AEE 959: What's Your Productivity Style? How to Talk About It in English

This is an all-ears English podcast episode 959. What's your productivity style? How to talk about it in English. Welcome to the all-ears English podcast where you'll finally get real, native English conversation and fluency for business and life. We believe in connection, not perfection when it comes to learning English. Now, here are your hosts, Lindsay McMan, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl coming to you from Boston and New York City, USA. What can you say when there is something that you really don't want to do but you have to do it? Today, get some awesome phrases to talk about being productive. [Music] There's a big difference between understanding English and participating in English. Understanding means you follow the conversation, you participate by adding your ideas, reacting naturally, and keeping the conversation moving. Many English learners are strong listeners but hesitant speakers. Once you know your current fluency level, it becomes much easier to close that gap. Take our free two-minute quiz to discover your level and what to focus on next. Go to all-earsenglish.com/fluencyscore. That's all-earsenglish.com/fluencyscore. [Music] Hey, Lindsay, what's going on? Hey, Michelle, not a whole lot. Just trying to check things off my to-do list. [Laughter] Oh, yeah, well, I mean, Lindsay, when you have a bunch of things to do, like, what you always do, we all do. Do you usually do the one you don't want to first or do you procrastinate and leave that one and just, "Oh, I got to it later." I've just, you know what, I found that there's a more dangerous form of procrastination, which is actually that we get things done that are easy to get done first, but they're not the most important things. So that's a really dangerous form of procrastination that I've found that will disguise itself as being productive. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, that's interesting. Yeah, like, for example, if I wake up in the morning, I have five things in my to-do list. Actually, it's like 25, but let's just say, for example, and let's say four out of five of them are things I can easily get done and I can see that I've gotten them done, I can check them off. And then that fifth is something that's actually so important and could move everything forward, but I can't necessarily, it's harder. It takes more thinking, more planning, it's just more difficult and I can't get it done that day. I will do the four out of the five that are easy and I'll not do the fifth, which is really bad. Do you know what I mean? That's interesting. Yeah, because it's one thing if you like, you know, do the other four things first and then you still get to number five, but like, you use the first four things as like kind of a confidence builder or like true to, yeah. So like, I like that, but then if you never get to the important one, that's the problem. That's the big problem and I think that's a more nuanced form of procrastination that can, like I said, can disguise itself as, hey, I'm being productive, I'm getting stuff done, it's right. Right. But then at the end of the month, you haven't done the things that actually matter. That is, yeah, that is not a good thing. Yeah. So you guys, think about that when you're, when you're doing all your things, don't forget about the most important one. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So Lindsay, we're going to be talking about this topic of procrastination today because we have an interesting listener question that kind of leads us to this discussion and we'll obviously, of course, give you guys a few phrases to talk about some important things when it comes to getting things done. Awesome. I love this. This is good. I love when we get good listener questions. And is this who, who, who asks this question today? Oh, you know what? Who did ask this question today? Uh-oh. This might be a question from Fabrice. I think maybe possible. I'm not sure. Well, that's okay. We'll just dive into it. Shall we? No, okay. Sorry about that. I'm sorry for whoever it is, but thank you for this question. You know what? I think, yes, this person sent in a list of questions and I must have forgotten to copy the name from the bottom. All right. Sorry about that. We'll get to you next time. But thank you for this question. Okay, Lindsay, could you read the question for us? Okay. I think it's Fabrice. He said, "Hi, Lindsay. Hi, Michelle. Hi, Jessica. I hope you've been well. I will start my Masters at University in one month. I am at the same time scared and excited. So I'll need your podcast more than ever. Thanks again for answering my previous questions on the show. That was very cool and super clear. I have some other points and questions to bring to the table. Good one, Fabrice. Bring to the table that could perhaps help the listeners. Perhaps you'll judge their relevant for the show if not no worries. Okay. Here's the question. Are you ready, Michelle? I'm ready. When I have several tasks to do, I often take care of the task I don't like first so that it's behind me and I don't have to do it. How could I express this idea that I finish it off? For example, if I have to clean the bathroom, which I don't enjoy, could I say I will finish it off to express that I want to be done with it as soon as possible. Are there any better ways to express it? I hope I'm clear enough. Okay. Yeah, that's