Most Productivity Books Say the Same Thing — Save 30+ Hours and Read This
The seven most effective things you can do for your productivity
I’ve read several productivity books, followed the authors on socials, and read their newsletters.
These are the seven most effective things you can do for your productivity.
Time block for high-priority tasks
If productivity hacks were basketball players, time blocking would be the G.O.A.T (aka The Greatest of All Time).
When you use time blocking to complete your most essential tasks, you have a recipe for hall-of-fame-level productivity.
Here’s how you can do it:
Identify the 1–3 tasks that are most important and time-sensitive
Allocate specific time slots in your schedule for completing those tasks
Avoid multitasking during those time blocks
The hardest part is limiting yourself to just a few tasks but think about it like this:
If you’re on a date, you know to put your phone away and give the person across the table your undivided attention.
The same goes for your chosen priority task. When you have something important to do, treat it like a date. Give it 100%.
Be clear on your daily goals
Plan tomorrow, today.
Time blocking is an effective strategy here too, and I’ve incorporated it into my nightly routine.
I write in my time blocker before bed, so I wake up with strong intentions to crush the work ahead of me.
Keep a few things in mind when you do this:
Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, and achievable
Prioritize your goals based on their importance and urgency
A solid plan can be to knock out two high-priority tasks before 5 PM and spend the rest of the evening with your family.
If something else comes up at work, block off time tomorrow to work on it. You made a plan, and sticking to it is a self-confidence super boost.
Build sustainable habits
Quick story: I’ve written online for three years, but only just found a sustainable routine.
My highest priority was always to create consistency, so I tried something new, using a James Clear strategy.
I made my writing habit so simple I couldn’t back out. I began 2023 writing for just 10 minutes a day., That was such a minuscule amount of time that I’d often write for 20, even thirty minutes.
Three months into the year, I write or edit for 45–90 minutes daily.
Start with small changes that are easy to implement, and gradually work your way to loftier goals.
Consistently practice the new habit until it becomes automatic, and constantly evaluate and adjust it as needed.
Remove distractions
TikTok distracted me from sleeping, so I deleted the app.
Complex dinners take up too much time, so I bought frozen options.
There are numerous ways to become more focused, but the first step to eliminating distractions is to identify the sources of distractions in your immediate environment. They could be:
Social media apps
Email notifications
Agenda-less meetings
Playing music while studying
Minimize or eliminate those distractions as much as possible so you can focus on what matters to you.
Take regular breaks
Burnout doesn’t just affect your endurance but also your passion.
Schedule breaks into your day to avoid burnout, recharge your energy, and refocus your attention.
Experiment with different types of breaks to find what works best for you. Dance in the living room, sit on the balcony or get some floor time. There’s no right answer.
Even a short five-minute break after a period of hyperfocus has been shown to reset your brain for another period of focus.
Set deadlines
This year, I’m making a calendar.
I’ll plan my long-form posts and project deadlines ahead of time so I don’t lose sight of my goals. I’ll break down the larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.
Then, setting deadlines for each task to keep me accountable.
This is three years in the making, and for good reason. I hate deadlines. But they’re a powerful way to ensure you stick to your goals. I’m finally convinced I need a calendar because I use them at my 9–5 every day.
Use external accountability, such as telling a colleague or friend about your deadline or even your responsibilities at work to increase motivation.
Execute all the above, forever
Listen, we're not super-powered robots, but our brains are powerful.
The caveat is our brains have inhibitors telling us we can’t do something. And some peoples’ inhibitors are tougher to crack.
David Goggins is an extreme example of a man who’s in control of his brain’s inhibitors. His realization was that when we tell ourselves we want to give up, we’ve only reached 40% of our potential.
I’ve given up at 40% many times, not just for physical tasks but creative ones too. Our brain will always tell us to stop when something gets too hard, but pain and discomfort are temporary.
So as a reminder…
Take action on your goals, no matter how small the steps may be
Continuously evaluate your progress and adjust your approach as needed
Celebrate your successes and use them as motivation to keep moving forward
You have more time than you think.
🚨 Join 500+ others obsessed with self-mastery & get The Time Blocker 2.0
Simple - heard it all before - but these are great reminders, Ryan. I think I lucked out finding you (and subscribing). Thanks so much.