The word spuddle means “to put in a great deal of effort and achieve only very little.”
Let’s face it, all of us spuddle sometimes. It’s just a matter of how often and for how long. I spuddle when I have a proposal to write, when I have eaten a big lunch (especially when the big lunch contains cheese!), and when I have a headache.
Some of the ways I have learned to spend less time spuddling are as follows:
- I notice common themes around my spuddling to figure out when it’s most likely, and to thwart it when I can see it coming.
- If it has to do with a proposal or program, I look at previous versions and use them to start. I find it’s much easier to re-write and edit than to start from scratch.
- I ask a colleague to talk through a challenging project. Together we identify a first step, and I just take that first part on.
When do you spuddle and what tips do you have for others to get past their spuddling?
Hi Karen! I had to smile with the topic of today’s e-newsletter. I’d actually never heard the word “spuddle” before, but know exactly what it is. I don’t have an recommendations for avoiding it, but it brings to mind a saying that my son often says, “the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.” That sums it up perfectly for me.
Be well! 🙂
Great to hear from you and thank you for commenting, Valerie. When you wrote your comment, I hope it was with
intention, and not a random spuddle!