Solve each problem once

Make a template, or fix it for good

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.
Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Today's tip is to solve each problem once. When we
tackle a task thoroughly, once and for all, we can

(00:24):
often find solutions that last. We don't have to contend
with the same problem over and over again. This principle
underlies many productivity tips, and there are two manifestations of
this idea. To solve each problem once. First, if there's
something you do repeatedly, template ties it, Find a basic

(00:46):
approach to the recurring task, and repeat it. I'm sure
you can remember a lot of Before Breakfast episodes centered
on this theme. You create a work uniform, You plan
on meatless Monday and taco Tuesday meal routines. You write
up a list of frequently asked questions that you send
to everybody who asks to pick your brain. People tend

(01:09):
to have the same questions, so answer them once and
save the coffee dates for when there's an unanswered question
that someone is curious about. You don't have to have
the same conversation a dozen times a year. By templatizing
responses to common situations, we can invest time in thoughtfully
handling the issue once, and then we're free to spend

(01:31):
our time on other things in the future. The second
manifestation of this principle to solve each problem once is
that if there is a recurring bottleneck or annoyance in
your life, take the time to fix it, don't just
work around it each time it occurs. If all your
workout clothes are dirty by Thursday every week, but you

(01:53):
do laundry on Saturday, buy more workout clothes. If your
boss is consistently late for your ocurring meeting because the
meeting before yours always goes late, reschedule your meeting. You
might say, I'm realizing that three fifteen on Fridays is
a tricky time for you because you have a meeting
right beforehand. What about rescheduling to three fifteen on Thursdays

(02:15):
or on Fridays. If a colleague repeatedly struggles to get
your materials on the schedule promised, ask for them a
little earlier than you actually need them so you won't
be left waiting. There's no need for you to be
thrown off schedule. Every time you work together. You know
what's going to happen, so plan accordingly. Sometimes it takes

(02:39):
a little longer to solve a problem entirely rather than
just making do in the moment and kicking the problem
down the road. But in the long run, the time
you invest in templatizing a solution or eradicating an issue,
we'll pay off big time. In the meantime. This is Laura.

(03:00):
Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of
our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you.
You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.
Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at
Before Breakfast Pod. That's b E the number four, then

(03:25):
Breakfast p o D. You can also shoot me an
email at Before Breakfast podcast at i heeart media dot
com that before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters.
Thanks so much, I look forward to staying in touch.
Before Breakfast is a production of I Heart Radio. For

(03:46):
more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the I heart
Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your
favorite shows. Are you o