The Mayonnaise Jar & Coffee
The Mayonnaise Jar & Coffee
This is a great story . . . . (about time management) . . .
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day is not enough; remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.
A wise professor stood before his philosophy class and had several items scattered before him. He picked up a one-gallon mayonnaise jar and filled it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf ball. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’
The professor then produced two cups of coffee and poured them both into the jar. The students laughed. It’s full now!
‘Now,’ said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. ‘
The Golf Balls
The golf balls are the important things – God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The Pebbles
The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car.
The Sand
The sand is everything else — The small stuff.
‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.’
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
So…
- Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
- Take time with your children.
- Take time to get medical checkups.
- Take your partner out to dinner.
There will always be time to clean the house and make repairs.
Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. Click To TweetOne of the students raised their hand and inquired, what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled.
“I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee and time with a friend.”
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Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Janet Schiesl
Janet has been organizing since 2005. She is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Basic Organization.
She loves using her background as a space planner to challenge her clients to look at their space differently. She leads the team in large projects and works one-on-one with clients to help the process move quickly and comfortably. Call her crazy, but she loves to work with paper, to purge what is not needed and to create filing systems that work for each individual client.
Janet is a Past Board Member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and a Past President of the Washington DC Chapter of NAPO were she has been named Organizer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Such a great analogy. I like the answer to the coffee question too! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Kim
I’ve heard this before, but not with the cups of coffee. What a wonderful addition, and so important to remember that we aren’t here simply to be productive machines all day long. Thanks for sharing this today. 🙂
Yes I agree , and it’s so important to have that time with a friend and coffee.
I love this story, and no matter how often I read it, it hits home each and every time.
Me too Janet, I thought you’ll love it.
I’ve always heard this rocks, pebbles, and sand, and sometimes with beer. Yours is a fun twist on the tale, and so true. I’m always harping about the negative aspects of toxic productivity (we don’t have to PRODUCE anything to be of value), and this not only reminds the reader of life’s priorities, but also accents the time for delights. No matter which variation, this hits home!
I agree Julie and I love your deeper explanation.
What a great reminder today as I just made another impossible to-do list. Take a breath… remember the important stuff first. Thank you!
I’m glad it was helpful for you today Jana.