This article contains affiliate links … If you choose to purchase, this means I receive a (very) small commission at NO EXTRA COST to you!
What does it mean to be productive?
If you asked me this question during my teenage years, I'd answer like a factory worker - you pull levers, push buttons, flip patties, etc. For example, my family's first business was a dry cleaners and our second was a liquor store. These were stores anyone could run. It didn't matter who was at the helm or who we hired. No degree or skillset required. But today, productivity is something very different. It's not just punching in and punching out after a certain amount of hours. It's about creating valuable products and ideas, something unique that no one else can do. That is ... if you want to be successful and not just another commodity. Though, in order to accomplish this you have to protect your time - because the modern world is a giant distraction machine that will pull you away from your most important work every chance it can. The cards are stacked against you. So in this article, I want to share the productivity framework that has worked for me: Strategy + System + Automation You choose the right work strategy to enhance your focus, set up a system so you have everything you need wherever and whenever you need it, and use automation to keep things humming. For the rest of this post, I'll briefly discuss the 3 books I developed this framework from. So whether you're struggling to find more practice time - or trying to get more mileage out of your sessions - if you like what you read today, I hope you get these books and examine them on a deeper level. The Best Books on Productivity in 2023Strategy
What is "Deep Work?"
Cal Newport (author) defines it as:
If productivity is a car, Deep Work is your fuel. To succeed today, it's not enough to put out quality work. You need both quality and quantity. As Newport says, you need to produce at an elite level. But there are 2 obstacles in front of you:
Most schools and businesses love to drown people in shallow work, which Newport describes as, "non-cognitively demanding, logistical-style tasks, often performed while distracted." The problem with shallow work is that it can be done by anybody and won't contribute much new value . So if your job consists mostly of shallow work, find a new one as fast as you can - because you're easily replaceable. In addition, we're bombarded with distractions: either from people emailing you nonstop or getting sucked down the internet rabbit-hole. What you read in Deep Work will give you a clear set of instructions for distraction-free focus on your most important work. Useful IdeasThe first thing I learned is to choose the right deep work strategy. Newport calls these "philosophies." Here they are in no particular order:
But don't think you have to stick with one forever - if your schedule changes, you can just switch your approach. And it's even more powerful when you learn to combine them together. Read this blog post if you're interested in how I utilize the journalistic and rhythmic philosophy together. Secondly, I learned about recommendations on how to enhance or maintain the quality of your concentration - much of which is centered around controlling your attention (staying off the internet). Here are a few:
With the principles from this book, I've completely transformed the way I work. I hope you try out these ideas. I you're a nerd like me, you'll realize there's nothing more satisfying than a day spent in depth. System
If you've ever felt like you're drowning in tasks and have a thousand emails in your inbox, Getting Things Done by David Allen, is the book for you.
This is your productivity engine. So why do you need a system in the first place? It's because even if you have the right strategy in place, it'll fall apart if you're an unorganized mess (I've been there). You'll waste precious time and mental focus just trying to remember what it is you needed to do - or where you placed your car keys. By having a system in place, where everything is optimally set up and organized, all you need to do is sit down and work (as easy as starting your car). At a surface level, Allen teaches you to organize all your thoughts and tasks with an efficient, but complex, filing method. For example, there are plenty of suggestions on different categories or "buckets" you can sort your documents or tasks into. There aren't any hard and fast rules to creating categories, however ... they're context dependent. For example, one of my buckets is "laptop,"" which means any work that can be done on a computer (usually at home). But for someone who commutes, their bucket might be "office" - any work done at their job-site. It's such a simple idea, but most people who struggle with productivity glance over this important step. Sorting a task, almost any task, requires thoughtfulness. When you spend some time upfront doing this - which will be less and less as you improve your thinking - you're creating less friction for your future self. When you have everything in its right place, when and where you need it - when you have a 100% dependable system - you create a "mind like water" as the author puts it 100% stress-free productivity. Useful IdeasOne of the most powerful ideas in this book is how to define your next action. Let's use steaming the carpet as an example. You might be inclined to label it as "steam the carpet." The problem with that is there are more steps involved than at first glance. For instance, you first need to fill up your carpet steamer. Before that, you need to take it out of the closet. And if your machine is on the second floor, you need to walk up the stairs. So instead of labeling it as "steam the carpet" it becomes "walk upstairs." Defining the next action shows you how a single, simple step is just one link in a complex chain. And you not only become a better decision-maker but are able to trust your system completely. You won't feel resistance towards a task or forget to do it. Ever again. Automation
Atomic Habits by James Clear, is THE playbook for developing permanent, consistent habits as much as it is about eliminating the worst ones.
