No matter where you are on the globe, the beginning of the decade in 2020 was met with great expectation, optimism, and hope which was quickly dashed. In a matter of weeks, everything everywhere had changed. Chaos ensued.
Chaos is defined in a variety of academic contexts – including theology, physics, mathematics, and economics. At its simplest, the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a state of total confusion with no order.”
Chaos Theory and Productivity
Chaos theory is a mathematical theory used to explain complex systems in meteorology, astronomy, politics, and economics. These systems appear to behave randomly, but chaos theory posits that, in reality, there is an underlying order. There are principles in chaos theory that are useful for helping us move out of the chaos in 2021, come what will. First, under the right conditions, chaos spontaneously evolves into order. Second, small changes in initial conditions produce large changes in long-term outcomes.
The Ringing Effect
Chaos theoreticians notice that when a system reaches about 90% capacity, the smallest change affects the entire system exponentially. This explains snarled rush-hour traffic. One person’s minor braking when the traffic volume is at 90% or more causes miles of traffic to slow and eventually stop, while the same minor braking action at 40% or 10% capacity has absolutely no effect on the efficiency of the traffic system.
This is called the “ringing effect,” and it affects virtually every system tested including natural systems (weather), manmade systems (interstate highways), digital systems, and even board games. In the world of productivity, time management is a system, which can also benefit from applying principles from chaos theory.
If at 90% capacity, traffic crawls to a halt after random braking, what does booking your calendar to 90-100% capacity every day, month, and year do to your productivity? It puts you in a constant traffic jam. You are in never-ending chaos! Does one unexpected item throw your entire day or week off schedule? Can one e-mail create a cascade of missed or rescheduled appointments, shifted deadlines, and high stress? This is chaos, and Chaos theory suggests a simple solution: preschedule only 75% of your calendar.
Matthew Perman in What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms How You Get Things Done (Zondervan, 2014), suggests that this practice allows emergent items to be handled without impacting the entire system. With margin automatically built into your calendar, a small change is easily accommodated and does not totally derail your day or week. Understanding this principle has the potential to move you from chaos to good in every domain of your life.
The Butterfly Effect
Similarly, the “butterfly effect” – the idea that small changes in initial conditions cause large changes in long-term outcomes – does not have to be negative or random changes. The smallest change imaginable, done consistently over time will produce exponential results.
Remember the chaos? Implementing these changes can reduce the impact of the ringing effect, and harness the butterfly effect to bring you out of the chaos and into the good. How about you? What small changes can add to your system to produce the positive outcomes you desire? What habits, rituals, and incremental practices can you implement for your good? Let me know in the comments below.