My oldest son’s new passport arrived in the post yesterday.
It was a remarkably easy process.
I filled a form in on a web page and took a photo of him last week.
It took a handful of minutes.
Much easier than some of the mad dashes we’ve had to the passport office in the past.
Three times I’ve been to Liverpool to get one of ours sorted in time for an impending holiday.
And I even went to Durham once as their first appointment was a day sooner and every day counted.
The passport arriving on the morning that we left for that holiday.
Infinitely more effort.
Because we left it too late.
After the Durham trip we started putting in the expiry dates of all the passports into both of our diaries.
With multiple reminders in the weeks running up to that time, set for times that we were likely to be at home with the kids.
Because, like many aspects of our life, it becomes much easier with a bit more planning.
If we wait to Hungry O Clock, the most convenient option often isn’t particularly good.
The staff canteen, coffee shop or garage forecourt.
By putting a bit of thought into what we’re going to eat ahead of time, it can actually take less time and effort.
20 minutes on a Sunday rather than 10 or 15 minutes every day of the week.
Not more effort.
Less.
But only by putting that effort in ahead of time.
By putting some time in each week to improving our energy levels and mood, the rest of the 160 hours become much easier.
Not more effort.
Less overall.
By planning our day, week and month more tightly rather than just moving from firefight to firefight we can get more done with less effort.
There is of course a lot to be sad for putting more effort in.
But I’d say that there’s even more to be said for tactical application of effort in advance so that, overall, less effort is needed.
Much love,
Jon ‘Last red passport left in the family’ Hall
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