Conclusion

So there you have it … I have analyzed the problem of not having enough time, found the solution, and am now an implacable do-er of important tasks, in descending order.

I started to explain how wrong that statement is, but it turned into a whole 'nother essay, on enthusiasm, which you should probably go read now.

Even if I could direct my enthusiasm, and always work on the most important things first, I'm not sure I'd want to. I think it would feel inhuman.

And, even if I did want to, I'm not sure it would be healthy. I like to think of it in terms of a little theory I made up, that people have mental and physical energy levels, that different activities drain and restore different types of energy, and that balance is necessary. Walking, for example, is both a mild physical drain and a mild mental restorative, while watching TV is practically neutral in both dimensions, so that you can do it for hours and yet not have any more energy than before … but I digress. The point I wanted to make is that most of the things I consider important are mental drains, so it wouldn't be healthy, or even possible, to spend all my time on them.