The previous two books are definitely important, but this is the one you can't miss out on. Why? Because good habits are hard to make, bad habits are hard to break. That seems like the understatement of the year, but beneath the surface it's complicated. Let's see why. Clear says, "Habits are modern-day solutions to ancient desires." This means we're conditioned to take the easy way out - which explains why it's easier for me to sit down with a bowl of salted caramel ice cream than type on my MacBook Pro. So if you don't have good habits in place, you'll just default to your ancient desires - which aren't usually in your best long-term interests. As James Clear says, "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." Since we're living in a time that makes it ridiculously easy to make bad decisions, this means you're more likely to stuff a double cheeseburger in your mouth than munch on a kale salad. But seriously, you gotta do everything you can because every company out there is aware of this fact - with an army of employees doing everything they can to take advantage of you. Useful IdeasThis entire book is indispensable, in a nutshell you'll learn the following: How to Create a Good Habit
How to Break a Bad Habit (Inversion of the 4 laws)
Every chapter is chockfull of tactics that will get you immediate results or long-term processes that will make them permanent. This is a book I continue to review year-in, year-out. If you want to avoid setbacks forever, this is the final piece to keep your productivity vehicle firing on all cylinders. Conclusion“Civilization advances by extending the number of operations we can perform without thinking about them.” - Alfred North Whitehead. So the less you need to think - about trivial details - the better decisions you make. As David Allen says, you close the loop. If you're a sports buff, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The team that thinks too much is the team that loses. The ones that aren't thinking are having way more fun - and winning. And remember that the world is like Newton's first law of motion: an object in motion stays in motion. You must always be evolving, innovating, changing. Productivity will likely look different in the - perhaps, very near - future. A great professional and personal life is possible for anyone. But for that to happen we need every tool available - I hope you use my framework to not only thrive but protect yourself from all of today's distractions and temptations. Happy (productive) practicing!
Did you enjoy reading this today?
Your donation helps me create free content. Every dollar goes a long way! =)
0 Comments
How to Give Feedback
Let's talk about the most important "f-word" in education: Feedback.
