As someone who's struggled with procrastination and time management, I can relate to the concept of "work to do work." It's those pesky little tasks that seem insignificant on their own but add up to a significant amount of time before we can actually start doing what needs to be done. I've found myself in this exact situation while recording an episode - 20 minutes turned into 35, all because I got caught up in the prep work. But after reading Sarah Kesty's article, "The Hidden Hazard of Work-to-Do Work," I realized that it's not just about getting started, but also about planning for those tasks ahead of time.

It's amazing how much energy and time we waste on pre-work, only to drain our excitement and motivation when the actual task takes longer than expected. But what if we could plan for this "work to do work" and reduce the inertia that holds us back? That's exactly what I want to explore today - how can we make the tasks that are preventing us from doing the important stuff easier, faster, and more efficient? By scheduling our prep work ahead of time, automating some parts of our lives using AI, and being kinder to ourselves when things don't go as planned, we can truly live life to the third power.

Takeaways:

- Work to do work refers to those little tasks that add up to a significant amount of time before you can start doing what needs to be done.

- Planning for your prep work ahead of time can help reduce procrastination and increase efficiency.

- Scheduling your pre-work as part of the task estimate can prevent energy drain and maintain motivation.

- Using AI, like generative AI tools, can automate some parts of your life and free up more time for what's truly important.

- Being kind to yourself when things don't go as planned is essential in overcoming procrastination.

Article Link: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-tools-school/202408/the-hidden-hazard-of-work-to-do-work

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