Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Cutting down a tree with a dull saw isn’t efficient. The author opens this chapter with a metaphor of someone sawing for hours with a dull saw, and when asked why he doesn’t sharpen it, he answers that he doesn’t have enough time, when in fact he would have more time if he stopped and sharpened the saw. Because so many people glamorize and glorify pushing yourself past your limits, it’s easy to forget to sharpen the tools that help you reach those limits. That’s why Stephen Covey, in his final habit of the book, says that you need to spend time renewing yourself in four important areas of life: physical, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional.

The physical aspect is pretty straightforward: exercise! Covey ties this into his other habits through Habit 3. In this habit we talked about the quadrants on the axes of urgent and important, saying that we need to work in quadrant II, where things are important, but not urgent. Exercising your body may not feel like it’s making a big difference now, but down the road it may be something you wish you had done. Being physically active is also a great way to naturally raise endorphins and dopamine levels, which can be beneficial to your mental health as a bonus!

Covey follows this by talking about renewing the spiritual dimension. This encapsulates meditation and study, not in the academic sense! If you are part of a religious system, take your time to read up on texts or history that renew your love for that belief. If you aren’t part of one, spend some time doing something that makes you feel connected to the world around you! Go outside and spend time in nature, perhaps. Whatever makes you feel grounded.

Thirdly we read about mental upkeep. The mental dimension encompasses sharpening the mind in an academic and educational sense. Many of us spend many years going to school and learning things there, but after we graduate we stop absorbing as much information. School can be expensive, so to continue to go to school to sharpen your mind is wildly unrealistic. This doesn’t mean that you have to stop learning. Watch a documentary, research a topic that leaves you feeling curious whenever you talk about it. Knowledge is a gift and continuing to intake new information will allow you to keep your mind active and handle whatever challenges it may face.

Lastly Covey writes of the social and emotional dimension. This one is a bit different from the others because you can integrate this a lot more seamlessly into your daily life. While for the others you may have to set aside a time to dedicate to each dimension, the social and emotional dimension is sharpened through interactions with people around you. Most of us talk to at least one person every day, so this skill is constantly being utilized. The more you talk and problem solve with others, the sharper your saw gets.

When each of these dimensions is up to snuff, your capabilities of becoming what Covey calls an “effective person” skyrocket. Trying to accomplish all that you need in both your intra- and interpersonal lives without building up a firm foundation is futile, so make sure you are being intentional with your time and using it to enrich yourself.

And with that we have made it through each of the 7 habits of highly effective people! As much as I tried to encompass the messages of each of the habits, if you have been following along I recommend that you check the book out for yourself. It’s hard to write about self help tips in such a general sense, so actually reading the book will give you more freedom to take what you can and leave what you must. Everyone is at a different level with these skills, so coming in with your own knowledge will help personalize the experience. Everyone being at different levels is also a good reminder that these are indeed skills and develop over time. Be patient with yourself and do what you can!

References

Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Simon & Schuster, 2020.

Lucy M.

Undergraduate Intern 2023

If you could use additional help dealing with stress or anxiety and live in Illinois, please contact Olive Branch Counseling Associates at 708-633-8000 to schedule an appointment with a counselor.  In person and telehealth appointments are offered.