For example, Mozart has usually been represented as a wunderkind - a complete natural, genius. And although he was a historical example of a child prodigy, he didn't do it on his own. You see, his father was a world-class teacher and musician in his own right. Which means junior was receiving the best education 24 hours a day. And this explains why children can grow up speaking their parents' native tongue without even learning it in school (constant feedback). So today, let's look at:
How Not to Give FeedbackFeedback determines everything. You can be the greatest pianist in the world but if you're not able to give reliable feedback, you're just an artist and not a teacher. Without clear, objective instructions, students won't make any progress. I'm sure you know the feeling well. Think about jobs where they just threw you in with a sink-or-swim approach or teachers who got angry at you because you didn't understand their (confusing) directions. More examples:
And educators will continue making these mistakes until they understand the types of feedback that exist. The Right Way to Give Feedback
According to the book Ultralearning by Scott Young, there are 3 kinds. Outcome feedback is the most available. It's a little better than nothing - because it doesn't really tell you how you're doing or what you're missing. School grades are one example. Does getting an A mean you understand the material? It might mean you're just good at memorizing (or you cheated). Does a D make you a bad student? Maybe you just process the material at a slower (and deeper) level or perhaps the teacher just isn't good. Next, information feedback tells you what you're doing wrong, but not how to fix it. I experienced this on a trip to Barcelona. I made it a point - when I wasn't too shy - to practice the Spanish I'd been studying. Sometimes people would flash a smile of understanding, most times I'd get faces of confusion. Now ... onto the very best form of feedback. Best of The BestCorrective feedback is the crème de la crème. This tells you what you're doing wrong and how to fix it - like a doctor who figures out why you're sick and gives you the correct medicine. This is the biggest reason you should be working with an instructor, because any self directed feedback has a high chance of being unreliable. Though many teachers are biased (everyone's human), at least they're going to have more experience and knowledge than you - a bad teacher is better than no teacher. And when you get better at piano, you can always ditch them and find a better one. Bonus tip: Make sure the feedback you give, or receive, is as immediate as possible. This is the first thing I learned when training my dog. Whatever behavior you're rewarding, you have to give them a treat within a few seconds or they will forget (it's the same for people). This is also what makes piano competition or jury comments useless - you get them almost a week (or more) later when you've forgotten nearly everything about that performance. MethodsNow in terms of corrective feedback, I'm going to share with you the two most useful methods that I use. With verbal or written instructions, you want the student to have a crystal-clear understanding on what to do and how to do it. How do you do this? You check for comprehension. I basically ask them to summarize my instructions ... in their own words. If you don't ask them to do this, they'll just parrot your exact words back to you (thank you public school system). What's trickier is that even if they do this correctly, they still might not get it. For example, I remember the following scenario: Me: Understand what I said? Student: Yes, you asked to (blah blah blah, summary in his own words) M: You sure about that? S: Nods his head M: Are you just saying yes because you're trying to be a good student? S: Nods again So be aware that you may have to dig deeper. Now in terms of actual piano playing, demonstration is the most concrete, objective form of feedback. As a side note, I see many teachers do anything but demonstrate or even ask the student to play. They're like bloated windbags who over-explain and are more interested in the sound of their own voice than helping the student. Rant over (thanks for obliging me). So here's what I do:
When necessary, I will demonstrate (play) how a particular passage sounds. Then I ask them to play it back. And the final step is to play it together (simultaneously). Now if you want to speed up their progress, do more simultaneous playing. However, if you want to improve their comprehension, go back and forth between the first 2 steps more than a few times - or even ask them to play the passage before you demonstrate. Think of it as a camera "focusing." They're not going to nail it after one demonstration - each attempt is the picture becoming "clearer." And to further enhance their understanding, I might not even say anything. I'll just play it again without providing any tips or assistance. Of course if they're having a really difficult time, I'll gladly add in some instructions - such as move your hand to this position when you get to this passage, etc. However, the ultimate goal is for them to understand in the fewest tries possible. This skill is super useful since they'll be on their own (home practice) most of the time. The more they accurately demonstrate what I've played at their lessons, the higher chance of them replicating it at home. ToolsBesides giving effective feedback at the lesson, it's just as important to give them the proper tools to succeed at home (since lessons are only once a week). TrackingThe first one is a journal (instruction booklet) with a checklist that needs to be completed every day. Each checklist item can be whatever you want, such as:
For more advanced students, you can even use the checklist as a scoring system. For example, I can have them pick a number (1-10) for use of proper dynamics, articulation, or how often they used a metronome. Once we have that number, we can work together to slowly increase it. This helps them critically analyze their practice instead of just playing on autopilot. By the way, having an awesome reward system does a lot to motivate them to get their points for that week. VideosNow my most important resource is the library of videos I've recorded for all of their music (pick up a free copy here). Why? Because the tape doesn't lie. As previously mentioned, if you've demonstrated what to practice at the lesson - and if the student can successfully play it back - then the videos become the most accurate, concrete example of feedback they can use (at home). Videos hit all of the senses necessary for piano playing: listening (melody, harmony), physical (rhythm) and visual (which keys). They know exactly what to play, when to play, and how to play it. If they continue to use the videos diligently, many times they'll even show up to the lesson having learned more than what was taught the previous week. Sometimes they'll even learn new pieces entirely on their own! When NOT to Use FeedbackNow there are also times you shouldn't use feedback. For example, not all lessons will be consistent. In statistics, there's a term known as regression to the mean. Basically, it means whether you've had a great or terrible lesson, the next one will be closer to the average. Which means your feedback isn't always directly responsible for your student's results. And sometimes they've had a bad lesson because they've had a tough week (school or life), so make sure you know what's going on in their personal lives outside of piano. Lastly, giving feedback is like a balancing act. As Scott Young says, "Being too successful is as damaging as failing too much." The more you teach, the more you'll experience a mixture of wins and losses. To be human is to be inconsistent, so embrace every success and failure that comes your way. Happy practicing!
