Allocate Time to Things That Keep Accumulating Value

Seven Ways to Become More Capable—How to Treat Time How to treat time, make choices, learn, sharpen thinking, act immediately, work hard, and approach success. How to Treat Time Consider two dimensions. One is an activity’s immediate benefit: mental, emotional, physical, or material. Call this its benefit value. The other is how quickly that benefit decays, called its benefit half-life. Half-life originally comes from physics; here it refers to an activity’s lasting benefits. Ordinary people tend toward activities that bring immediate pleasure. We seek instant gratification. This is our nature, written into our genes, and no one can change it. We therefore instinctively overlook whether present benefits will last. Online games and variety shows are examples. They are enjoyable now but, over the long term, do little for growth. This does not mean they are bad, only that they do not build accumulated value for future life: high immediate benefit, short half-life. From this perspective, activities fall into four categories. First, high benefit and long half-life: learning a new skill or thinking technique, or spending an afternoon with an exceptionally capable person. These provide immediate enjoyment that also accumulates, continuing to help us grow. Second, high benefit and short half-life: online games or short online videos. They feel wonderful at the time, but the pleasure quickly disappears and brings no lasting benefit. Third, low benefit and long half-life: reading a book or repeatedly practicing a skill. These may not feel enjoyable and can be tedious, yet their benefits continue because they accumulate. Fourth, low benefit and short half-life: arguing with people online, something done out of boredom with nothing else to do. It provides neither a peak experience nor much pleasure, and leaves no lasting benefit. Try to pursue activities with long half-lives. Regardless of how large the immediate benefit is, if it can accumulate and build on itself, the activity is worth doing. Shift time toward lasting value and things that accumulate. Suppose you previously had ten hours, spending six on immediate pleasure and four on improving yourself. Reverse that to six hours improving yourself and four enjoying yourself. Your allocation will already differ from most people’s; this is a common approach among highly capable people. #Dedao audio summary of 精進 --- Robin: ‘Do things that keep accumulating, building on themselves, and bringing progress.’