How to Be More Efficient (and Effective) When You Study
I've noticed it takes me a lot more time to get my writing done these days. Why? I'm not as efficient as I should be, so I thought I would share my experiences with this issue.
Do you want to be more efficient? If yes, then please take the time to read the following tips on how to be more efficient.
Efficiency without effectiveness?
Before we can continue, we first have to understand the difference between effectiveness and efficiency. The best explanation I've read so far comes from a copywriter named Gary Halbert, who wrote:
"I was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia which is located on the east side of the Ohio River. Parkersburg is about 30-miles south from Marietta, Ohio. Marietta is on the west side of the Ohio River. Got all that?
Good. Let's pretend there are two guys who want to get to Marietta, Ohio. They are in a canoe paddling very efficiently... except... they are in the Mississippi River (not the Ohio River). Let's say they have their canoing down pat. They've learned to use a perfect J-stroke. They get the maximum forward movement from each ounce of expended physical effort.
Now let's take two other guys who are paddling their canoe north on the Ohio River leaving Parkersburg. They likewise want to get to Marietta. These guys are really lousy canoers. In fact, they don't even have paddles. One guy is paddling with his shoes while the other guy is paddling with his bare hands.
Can you guess who is going to reach their goal, the city of Marietta?
It is NOT those super-efficient guys. They are in the wrong river. And no matter how efficient they travel on the Mississippi River, they cannot get to Marietta, Ohio. Simply because Marietta is not located on the Mississippi River."
You can be efficient without being effective. To make the most of your efforts, make sure you are paddling on the right river!
Notice repeating patterns
Spend some time thinking about how you get things done. Do you spend hours reading email and messaging your friends? If so, correct that mistake and don't ever look back! You have to see your weaknesses (and acknowledge them) before you can act. Sounds pretty reasonable, don't you think?
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