Did you enjoy reading this today?
Your donation helps me create free content. Every dollar goes a long way! =)
With 2023 just around the corner, let's talk about the yearly tradition that happens after you've drank your champagne (or cider) and sung Auld Lang Syne - resolutions.
Every January you see people posting on social media how they're going to shave off their love handles or read x number of books by year's end. And every year, those promises are broken. Why? Because the traditional thought process behind New Year's resolutions is wrong. Resolutions are year-long commitments, which is crazy! I mean, I don't always know what I'll be doing - or where I'll be - the next month. It's like Bitcoin - you have no idea what's going to happen. So what can we do instead? How to be SuccessfulSmall-Chunk SuccessWell, here's how I approach my "resolutions." First of all, I don't even like the idea of resolutions - it's like locking yourself into an unwanted contract or going on a 6-hour road trip with no pit-stops (yikes). The other reason I don't like resolutions is that there's usually no plan involved, and a goal without a plan is just a dream. So instead, I think "what projects do I want to accomplish?" By working on multiple projects, you create lasting momentum and satisfaction. You're going to have to experiment, but what works extremely well for me is dividing the year into 3-month periods - what businesses call "quarters." Within these quarters I work on several projects simultaneously or bigger ones broken down into smaller components. It's also the perfect timeframe. At the end of each 3-month period, I'm ready for reflection. If things are going good, I'll keep most of my plans in place for the next quarter. However, sometimes I'll change course entirely. It's about giving yourself options. To enjoy your work as much as possible, one way is to feel in control. To feel in control, give yourself plenty of choices. So if I'm not feeling good about the work I'm doing, I have no problem with changing my mind on a whim. Measure SuccessAdditionally, you'll want to track your time because it will give you vital information. I do this every:
When you review on a weekly basis, it keeps you focused. For example, I'll look back at a certain week and notice I've fallen behind on my time spent on certain activities. Maybe I had too many cocktails or screen-time (pick your poison). Maybe I had obligations, like going to the doctor's office or taking my pups to see their vet. Either way, the weekly reflection keeps me on track. Monthly and yearly reviews are just as important because it's like having different "vantage" points. For instance, feel the difference in perspective:
You see the big picture (monthly, yearly) as well as the details (weekly). Now, over a longer period of time you'll notice patterns. Since I have records dating back to 2015, I can see how my work habits have changed.
From 2017-2018, you can see I increased "work" hours (focus on $$$) while decreasing time spent on learning ?
Not only that, it helps me plan for the next year. For example, I notice I spend a lot more time on tasks, other than teaching, in December. When I look at my calendar, I can see it's because a lot of students are taking time off before the new year.
Because of this, I know exactly what I want to do when winter arrives. Expectation creates productivity. Vaya Con DiosWe look to the past in order to have a successful future. This is the reason why we study history - not only to learn new lessons, but to see how errors repeat themselves (ever read about the Spanish Flu?). By planning your future, you'll avoid making the same mistakes. This is something the most successful people do - you'll overhear them talking about their next decade (instead of their next vacation). If you did this, imagine the story you could write for yourself. When all is said and done, what do you want your history to say? I wish nothing but the best for you in 2023 and hope this post gets you started the right way. Happy practicing and Happy New Year!
