Effort is defined as the use of energy to do something; endeavor, exertion; strain; striving. It goes on to say a difficult undertaking; chore or task. Well, that doesn’t sound very pleasant at all. It sounds like hard work, doesn’t it? There are a number of ways to get the maximum results from the least amount of effort.
1) Do what you love – How hard is it for someone to make you go shopping, or make you party? It probably doesn’t take much convincing at all to get you up and running. When we see people who are vibrant and enjoying their lives, it may be that they have figured out a secret that we all need to unfold – Do what you love. If your life is boring, your career is unfulfilling and your relationships are half-assed, it’s because you’ve placed all these things in your life that you don’t even want or value. Grab a hold of something you’re passionate about and see how very little effort it takes for you to indulge.
2) Focus on the outcome instead of the process – After working out for a good 15 minutes, you start to feel that burn. It’s a good burn though, that let’s you know your muscles are working. Right then, is the time when you want to kick it in gear and push through the pain to see results. That is much like the tasks we are required to do on a daily basis. Some tasks are undesirable and require us to try harder. Think about the end result. Think about getting back into that favorite pair of jeans, or the promotion waiting for you after you hit your sales quota. Even though it burns, press through.
3) Focus on the process instead of the outcome – There are benefits to every undertaking we pursue if we look for them. For example: I may not enjoy taking out the trash (really, I don’t mind), but I know that after I take the trash out, my kitchen smells fresher, everything is cleaner, and I have less clutter. On a deeper level, it may be difficult for you to forgive someone for an offense they committed against you. That requires great effort but the rewards are still apparent: You are free from bitterness, the relationship has an opportunity to be mended, and your character is enriched by taking the higher road.
4) Instant gratification from a task completed. When was the last time you checked something off of your long to-do list? If you’re like most of us, you check one thing off and add 3 more things. The list is perpetual. You never really seem to be making progress and there is still so much left to do. You are probably overwhelmed by tasks, missing appointments, and dropping the ball. Stop! Do not write another task down. Review your list and pick 1 thing that you can do right now. Just pick one. Pick the easiest one if it helps. Just do it. Now, pick a second one. You may be tempted to add more tasks to the list as you think of more things you need to get done, but resist the urge to do so. A to-do list is only as helpful as we can implement it in our own lives. If we abuse the tool it can’t help us. Don’t think just because you write something down that you are making progress. You must actually get things done. It is better to have 2 tasks that you will certainly do on your list, than 10 that you are just saying you will do eventually.
I will leave you with this…Effort pays off
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Galatians 6:9
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