definitely Fabrice's question. Good question, Fabrice. Okay. Good job, Lindsay. Okay. Yeah. This is a great question and I'd like to lead us to so much discussion. First of all, I'm thinking about, okay, how do I get things done? Here, we're talking about, instead of getting the easy things done with first to give yourself confidence, getting the thing you don't want to do over with. Yeah. That's an option too. It's a good way to do it as well. Right. Lots of different ways to get things done. I guess everybody has their own strategy or it depends how much you don't have to do. You don't want to do something that particular day. No, but it's true. It's funny because I think science has actually proven that there is a bias in our mind when we build momentum that actually makes us want to do the next task. It's actually a psychological mechanism where we see that we're building progress. You said Michelle, your style, you like to do things easy first and get those done and build that momentum. That's been proven in science. That's a thing that keeps us going. It really has. That's good. Yeah. There's actually a name for it. I can't think of what it is, but there's a name for it. I'm sure our listeners have an idea. We'll look it up later. Just kidding. That was a joke. I'm procrastinating. I'm like, "Can it Michelle? You're so good with those ponds." Oh my goodness. Gosh, I'm quick. No, I'm just joking. Okay. Yeah. So, yeah. I always find that it's helpful to like, I always, I have, I'll tell you guys my actual way. I open up an email and I make a list of what I have to do. And like, when I get the, when I get the things done, I highlight it in green. When they're almost done, it's in yellow and then I don't have any red because I think that seems too, too intense. So now you know how I do it, but I do, I always feel better when I see like green, green, green, you know, even if it's not the like most, like annoying thing to do at least. I'm building up to it. So I guess everybody has a different style. No, it's good, but you have to create your own style. You have to know what motivates you. Like for Fabrice, he said it motivates him to get the hard things done first. Great. For you, Michelle, motivates you to get the easy things done first and build momentum. Great. But we have to have our own style and know ourselves, right? Right. Because I think it helps me focus like then I know, okay, I just have to focus on this really important thing. And then I can start up thinking, oh God, I still have to do this little thing, you know? Exactly. So that's how I, that's my feeling. So, um, so let's go to the question here. So, um, we, we, the question is about finish it off. So do I mean, do you think we would express this like I have to finish something off? Um, I don't know. I don't know. Yeah, I said yes at first, but now I'm changing. Yeah, I'm not sure. I think, I think finish it off actually means something different. I would use that in a different situation. Like for example, let's say we had a big meal and then we ordered chocolate cake for dinner at a restaurant and we're all, we're all sharing the chocolate cake. And then I say, oh, I'm so full, Michelle, will you finish this off for me? Like, can you just finish, go ahead, finish it off, finish it off, you know, take that last bite. That's what I would say for that. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I mean, you could use that in a way to talk about like things that you have to do, um, you know, just the last thing. But yeah, I don't know that I, I don't know that I would use it to like talk about like getting something I don't want to do over with. Yeah, there are better expressions for breeze and for the rest of our listeners, guys that you're going to hear today that suit that scenario much better. If we want to get very specific and nuanced with our English, that's what we're going to do today. Cool. Exactly. And I think I just naturally use some of those phrases without realizing it. You did. All right. But before, but before we get into the phrases, just quickly, I wanted to share, I was looking up some quotes about procrastination and things like this. And, um, so the first one is, uh, one of these days is none of these days, which is a proverb, which I thought was kind of a cool one. Yeah, because we often say like, oh, I'll get to it one of these days, right? Right, right, right. And it's like, oh, it's kind of like how we talked about, we talked about a lot, um, when somebody says that they should hang out sometime. Oh, yeah. That reminds me of that. It's like, sometime is no time. Yeah, totally. Right. So I made my own proverb. That's all. All right. Lindsay, what's another one that is good for procrastination? So this is Abraham Lincoln, so he's awesome. So we'll just say his quote, "Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle." Mmm. I like that. So what does that mean? So this is, let's unpack that a little bit. So this thing may come to those who wait. That comes from phrase that we say, which is what Lindsay? The phrase is all good things come to those who wait. Yeah, great. It comes to those who wait. So it's like, you know, if you're, you know, it's kind of like this idea of patience, right? Mm-hmm. But so he's taking that phrase and turning it on its head and he's saying, "Yeah, some good things will come, but it's only what's left over after the people who went ahead grabbed the