Did you enjoy reading this today?
Your donation helps me create free content. Every dollar goes a long way! =)
When the topic of motivation comes up in conversations, most parents mistakenly believe students should be motivated all on their own. An even bigger myth is that motivation is a dependable strategy.
The truth is, you can't just "will" it into action. It's not like doing jumping jacks to work up a sweat. There's no magic pill. You don't snap your fingers and instantly motivate your student. However, there are certain factors you can put into place to make that chance higher. The Recipe for Student Motivation
Before we talk about these things, I actually don't believe motivation is a good strategy.
It's not dependable, but discipline is. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline stays. So before you think about motivating your students, I'd recommend hammering them on the importance of showing up every day to do the work (no matter how they're feeling). Without discipline, there is no motivation. How to Motivate Students: The Formula
So how exactly do we "get motivated?" In my experience, it depends on the following 3 factors:
This is the recipe for long-term permanent motivation - i.e. commitment. When you're missing one of these ingredients, that's when failure sets in (and what makes consistent motivation difficult). Out of those three, the why is the most important - they are the "logs" (if motivation was a fire). But here's the thing, what fires you up is probably different than what's important for a student. As adults, our purpose is usually tied into reasons that are uniquely meaningful for us. When we're able to remind ourselves of these reasons we can consistently tap into motivation. But for a child, their "why" usually has to do with recognition or approval. For teachers, the question is how do you elicit these feelings from your students? Let's find out. WhyTo have a student desire recognition or approval from you, they have to care about you. For a student to care about you, they have to like you. Just like in business, a repeat customer buys from you because they like you. Yes, sometimes there are exceptions, such as ease and a lower price point, but those aren't transactions built on trust - just convenience. If convenience is the foundation of your business relationships, you're in trouble. It's like a marriage based on money. So before you even teach the content, the very first - and most important - step is to develop rapport. Get to know your students on a personal level. What are their interests? What's going on in their personal lives? Think back to your own experiences with the best teachers you've ever had, you really enjoyed their classes because they showed interest in you first. The student comes before the content. Side note: sometimes you'll come across a student who is absolutely obsessed with playing piano and practicing. These students are self-motivated and don't even need reminders to practice. But the danger is that they care more about the music than you. If so, then you're replaceable to them. WhatWhen you've developed a bond with your student, the next step is to show them how their piano studies are linked to life. This is where school teachers usually fail to capture their students' attention. The reason students "hate" their subjects - besides the teachers showing absolutely no interest in the students themselves - is because they don't see or understand what value it will have in their life. So if you want to create long-lasting motivation, you have to show them that it's more than just piano lessons. How do you do this? You start with yourself. Think about what purpose practicing and teaching piano has served in your own life. Not only that, what other side interests and hobbies do you have? Chances are, you can connect these all together. For example, I've done extensive research on productivity, business, learning and studying languages. I also love reading. I'm able to take concepts from all of these fields and weave them together in piano lessons (when the opportunity presents itself). That not only increases my value - I have skills no other piano teacher has - but it's easy to come up with hundreds of examples and stories to share with them. After that, just be patient - you're planting seeds. I once had a student who pulled a complete 180 in her last year of studying with me - she finally understood the value of all the ideas I had been sharing with her. The several years before that moment, I patiently sprinkled in these ideas throughout our weekly lessons. Did I know this would happen? Nope, I kept trying because I felt it was the right thing to do. She had problems with practicing piano since our first lesson. Many a time she would show up without having even practiced for the entire week. But I never thought once to give up on her, and I'm glad I didn't. No amount of complaining, cajoling or berating her got her to practice more. Once she had her "awakening", and once I supplied her with a concrete action plan, she just started practicing on her own. And that last year of lessons, she never had a problem with piano practice again. Of course, some students will never understand what you're doing. If that's the case, they're just not ready yet (sadly, they may never be). But you still have to keep trying for their sake, and don't let any disappointing experiences stop you. HowNow, the how usually comes last or at the same time. Students need to be fully "bought in" before I teach them the real mechanics and how-tos of piano practice. You start with the big picture