Beware of the Hidden Time Costs of Each New Commitment.

Last December, my wife decided that her goal for 2024 was to embark on a postgraduate degree in physical therapy. She looked at the curriculum and announced it would only be twelve hours of lectures each week, and she could easily find that time.

Two months into the course, she’s had to cut back on her social time. She’s struggling to squeeze in her weekly dance classes, and poor Louis (our little Yorkshire Terrier) rarely gets to walk with her.

What happened?

My wife forgot about the “admin cost” involved in any new endeavour. In particular, she forgot she would need to study for tests and exams. She also discovered that anatomy is not easy to learn with all its anteriors and posteriors and Latin and Greek names.

It’s all too easy to say yes to any new commitment that comes our way. Saying “yes” is polite; you don’t have to think of an excuse for being unable to do whatever you are asked to do, and whoever is asking you will quickly leave you alone.

Yet, what happens? Within a few days, you get more emails, are invited, and expected to attend meetings, and you will likely find that the scope of what you were initially asked to do expands, and more work is expected of you.