For those in debt, procrastination often leads to accumulating interest. Similarly, delaying tasks only complicates matters further, as the cost of unfinished work is "time."

You may find yourself needing to warm up before starting each task, or dealing with the chaos that arises from delayed work.

One technique that can help is OHIO.

OHIO is not the name of a state; it stands for "Only Handle It Once."

The principle of OHIO suggests that whenever you start a task, you should try to complete it in one go, or as much as you can.

Why complete it in one go?

Because it takes a moment to gain focus and concentration on a task. If you leave it unfinished, the next time you return, you'll waste time regaining that focus.

Thus, choosing to procrastinate makes your work harder and takes longer to manage, especially with "small tasks" that can pile up.

A clear example is when a utility bill arrives. You see the amount due but think, "I'll pay it later," and end up misplacing the bill. When it's time to pay, you can't find it, wasting precious minutes or even days searching for it.

In the workplace, procrastination manifests when you receive daily emails. Instead of addressing them immediately, you save them for later, leading to a backlog. Eventually, you might forget important details and have to spend time reviewing or checking back with others, or even forget to respond, which can lead to "extra work" later on.

Moreover, as tasks pile up, they become more complex and urgent (especially if there's a deadline), increasing stress and making it harder to figure out how to tackle them. The OHIO principle encourages you to just do it! Get it done!

At this point, many might think, "It sounds easy when you say it, but it's hard to do."

Yes, it is indeed challenging.

But it must be done, as it will help you use your time more effectively.

Here are some tips to help:

1. When a task comes in, decide immediately whether to do it or not, considering its impact on you (you might use the 20:80 principle to help make this decision).

If it has an impact and you can complete it right away, do it!

2. For larger tasks that can't be completed immediately, what should you do?

One method is to break it down into smaller parts and set a goal for what you can accomplish that day.

Another approach is to note or set a reminder for when you need to gather information before you can proceed.

When the time comes... just do it!

Of course, there are often external factors that disrupt your time, which are beyond your control. However, during times you can manage, make sure to complete tasks before others interrupt you. Otherwise, small tasks can turn into big ones, taking even more time.

To achieve results, try practicing patience with your email backlog tomorrow by not working on one email at a time throughout the day.

Instead, find a suitable time to think and tackle important tasks first, then schedule time to clear your emails later.

Once you get the hang of it, you'll realize that you can create your own work-life balance if you manage your time well.