before you work on details. It's the "macro" versus the "micro." How to practice - or how to apply whatever concepts you're teaching them to their personal life - is just as important as the other "ingredients." If you only know the why and what, but not the how, you'll suffer endless frustration. I'll bet you've experienced this before. The worst teachers will tell you that you need to "work harder" or "practice more." This happened to me when I was a college student, a professor reamed me out in front of the entire class: "Warren! This is SO disappointing. You NEED to practice harder OKAY?!" Newsflash: I was practicing 6-8 hours, every day (another lesson for any teacher: never make assumptions). So this might be the last step in motivation, but it's absolutely necessary. For example, once my previously mentioned student found her motivation, she began asking me for advice. And since I knew the roadmap, I could share specific action steps to help her achieve her goals. But if I didn't know how to show her this, that would've been a major problem. She was a young woman on a mission and if I didn't know how to get her there, I'm sure she would've dropped me like a bad habit to find someone who could. Bitter PillNow, of you plan on teaching for a long time let's talk about the not-so-pleasant things that will most likely happen. For example, even if you nail everything on your end and overdeliver on your lessons sometimes they'll quit anyway. Why? Because parents don't always understand the value of what you offer. The best way to avoid this scenario is by setting up the correct expectations in your very first consultation or meeting. And this is probably the only chance you'll get to make an impression and educate them on everything you do. And even if that first meeting is spectacular, understand that some clients still won't care. If a parent is the hands-off type, and doesn't care to check in with you about their child's progress, there's always a possibility of the student quitting at any time. It sucks, but there's really nothing you can do about it (I've tried sooo many times). The more you try, the more you just delay the inevitable - and prolong your misery. Just remind yourself there's always a chance an uninvolved client will vanish at a moment's notice. Accept this as a (bitter) truth and you won't take things personal. So keep your head up, remember that it's about doing the right thing because "no good deed goes unpunished." Finale
I hope I've both deepened your understanding of motivation and given you some tools to try out at your lessons. Remember, motivation is seasonal. In the summer you might be full of energy and looking forward to going on adventures, while in the winter you might curl up on your couch with a cup of eggnog (and your corgi). Our levels of energy are different during certain times and the same goes for motivation. If you try out these ideas successful, I'd love to hear your story. And if you need more answers, I'm always here to help. Happy practicing!
Did you enjoy reading this today?
Your donation helps me create free content. Every dollar goes a long way! =)
This article contains affiliate links … If you choose to purchase, this means I receive a (very) small commission at NO EXTRA COST to you!
Note: You'll find recommended resources at the end of this post.
We’ve all heard that everyone has the same amount of time in a day. But this isn’t true, we all have differing amounts of free time. The real question is - how do we make the most of it? Today, I’m going to share with you the most useful concepts and strategies have helped me take control of my own time. If you’ve ever struggled to build productive habits, I know they’ll do the same for you. Time Management Takes ... TimeAll these ideas I’m going to be sharing with you require upfront planning, which will make things as easy as possible later down the road. I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you - it takes a lot of work to get this up and running. But when you have everything set in place - and enough practice - it’ll feel automatic. These are all parts of a system - they all have an interdependent effect on each other. This means each tactic and tool becomes stronger when you combine them all together, like Voltron (or Captain Planet, if you prefer). We’re also going to split this information into two categories:
Time Management ToolsFirst, let’s talk about how to free up more time in your day. Measure What MattersThe first thing you’ll need to do is track your time. Every minute of it. This is the most tedious step but it’s a necessary one, because how else are you going to (objectively) know where your time is going? Weightlifters keep notes on their “PRs” (personal records = maximum amount of weight lifted) and the carpenter always has his ruler or measuring tape on hand. It’s like losing weight, the scale will never lie to you (no matter how much you want it to). I know if I had an extra bowl of salted caramel ice cream (yum), that number is going to be higher than the last time I checked. Now, I recommend you don’t just start tracking every second of your day willy-nilly (unless you enjoy the feeling of your eyes rolling back inside your head). What you want to do is create different “buckets,” different categories of what you do with your free time. For example, here’s a screenshot of all the different categories I classify my tasks into: Once you have these categories setup, a useful feature of the app that I use is that it shows your “pie.” Even better, you’ll see a general category on top of the specific ones.
