There’s another kind of just in time. This is the kind when you lie to yourself: “I’ll just squeeze this extra thing in, and I’ll get there just in time.”
Pro tip: things that start with “I’ll just…” cost more than you think.
“I’ll just…” jobs usually end up taking longer, or they leave you dissatisfied because you didn’t do them well, or mean that you have to rush the next thing (like getting out the door), that you forget something, that you arrive late or flustered and on the back foot, that your thoughts and emotions are busy with something else. That you miss possibilities.
Next time you find yourself with ten minutes before you have to go and think “I’ll just write one more email” or “I’ll just check my messages”, count first what it’s actually going to cost in terms of time and emotional energy:
- Is this a job that you can finish well and feel good about in two minutes (which probably means five to ten)?
- Is it a job that you can leave – and feel happy about leaving – half done?
- Is it worth the cost of energy and concentration and the likely rush later to squeeze it in?
- Who is it going to cost? It will always cost you, and will usually also cost whoever you’re showing up for next.
Try this instead, for yourself and for them:
“I’ll just… leave ten minutes early, and enjoy the walk.”