Live data from Hacker News

Finish one thing today

finishonethingtoday.com

11–20 of 52 posts

Re: Finish one thing today

#11
Similar comments from a University of Texas, Austin commencement speech by Adm. McRaven [1]:

"Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed.

If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack—rack—that’s Navy talk for bed.

It was a simple task—mundane at best. But every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that were aspiring to be real warriors, tough battle hardened SEALs—but the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over.

If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.

By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.

If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.

And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made—that you made—and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed."

[1]: http://www.utexas.edu/news/2014/05/16/admiral-mcraven-commen...

Re: Finish one thing today

#12
My significant other really struggles with feeling over whelmed. If she feels overwhelmed she doesn't do anything. If we end up doing one thing together to finish it she just eats up the rest. She isn't lazy and she isn't unmotivated. This idea really could work for some people.

This should actually help a lot of people.

Re: Finish one thing today

#14
I lived with my girlfriend's parents many years ago and at the time her father was building a Morris Minor 1000 and a Triumph Bonneville bike (in his spare time). The final results were showroom condition vehicles; absolute works of art. I was fortunate enough to be there for most of the duration of the projects.

I learnt _a lot_ about how vehicles work from those days. It was fascinating working on machines like that from first principals. Every single thing was stripped down and rebuilt from several dead vehicles. Even every last washer was cleaned up and reused.

One of my main take aways was actually his approach to working on the projects. Every day he would complete at least one thing on each project. Sometimes it was as small making a phone call, or as large as fitting the engine into the chassis.

It might have taken a couple of years but he got there in the end.

Re: Finish one thing today

#15
post #12

My significant other really struggles with feeling over whelmed. If she feels overwhelmed she doesn't do anything. If we end up doing one thing together to finish it she just eats up the rest. She isn't lazy and she isn't unmotivated. This idea really could work for some people. This should actually help a lot of people.

I feel the same way your SO does all the time. There's a mountain of work to be done in front of me and it's demoralizing to even contemplate the amount of effort it will take to get to the top.

Something stupidly simple that has helped me a lot is to make a list of the individual to-do's. I like to have a master list for the project I'm working on, and a daily one I make in the morning, with each point small enough that I can accomplish one in a matter of minutes or hours.

The act of crossing a single item off - and then over time looking at the list and seeing a whole bunch of items crossed off - is amazingly effective for me. I am able to focus on the next 10 feet rather than fainting at the thought of a 10 mile uphill climb. I can hardly believe something so simple has gotten such results on such a critical and daily issue. But it has.

Maybe this could help your SO? I don't think it's a stretch to say making lists has changed my life.

Re: Finish one thing today

#18
post #11

Similar comments from a University of Texas, Austin commencement speech by Adm. McRaven [1]: "Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket…

I didn't believe this when I read it (a few months ago). I sounds too simple. I didn't believe it myself, buw when I tried to get a finishable set of tasks per day, which really would get finished, I experienced that "I got the drive". It's the simple things.

Re: Finish one thing today

#19
post #11

Similar comments from a University of Texas, Austin commencement speech by Adm. McRaven [1]: "Every morning in basic SEAL training, my instructors, who at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they would inspect was your bed. If you did it right, the corners would be square, the covers pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket…

I'll give it a shot. Thanks for posting.

Re: Finish one thing today

#20
Welp, I finished one thing today..

My first paid-for application commissioned by a client. I even drummed up a small manual for them, before sending out the "It's ready." email with the manual attached and a link to the installer download.

Not bad for a Monday morning!

It wasn't a big application, and did one specific thing. But it'll improve their (business) life dramatically. Bonus: I get to send them a juicy invoice. Bonus II: I just discovered I /love/ developing for paying clients B)

Post reply on HN