You can see I don’t get work done in every category every single day - the key theme here is flexibility. What I like to do is check the totals at the end of the week (usually on a Sunday). This lets me know if I’m doing well or if I need to shake things up.
Now, if you’ve never done any type of time measurement before, I recommend creating the following category: Time Wasted. How do you define wasted time? That’s totally up to you my friend. For example, I reserve the right to watch a few (too many) anime episodes before I go to sleep and I will never, eeeeeeever track a single second of this. Once you know exactly how much time you’re wasting, slowly shift your time out of this category to more productive activities. The key here is to baby-step your efforts to create lasting change. CalendarThe next thing you’ll need is a calendar. Just as we need to make appointments for dentists and doctors, you need to do the same for your work. Personally, I structure my work into 1/2 hour “blocks.” We’ll talk more about this in the last section. Having your work sessions scheduled ahead of time accomplishes two things:
Not doing this creates the danger of rationalizing to yourself that it’s an appropriate time to binge-watch GoT (but not the last season).
The whole point of a calendar - and everything else in this post - is about being in control of your time instead of letting it control you. But don’t be rigid (flexibility, remember?). Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t use every single minute of your session in the best way. It's more like a compass, it’s there to give you a general direction to your workflow. I frequently “waste” time here-and-there in these work sessions guilt-free and at other times I’m focused like a hawk swooping down on its prey. It’s all about making work enjoyable: something you want to do, not something you have to. Capture
The last tool you’ll need is a to-do list. It’s similar to tracking your time (you’ll have different categories of tasks) and a calendar (not needing to think about when to do something).
Whether your list is digital or analog, the #1 habit you need to master is writing down everything. What’s the reason for this? Well, as David Allen says (see book recommendations at the end) it “closes the loop.” If you’re fairly neurotic like me, you’ve had moments where your mind has endlessly, almost obsessively, thought about the same thing over and over again (like salted caramel ice cream). Due to what’s known as the Zeigarnik Effect just writing a task down helps you dismiss it from your mind, even if you’re not planning to do it! Now, when you have everything written down you’ll create "buckets" just like in the previous sections. For instance, two of the many categories I have are “Laptop” and “iPhone.” Laptop is any work that is best done with my computer and iPhone might be referring to using apps on a device. The separation of categories is also what creates anxiety-free focus. And if you don’t cross off every item on your list, DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. Simply move them to the next day or sometime in the near (or distant) future where you’ll have more time. Time Management Tools: The Process
To wrap up this section, here’s what this all looks like in action:
Time Enhancers
The previous sections were all about how to save time - by tracking your minutes and not wasting them.
Now we’re going to get more value out of the time you have. We’re going to enhance the quality of your output. Think of this as getting more mileage out of your “vehicle” by filling it with top-grade fuel. Focus
This section is about increasing your concentration.
