We have a limited amount of decision-making ability in each day. Thus by pre-choosing (relatively) unimportant things like what to wear each day, people like Steve Jobs are able to free up their decision-making to focus on the important stuff. Focus on the most important task of the day before getting distracted by other things.
Tim Ferriss’ Tips
Wake up at least an hour before you have to be at the computer
Write down 3-5 things that are making you anxious or uncomfortable. Most important usually = most uncomfortable, with some change of rejection or conflict**
For each item, ask yourself, “If this were the only thing I’ve accomplished today, would i be satisfied with my day?” Will moving this forward make it easier to knock off other to-do items
Look at the items you’ve answered yes to
Block out 2-3 hours for focus on ONE of them for today
This is ONE BLOCK of time. Cobbling together 10 minutes here and there to add up to 2 hours does not count
If you get distracted or start procrastinating, don’t freak out and downward spiral; just gently come back to your ONE to-do
What you do is more important than how you do it and doing something well does not make it important
How to decide on the Most Important Thing
Most important = usually most comfortable/most procrastinated upon with some chance of rejection or conflict. Ask yourself:
What’s uncomfortable here? What have I procrastinated on for quite awhile? IF this were the only thing I accomplished today, would i be satisfied with my day? Will moving this forward make all the other to-do’s unimportant or easier to knock off later?
Fill in your planner at the end of the workday so you will start each day knowing what needs to be done
Tips for a better to-do list
**People are significantly more likely to follow through on a task if they write it down.
With a larger number of choices, it becomes harder for us to choose.
Additionally, it leaves us dissatisfied. Analysis turns into paralysis.
For your to-do list, keep it to 5 items or less. Less is more.
The art of Writing your Tasks
The way you write down your task can dictate whether it will get done
Is this concrete? Is it clearly actionable? Is there any ambiguity about how to get started?
We are amazed at how little time it takes to do things that we have ruminated on forever. We blow up the task too much in our heads. The more you train yourself to think in concrete terms, the more flow and consistency you will create allowing you to break the POP: Pattern of Procrastination
Break down your huge task into small, do-able steps. Your list is such that you cannot do a task until you complete the one that precedes it. DO NOT start task #2 before you finish #1. This is how you create flow.
**It is important to establish a distraction-free zone:
Phone on airplane mode
Disable all app notifications on your phone
Log out of all social media
Use apps like Freedom that will turn off certain websites or internet
Set the mood: Listen to music to get you in the flow
Interruptions: prevent them by telling people you are busy
Snacks: Always have water (or tea by your side)
Uninterrupted work requires us to take early measures against distraction. It is important to take steps to ensure a distraction-free environment before starting on a single task. And the distraction is usually external.
How to use the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro technique is combines the removal of distraction with tackling a single task
Decide on a clear task that will take you at least 25 minutes to do. Break down the smaller, manageable tasks that helps you get the flow on
Do not work on anything else. If you get distracted, gently bring yourself back to work. If your distraction really pulls you away, cancel the Pomodoro by resetting the timer to zero
Once the timer ends, time for a mini celebration! Get up, stretch, drink some water etc. You have 5 minutes of break time til the next Pomodoro.
You cannot do half a Pomodoro. Do or do not. There is no try. if you consciously sucuumb to distraction 21 minutes into a Pomodoro, reset the timer
Once you get used to it, you can work with longer time periods. like 30, 35 minutes.
How to use breaks effectively
Make sure you aren’t working or thinking about work during this time. Eg: Checking email, Facebook, Instagram during breaks is not advisable because it gets your mind going and may send you down the rabbit hole of endless information on the internet. Get relaxed. Be present in the moment and let go of external distractions for a few minutes.
Why time tracking is important
Time is our most valuable resource. Once time is lost, it will be lost forever. 2 methods:
The get-it-done method: depends on task completion, regardless of how much time it takes to complete
The hit-the-target method: Dependent on whether you finished the number of Pomodoro you allotted for the task - not task completion, as it is not a project that has a definable, finite end point. Larger tasks that require six or more Pomodoros or more than three hours.
How to use the Productivity Score
What do you think you could have done differently to improve your productivity today? How will you improve?
Weekly Planning
Answer the question - what is one thing you can commit to this week that will make you significantly more productive? You will want to answer this question in the affirmative:
I commit to filling out next day’s tasks at the end of the workday
Morning I am grateful for… 1. Tongue scraper for that nasty build up over night 2. YouTube. Provides so many hours of entertainment for free. Maybe too many hours. 3. Pandora. Keeps me focused and be in the zone for work. What would make today great? 1. Lunch with law school 2. Dinner later with Cheryl. Place TBD 3. Organize my work desk. Clean out some papers Daily affirmation. I am laughing all…
Morning I am grateful for… 1. Muscles. You never know which muscles you use all the time until it hurts. DOMS 2. Short hair. I have slightly longer hair than before, but still short enough that I don’t have to do anything about it. 3. Pen and paper. Sometimes it’s easier to jot something down on paper than to pull out something digital. What would make today great? 1. Make it to my lunch time gym…
Morning I am grateful for… 1. Non-freezing weather so I didn’t have to scrape ice off the car 2. Having my lunches prepped so I don’t have to go out to eat so much 3. Extra few minutes of sleep since I’m so sore from my work out from the day before What would make today great? 1. Meeting with Josh to talk about his work 2. Prep my salad mason jars 3. Find something new to watch on Netflix Daily…