things, right?" Right, right. So like, you, like, you can wait for it, but other people are going to take it. So like, you know, patience is good, but like don't make it so that, you know, you miss out. Don't sit back and wait while other people are hustling. I like that word. This word is loaded. This has a lot of meanings. A lot of meanings. And we could do, I can't believe we haven't done an episode on that yet. Michelle, we should write that down and do a whole episode on the verb to hustle, right? Hustle. Yeah, I like it. I like it. Okay. But it means, right, to just like, to, in this context, it means move fast, work hard. Go get that thing. Right? Right, right, right. Definitely. Yeah, I love it. Yeah. So these were just two, two quotes that I wanted to share that kind of reminded me a little bit of what we're talking about. Since we're on this topic of productivity and, you know, a little bit about procrastination, even though there's the listener who wrote this question. So I guess it's a bit of a breeze on did write that he does want to get things done. And so maybe it's not fair of me to put procrastination on this, but it just, it just reminded me of that topic. Yeah. Yeah. I know this is good. Yeah. No, it makes sense. I mean, so let's, so what could we say then? Let's get into it. I mean, when there's something that we don't want to do, but we're going to do it because we have to, I mean, what's the notion? How can we convey that notion in English? Exactly. Okay. Well, I'm both tied out. This is, I think, maybe my favorite one. So to say, to get it or to get this over with. Yeah. That's right. So to get something over with. Yeah. This hits the nail on the head, Michelle. I feel like this is the key phrase. There's one more that I think is really key too, right? But get it over with. Let's just get this over with. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Definitely. And a lot of times we say like, let's just or all just or something like this. Right. So like, what could you say, Lindsay? All right. So he said, I have to do so much homework. And then I have to cook dinner. I don't feel like doing my homework. I'll just get it over with first. And then I can enjoy cooking. All right. Definitely. So here you're kind of like giving me a little monologue, but it's. Do you like that monologue? I did. I did. Oh, that was good. So, but yeah, I mean, did this sound, I mean, like the use of that. Did that sound natural to you? Yeah, that sounded very natural. Like I think I probably think this in my head a bunch of times. You know, I'll just take the trash out. I'll get it over with. So then I can, you know, get on with my evening. Right. Right. Right. Right. Yeah. So I like this one. I like this one a lot. I think it's very, very common to get something over with. Okay. What's the next one, Lindsay? This one's good too. So get it out of the way or get this out of the way. Get something out of the way. Right. Right. Right. So same idea. Like it's like, I just have this picture in my head of like all these things on a table. And it's like, get it. Like you're just like removing something. Right. That makes sense. Yep. Right. Okay. So for example, I could say, I'd love to meet you for lunch, but I promised myself I'd go to the gym today. I'll just get it out of the way and meet you for coffee later. Yeah. I feel like this topic is so cultural, by the way. I just want to say that because our culture is crazy about like to do lists getting things done. Right. So I would be curious to know if our listeners, guys, if in your languages, you guys have a lot of phrases around like productivity, getting things done, crossing off the to do lists. Come back to our blog. Come back to what episode is this Michelle's 959. All there's English calm type 959 in the search bar. I'd like to know guys. I mean, in your culture, do you have these phrases? Right. Because not I mean, if we don't have like a culture around productivity, necessarily, then we won't have the phrases. You know, it's interesting. Right. Right. Right. Oh, yeah. It's super interesting. I love this topic. So the next couple are slightly different. And I, I, I'm just going to put it out there. I really think that the first two are the strongest for this kind of situation. Oh, yeah. But these other two are also I think useful in their own way. So this one is get to it or hop to it, which is kind of fun. Okay. Yeah. It's basically saying like do something. Right. So for example, I know you don't want to do the laundry, but hop to it or get to it. Because if you don't, you won't be able to go to the party later. So I could see like a parent telling a kid to this or something like that. Yeah. Encouraging them. Go, go, go. Right. Yeah. It's a little bit condescending. Right. And that's okay when you're a parent to a kid like you would. I mean, that's normal, right? Like if you're a parent and you have a teenager, come on, get to it. Get to it. Right. It's normal to be not condescending in a bad way. But you know what I mean. Right. Right. Right. No, definitely. It's just like, okay. I'm the boss. Like let's go. Let's go. Right. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. Okay. Awesome. And what's the last one, Lindsay? So don't put it off, right? To put it off, to put things off is to procrastinate, right? Right. Right. Right. Right. Yeah. So I could say, I'm so not in the mood to wash my car, but I've been putting it off all spring. Right. And I'm not going to put it off anymore. I'm going to go today, get my car washed. Right. Right. Right. Exactly. Exactly. Wow. Hello. Exactly. What's awesome. What's happening with me? Exactly. What did you just say? Exactly. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And like us for especially with the word exactly to say exactly. That was fun. Oh, what a word. Okay. Well, I have a real life example of this. I am moving of exactly. No, just. It's so funny. Yeah. So I'm moving into a new apartment. So today is May 16th. And actually our new apartment starts now. Like we could be in there now, but I'm putting it off and putting it off. I don't have to be out of here until June 1st when the new person moves into my space. So I'm just like, oh, do it later. I'll do it later. And it's driving my roommate crazy, I think, because I'm getting a little. I'm just like, I just, I don't know. I just moving is so intense. Michelle, because you have to go. You have to throw it half your stuff. Right. It's just so I should just get to it. I get to it. You got to have to it. Yeah. Yeah. Because I it's it's funny with moving like either you have one move in day. And then it's like really, really stressful. Yeah. Or you have it where you can kind of move in over time. Like last year, I moved. And I also had like two weeks to move in. And it's that idea of work expands to fit the time. A lot. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, I know it like took me a while. And it was just like, oh gosh. Yeah. Actually, it's funny that you that you mentioned the moving because we're going to do a role play about moving. Oh, good. That's great. And I was going to say it's almost better. You're right. The one crazy day, the one move in day to have that super. You know, you just get up at 5 a.m. You start packing and you get it done. And by 10 p.m. You're on the couch with a glass of wine relaxing or surrounded by boxes. I would almost rather do that then have like a two week move in where you're just like, oh, do it. You know tomorrow next weekend. Right. Right. Right. And it seems like, oh, great. I have so much time. Yeah. No. And it's going to drag on and on. So good luck. Yeah. Good luck to me. Thanks. Okay. So wait. Did your roommate move in everything? She's moving a bit faster than I am. Let's say. She's more packed up than I am. All right. Well, hop do it. Yeah. Right. I know. All right. Here we go. So this in this role play. We are roommates. Okay. And we are moving to a new place and packing up. Oh my god. That's so funny. All right. Here we go. So. So what do you want to do with this spatula? Should we keep it? I don't know. I don't feel like cleaning up. Come on. Let's just get it over with. Then we can go grab a beer. All right. Let's hop to it. All right. Throw out the spatula. It's gross. We have to take all this stuff to the dump. It's too much. I know. I've been putting all the cleaning off. And now it's all built up. Well, we'll get it out of the way on Monday. Sounds good. Okay. Great. I don't know. I was thinking of something. And then I just decided to talk about a spatula for some crazy reason of all the things that I could have put up. - There's a lot of things that I could have put in there. - Maybe a sponge could have gone in there too, right? A sponge, nasty. - Yes, a spatula, a sponge. Alright, so let's go through it. I thought I don't feel like cleaning up, so you said let's just get it over with. - Yeah, let's get it over with. That makes sense. That's how I feel about this move that I'm doing here. Let's get it over with. Alright, and then you said let's hop to it. Let's hop to it. - Yeah, let's hop to it, let's get to it. - Alright, and then someone said I've been putting all the cleaning off, so putting something off, and then what was the last one? I said we'll get it out of the way on Monday. - Okay, great. Okay, so it's funny actually, we ended up procrastinating on the whole dumb thing, but we had a good conversation. - Right, right, right, it's all about conversation. (laughing) - Alright, what's the takeaway today, Michelle? - Alright, well, here we have many different phrases to say something similar, like similar idea about procrastination, productivity. And this is just, it's also about your productivity style, is what we've been talking about, which could be a little bit cultural, very personal. So think about it. Do you put things off or do you like to get things over with? What kind of person are you? Let us know. Yeah, this is really important. I mean, let's say you're moving in with some new roommates or something, guys. You want to know how to talk about this stuff, too, right? How do you say, like, let's get it over with. Let's not put it off. You want these phrases. So guys, yeah, we want you to use these phrases. And yeah, Michelle, like you said, let's have our listeners back to the blog. Tell us about your productivity style. Kind of cool. Yeah, yeah, yeah, fun. It's fun to think about. So all right, Lindsay, I'm going to get to it. Yeah, let's get to it. Let's get going. Let's get off the mic. And we'll get on with the next one. All right. All right. Thanks for that question. It was a good one. All right. Take care, Michelle. Bye-bye. All right. Bye. [MUSIC PLAYING] Thanks for listening to all ears English. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, follow our show wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time. [MUSIC PLAYING]