How exactly do we do this? By grouping your tasks according to: Intense and Relaxed focus. The reason you want to group tasks in this way is that your brain has 2 different ways of working (or thinking). I like to imagine it as having a cup of coffee compared to drinking a glass of wine. Or like a shotgun versus a sniper rifle (I swear I’m not violent). You can also think of it as technical or creative work: calculating a math assignment as opposed to painting a corgi. So I find I do my best writing and business planning in the morning, while I let my mind “drift” and casually brainstorm solutions in the evening. Like a radio station, certain “frequencies” are only available to you at certain times of the day. Of course, you might work differently. When I schedule a technical session at night, I have a hard time going to sleep. But who knows? Maybe it'll put you out like a light. When you have all your ducks lined up, it’s easy to create momentum. I almost never encounter resistance - it’s easy to get my work done, gliding from assignment to assignment with ease. Or, like I sometimes do, you can try mixing your “wine” and “coffee” together (we’re still talking about work, right?). StrategiesIn this last section, I’m going to leave you with 2 additional strategies that will put your work process on steroids. The following 2 strategies are taken from Cal Newport’s “Deep Work.” Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em
This first approach is called the “Rhythmic Philosophy.” It’s about showing up at the same time. Every. Single. Day.
This is by far my preferred strategy. Showing up at the same time every day creates solid discipline. You create a consistent, dependable routine. Because it’s a predictable work style, it becomes easy to sit down and concentrate. This goes hand-in-hand with the prior section about focus. Knowing what to expect minimizes resistance. But the biggest reason for me is that I get a lot of important work done before starting my teaching schedule. It’s satisfying to know you hit all your “quotas” for the day. My rhythmic schedule is as follows:
The beauty of this approach is that I don’t always have to go in order. sometimes I’ll start with writing, at other times languages or notes. You also see that my work blocks are based purely on time (half hour). This is because anyone can work for a half hour at a time. It’s not always possible to “finish a blog post” or “memorize 20 vocabulary words.” By concentrating on time spent, you tap into the process (good) and get your mind off of results (bad). Journalistic PhilosophyNow, a word of caution about this next strategy. This one’s really tricky to pull off if you’re a newcomer to working productively. This is what’s known as the Journalistic Philosophy. What’s this like? It's like a free-for-all: you work whenever you have the opportunity. It’s a great way to get more productive minutes out of your day, but it takes a TON of discipline to pull this off - the LAST thing you’ll want to do is work when you’ve had a nice, succulent (medium rare) ribeye and a glass (or two, maybe three) of Cabernet. The first several times you try this, you’ll most likely spend the first 5-10 minutes questioning your decisions in life. Or wanting to do the dishes (serious, anything but actual work). But if you’re adamant about it, you’ll eventually be able to switch into focus mode at a moment’s notice. The Russian composer Shostakovich was notorious for disappearing during parties or get-togethers for long stretches of time in order to get work done. Now, if you’re aiming to combine this with the rhythmic approach I have some important advice for you: think of all of these additional sessions as “extra credit." When I first started to add these additional blocks of work on top of my rhythmic sessions, it began to feel like work. Meaning they started to feel like something I had to do instead of something I wanted to do (productivity is enjoyment mmkay?). I’m self-competitive by nature, so I started to track all these sessions, calculating the time and holding myself accountable to hitting these goals on a daily and weekly basis - it felt like a contract I wanted to get out of. In short, it burned me out. And if you’ve ever experience burnout, you know how devastating it can be - it can take a few days to a few weeks to get back into your groove. So if you’re not using this strategy exclusively, do NOT track any of these sessions. Doing so will keep things optional, and therefore more fun. Ironically, this also allows you to get more work done. I frequently add as many journalistic sessions as I want to on the weekend - only if it feels enjoyable. The Cherry On Top
To wrap things up on this proverbial productivity sandwich, here’s one last piece of advice: Stay off your damn phone.
Yes, you’ve heard this an infinite amount of times. No, you’re not the special one for whom the rules don’t apply. It will destroy your workflow. Conclusion
So there you have it, all the tools, apps and strategies I use to have a consistent, productive, pleasurable work day. Every day.
Make sure to check out the following resources for more information. And before you finally get out of here (thanks for reading), make sure to think of everything you learned today as building effective habits - meaning it will take about 30-60 days of consistent effort before it becomes automatic. Happy practicing Resources
Did you enjoy reading this today?
Your donation helps me create free content. Every dollar goes a long way! =)
|
Categories
All
|