half a day and leaving me with a stiff neck and a guilty sense of laziness. Like everyone, except the most glossy and accomplished self-help guru, I still struggle occasionally with trying to get the most out of my day. I have some days where I absolutely kick ass and get many useful things done,
[00:01:22] [SPEAKER_02] but still too many days where I bumble around and make excuses for why I'm not doing what I should be doing. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm supposed to call to make that change to the house insurance policy, but I'm not in the mood to deal with telephone people right now. I think I'll just check my email instead, or clean the kitchen, or... Oh, what's this flyer that just came in the mail? I think I'll dream about bike parts instead. This tendency is even more powerful for those of us who are in an office, supposed to be getting work done on a computer.
[00:01:50] [SPEAKER_02] There's an important, but boring or daunting task open in the foreground, but there are also several other tabs open in your web browser. I can see that one of them is Mr. Money Mustache, another one is the news website, another is Gmail, and then there is that YouTube video a friend forwarded to you that you'll sneak in when nobody is peeking into your cube. And oh, an email from your friend just came in. Let's read that one first, and by the time you reply, it will be just about lunchtime. Perfect. Is it any wonder that we have productive and non-productive days,
[00:02:19] [SPEAKER_02] and that about 80% of the actual money-earning results in brain-intensive industries are attained by the top 20% of the workers? Getting a whole bunch of great work done in a short time is a worthwhile goal for any worker, because as much as some like to deny it, good work gets noticed, and on average over your lifetime, you will be paid for how much work you get done. But it's an even more worthwhile goal for your after-work time and your weekends, because your employer is not taking a big cut of the profits.
[00:02:47] [SPEAKER_02] In the forums of this blog and in emails, I get to read some very happy stories about people who saved $400 on mortgage or insurance costs with just an hour of work. Even in my own life without a real job, I get great benefits from getting things done. The biggest one is happiness. I'm simply happier at the end of a big day of accomplishment than after a day of unguided computer fiddling. But how can I pack more into my days while limiting the time waste? The solution I've been trying out recently with great success
[00:03:16] [SPEAKER_02] is simply putting myself on the clock at least once a day. If I start a countdown timer on my phone and put it right next to my computer with the seconds ticking away, I am instantly made aware of the passage of time. I suddenly have a goal to write this whole article, including adding the pictures and rereading it a few times and editing it at the end, all within the span of an hour. That's a short time to write something. There are only 32 minutes left. So I'm sure it's not going to take a break, open up a few more tabs in the browser,
[00:03:45] [SPEAKER_02] see what's going on in the comments section or the statistics section, or other such nonsense like I usually do. When you get a task done in an efficient manner like that, you get the full reward of the accomplishment with none of the extra non-rewarding guilt and time suck that comes along with procrastination. Even more significantly over the long run, you planted the seed of a new habit, being an efficient person. Over time, you can force this new habit to overtake the old bad habit of inefficiency.
[00:04:12] [SPEAKER_02] That is a pretty powerful thing when it comes to making money for yourself, since getting things done directly correlates with income. I've also started using the timer for my weight training and CrossFit style workouts. In the olden days, I'd go down to my basement gym with just a vague goal like, today I want to exercise the chest and back muscles. Now I write down something specific like, one set of bench presses, one of pull-ups, one of box jumps, and then repeat the cycle as many times as you can within 18 minutes.
[00:04:40] [SPEAKER_02] That simple change of going from get something done to get as much done as you can within a fixed time limit with a counter makes all the difference for me. I find I do more sets in an 18-minute time period than I would normally do in a 40-minute traditional workout, all with a much greater intensity due to an elevated heart rate. It's a competition against myself, which is my favorite type of contest. So next time you have something that you need to get done, just try the experiment on yourself. Write down the goal on a piece of old-fashioned paper,
[00:05:09] [SPEAKER_02] then put a countdown timer on top of the paper so both things are staring you in the face. Then, get to work. And it looks like I've done my own workday with three minutes and two seconds to spare. You just listened to the post titled, Get More From Your Day By Counting The Seconds, by Mr. Money Mustache of MrMoneyMustache.com. And I'll be right back with my commentary.
[00:05:36] [SPEAKER_03] Study and play! Come together on a Windows 11 PC! And for a limited time, college students get... The best of both worlds! Get the Unreal College Deal. Everything you need to study and play with select Windows 11 PCs. Eligible students get a year of Microsoft 365 Premium and a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with a custom color Xbox wireless controller. Learn more at windows.com slash student offer. While supplies last, ends June 30th. Terms at aka.ms slash college pc.
[00:06:06] [SPEAKER_00] Good sleep is everything. That's why Ollie's Science Back Support is made with a blend of melatonin and L-theanine for both kiddos and grown-ups. So when your mind won't switch off, you've got something that can help. Erasing thoughts and restless nights won't stand a chance. Find Ollie's sleep solutions for the whole family at Ollie.com. That's O-L-L-Y dot com.
[00:06:30] [SPEAKER_02] Thank you to Mr. Money Mustache. Good practical one here. We've talked about it before, but for me, I've noticed that certain tasks like making a phone call or dealing with something I've been avoiding tend to feel bigger and heavier the longer I put them off. And then I finally do them and it took like 10 minutes or wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. The buildup is typically worse than the actual thing. But the timer idea is a good one
[00:06:59] [SPEAKER_02] because it makes time visible. When time is more abstract, it's easy to lose an hour without noticing. But when there's a countdown right in front of you, it changes how you move. You tend to stop overthinking, getting distracted, and just go. I also like that he uses it for workouts too. The idea of doing as many rounds as you can in 18 minutes versus a random 40 minute session. I can see how that would push you harder.
[00:07:27] [SPEAKER_02] Turns it into a little competition against yourself, which tends to bring out more effort than just doing it until you feel like stopping. So if you've got something you've been putting off, maybe just set a timer, even for 20 or 30 minutes, and see how much you can do. You might be surprised. With that, thank you for being here. Hopefully this one from Mr. Money Mustache has helped you. If you like his style, you can hear more from him, a lot more from him, over on our other podcast, Optimal Finance Daily. So check that out for more.
[00:07:56] [SPEAKER_02] But for now, have a great rest of your day and I'll see you tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.