[Cross-posted from Blank Slate.]
From the 37signals post Workaholics fixate on inconsequential details:
Good advice for anyone who wants to be more efficient: When you’re sweating for hours over a tiny detail, stop and ask yourself, “Is this really worth the amount of time I’m spending on it?†If not, declare “good enough†and move on.
The perfectionist in me initially cried out, “No! You can’t just skim over the details like that!” But he’s right. It’s not a call for mediocrity. It’s a reality check.
I’ve been thinking about this in regard to my playwriting, for example. Say I write a play. I could revise it ad infinitum, and ostensibly it should get better over time, yes. (Though too much tinkering can be a hazard.) But is it worth it to keep revising? Some revision, yes. But there’s a point at which it no longer becomes worth the time I’m putting into it, and then it’s best to move on and write something new. You learn not only from polishing your current bit of work, but also from starting the next one. And the next one. And the next one.
Comments
I’m the opposite- I never sweat the details, even when I really should. Example: I have a paper due TODAY and I’m casually watching TV, layin around… I feel like taking a nap. Tonight I’ll probably piece something together and declare “good enough”. If only we could find a healthy medium!
That was a cool post that you linked too. It’s an interesting perspective. I wonder if there is any data to back up the part about the real hero already being home because they found a more efficient way to get the job done. And the part about workaholics solving crises after crises that they themselves created. ???
George: Haha, sometimes it is better to procrastinate those papers until the last minute. Or at least that was my attitude when I was an undergrad. :P
Ali: I don’t know if there’s any data, but it’s true — both about the real hero and about workaholics solving their own crises. (I know because I’ve been one of those workaholics and I’ve been addicted to crises, and we do create them so we can get that thrill. It’s weird but true.)