"There's a classic organizational psychology metaphor called "rocks in the jar." The idea is simple: You have limited time (the jar), and only so many rocks (tasks) can fit inside. If you start with the big rocks-your most important priorities-you'll have room for smaller pebbles later. That advice worked fine a decade ago. But these days, most of us are cheating the system. We're cramming sand and gravel into every open space-squeezing in more than we can actually carry."
"We do more, but feel like it's never enough. We speed through our lives without actually inhabiting them. We end up distracted, overloaded, bogged down by too much-too much information, too many tasks, too many expectations, too much clutter. Maybe it looks like this: You send off a "quick" email while waiting in line at the grocery store. You plan tomorrow's presentation in your head while watching your kid's basketball game."
Overcommitting to tasks detaches people from the present and drains energy. Cognitive fusion creates the belief that constant doing is necessary to keep up. Filling every spare moment with small tasks and information overload prevents full engagement with important priorities. The 'rocks in the jar' metaphor shows limited time and the need to place big priorities first, but modern behavior fills gaps with sand and gravel. Examples include sending emails in lines, planning during family time, and speeding through learning to feel productive. Wise Effort prioritizes meaningful work, reduces distracting busywork, and creates space for presence and deeper focus.
Read at Psychology Today
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