Take a look at how you have spent your day today, for example, you probably didn't accomplish much.

舉個例子，看看自己是如何度過今天的，你可能沒有完成什麼事情。

In fact, an average adult spends 5 hours every single day on social media which adds up to 15 years over of a lifetime.

其實一個成人每天平均花在社群軟體上的時間為 5 個小時，加總起來一生中就花了 15 年。

But there is actually a different reason why you end up wasting your time.

而我們依舊浪費著時間，但這其實有別的原因的。

I remember when I was in college.

我記得在我唸大學的時候；

At the beginning of the semester, I would imagine myself writing a great assignment, because I have over a month to work on it.

學期初我會想像自己寫完一篇超棒的報告，因為我有超過一個月的時間可以準備。

Every single night, I would research a little bit, and write a little bit.

每個晚上我都會做一點研究、寫一點報告。

So over a month, I would write a perfect assignment.

一個月後，我就會寫出一篇完美的報告。

But what would end up happening is that, I would start working on that assignment only a day or two before the deadline.

但事實是，我會等到繳交期限前一兩天才開始寫這份報告。

You probably had the exact same experience.

你大概也有一模一樣的經驗。

It's not a surprise because that's the nature of any human being.

這沒有什麼好訝異的，這就是人性。

According to Parkinson, "work expands, so as to fill the time available for its completion”.

帕金森曾說過：「工作會延伸到可用的時間」。

For instance, I have to edit this video.

舉例來說，我必須剪輯這部影片。

I will not finish the task before the deadline, one way or another I will find a way to prolong it.

我是不會在期限內完成這項任務的，不論如何我都會想辦法拖延。

Let's say you have to write a short essay.

假設你要完成一篇短文好了。

It will probably take an hour or a maximum 2 hours.

你可能需要花 1 小時至最多 2 小時的時間。

But you decide to dedicate your entire day to finish it.

但你決定投入一整天的時間完成這篇短文。

When your brain realizes that you have more time to finish the job than you need, your brain will complicate the task to fill all the empty time.

當你的腦袋發現你擁有的時間多於你需要完成這項任務的時間，它就會把這項任務變得更複雜，以填滿那段額外的時間。

Here is how.

像這樣：

When you just start writing, you suddenly remember that you forgot to call your doctor.

你才剛開始寫報告的時候，你突然想到你忘記打電話給醫生了。

So you will call him first and then get back to work.

所以你會先打給他再回去繼續寫。

It is only going to take a few minutes.

這只會花你幾分鐘的時間。

You will start working much slower.

你工作的速度會開始變慢。

You will get distracted after writing each sentence.

你每寫完一個句子就會分心。

You will want another cup of coffee, maybe, or check your Instagram.

你可能會想再去泡一杯咖啡，或是滑個 Instagram。

After every distraction, you need some time to get back your mind to the task.

每次分心後，你都需要花時間讓頭腦把注意力放回任務上。

But at the end of the day, the goal is to stretch the task for all the available time.

但一天結束過後，你的目標變成把這項任務的工作時數延伸至你所有的空閒時間。

You end up spending an entire day accomplishing a task that only requires 2 hours.

最後你花了一整天完成一項明明 2 小時就能完成的任務。

That's why if you want to stop wasting your time, you always have to set the minimum amount of time for any task.

這就是為什麼，你如果想停止浪費時間，在進行任何任務時都要設定它的最低完成時數。

In fact, it's dangerous when you give it more time than it requires.

其實，給自己完成任務的時間若多於它的所需時間，反而是危險的。

Because in the process, you feel like you are busy, you are working, you are writing that assignment, you are editing that video, so you can't work on anything else.

因為在過程中，你會覺得自己很忙碌，覺得自己在工作、在寫那份作業、在剪輯那部影片，所以你無心花時間在其他事情上。

You can't even rest properly because you are working.

你甚至沒辦法好好休息，因為你正在工作。

But in truth, you aren't accomplishing anything.

但事實是，你根本沒有完成什麼事。

Here is what you should do.

所以你應該這麼做：

Write down how much time you need to accomplish a certain task, then cut it in half and work only under that period of time.

寫下你每個任務預計要花的時間，再減去一半的時間並只在那段時間裡工作。

if you need 2 hours to finish that, give yourself only an hour.

如果你需要花 2 小時完成某件事，給自己 1 小時就好。

Don't worry about the quality, your job is to finish the task before the deadline.

不要擔心品質是否變差，你該做的事情是在期限內完成任務。

You will be amazed by how creative you suddenly become, ideas will flow into your mind from everywhere around.

你會被自己突如其來的創意感嚇到，各種靈感會從四面八方湧入腦中。

You will think of new creative ways to get it done.

你會想到各種有創意的方法完成這些事。

I am not talking about some kind of hypothetical, unrealistic, extraordinary abilities.

我說的不是什麼假設性的、不切實際的特異功能。

This is something that happens to all of us when we are under such circumstances.

這就是我們在這樣的情況下都會發生的事。

That's why you finish your assignment right before the submission.

這也是為什麼你會在繳交截止的前一刻才完成你的作業。

Because if you do not submit it the next morning, you are going to fail.

因為如果你隔天一早不提交作業，你就會不及格。

Don't stretch the time hoping that you will do a better job, you will simply reduce your productivity and waste your time.

所以不要把你的做事時間拉長，以為這樣就能把事情做得更好，這樣只會降低你的生產力、浪費你的時間而已。

If you are an entrepreneur and value your time and want to build your website.

如果你是個創業者，你重視自己時間、想架設自己的網站；

Then you should use HOVER because purchasing a domain through HOVER is easy and simple.

那麼你應該用 HOVER 這個平台，因為在 HOVER 上購買網域既簡單又容易。

It takes only a few minutes.

只需要花幾分鐘的時間。

They have the best in class customer support team who will help you with everything you need.

他們有目前最優的顧客服務團隊，有任何問題他們都能提供協助。

So that you don't waste your time figuring out everything on your own.

這樣你就不用浪費時間自己研究了。

With over 400 domain extensions to choose from, you will definitely find what fits your business, blog or the YouTube channel the best.

他們有超過 400 個域名可選，你絕對能在這邊找到最適合自己企業、部落格或 YouTube 頻道的選擇。

I personally use HOVER because It takes only few simple clicks, to find and buy a domain.

我自己也是用 HOVER，因為只要游標點個幾下就能找到並購買一個網域。

On the top of that, you can create customized email addresses using your domain to make your business more professional.

最重要的是，你可以用你的網域客製電子郵件地址，讓你的企業看起來更加專業。

Finally, the great news is that you can get that for 10% off by using the link www.hover.com/proactivethinker.

最後好消息是，使用 www.hover.com/proactivethinker 這個連結就能獲得九折優惠。

And you will be supporting the channel as well at the same time.

如此一來你也同時支持了這個頻道。