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Tripwires and “Sticky Decor Decay”
Dearest Reader,
This post has an equation.
You have been warned.
- Kourosh
… 3 months later …
We can’t do everything at the same time. The options are many, but the actions are singular.
We need to take out the garbage, but something just fell to the floor. We need to remember to move a thing to the garage, but we’re doing the dishes. We need to buy stuff from the store, but right now, we’re not going to the store.
One means of managing this is to use a “tripwire,” a reminder for our Future Selves. Maybe we put the garbage bag near the exit. Maybe we put that thing for the garage dear the door. Maybe we put a sticky note grocery list on the fridge.
While these can be helpful, there are times that we forget or miss such reminders. Not only that, but they can start to blend into the background.
Every time we pass by something without addressing it, it blends further into the background, decaying into the decor, becoming clutter. Not only that, but clutter itself has a tendency to grow and breed more clutter, hence, it’s sticky.
To this end, I’m coining the term “Sticky Decor Decay.”
It has zero basis in scientific rigor. But, I don’t care. I’m making an equation!
Let’s say something unaddressed has a 50% increased chance of blending into the background. So, for example, if the tripwire had a 0% chance of blending into the background in the first instance you’d see it, by the time you pass it 5 times without addressing it, it has approximately a 97% chance of blending into the background.
It has become part of the decor.
Here’s the equation:
F(T) = k(THL^n) /(P*M)
Where
- F(T) = Current percent chance that the tripwire will stick out when passed
- T = Initial percent chance that the tripwire will stick out when passed
- H = Strength of Habit of clearing that area
- L = Percent of degradation when tripwire is passed without addressing it
- n = number of times the tripwire has been passed without being addressed
- P = Current state of surrounding physical clutter
- M = Current state of mental clutter
And now that there is an equation, it’s totally scientific! Right? Right??
- Kourosh
PS. The equation is quite likely totally wrong, missing something, or has something in the numerator where it should be in the denominator. I’d love to hear your feedback. Replies to this email go straight to my Inbox.
PPS – have a listen to the podcast version of this post here.
What is Productivity?
Productivity is many things. For some, it is about doing a lot in a little time.
But, truly, productivity is so much more. It is about:
- Setting yourself up for success.
- Being focused where you want to be.
- Doing things that you find meaningful.
- Being creative, sometimes even in harsh environments.
- Forging your own paths.
- Finding your voice and delivering it well.
- Knowing and actively deciding on your obligations.
- Knowing where and how to say “no”.
- Avoiding procrastination.
Too often, many of us fall into just going along with and fighting whatever the world throws at us. “Go with the flow!”, we say. Meanwhile, we might think, “I’d like to do that one thing. Maybe one day I will.” The days go by. The goal never arrives, and then we wonder why or blame circumstance.
But when we learn to take charge of our lives and the world
around us, we start living life with intention.
Of course, striking out may seem scary. It takes courage to live life with purpose and on purpose. Roadblocks and worries, fears and concerns show up everywhere.
This is my passion. I want to help you to find that sense of your own unique play to meet the world so that you can:
- Create a life that is yours.
- Find and follow an inner guide in a way that works for you and those you care for.
- Decide on your obligations and meet them while building the world you want.
Productivity Journal
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Dearest Reader, This post has an equation. You have been warned. Kourosh “I’ll just leave this over here to remind myself…” … 3 months later … “What the heck is this doing here?” We can’t do everything at the same time. The options are many, but the actions...
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Tripwires and “Sticky Decor Decay”
Dearest Reader, This post has an equation. You have been warned. Kourosh “I’ll just leave this over here to remind myself…” … 3 months later … “What the heck is this doing here?” We can’t do everything at the same time. The options are many, but the actions...
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