Eliminate This 1 Thing to Increase Productivity
Progress is progress, no matter how small
We’re all looking for some sort of magical key that will help us get everything done ASAP, but progress is progress, no matter how small.
I’m the type of person who will look at a long list of to-dos and get so overwhelmed that I don’t do anything.
I don’t know where to start.
I don’t see how I’m going to do it all.
Someone gave me the analogy of building a house, and it applies perfectly in this case:
If I told you to build a house with your own hands, with no specific deadline, and I gave you an unlimited budget for supplies, tools, etc., would you be able to build it?
Assuming you are able-bodied, you would be able to do it.
But your first answer might be, ‘No.’
Why?
Because maybe you’ve never built a house before, so it sounds like a huge task. And when we’re faced with a daunting task, our first thoughts revolve around trying to do all the things, all at once, instead of breaking it down into manageable parts over as much time as is needed to get it done.
Sometimes, we don’t realize we have the option to do things slowly and/or in bite-sized pieces.
That analogy, in combination with the concept of eliminating zero days (thanks, Reddit!), has upped my productivity tremendously.
Eliminate Zero Days to Increase Your Productivity
A zero day is a day when you do nothing towards your life goals.
Nada.
Zilch.
Zip!
So, to up your productivity, eliminate zero days.
It doesn’t get any easier than that.
On the days when you don’t feel like doing anything, reach for a small task that you can do to still feel like you did something towards your goal.
It can be as simple as doing one pushup if you’re on a fitness journey.
Or you can read one page of a book that you’re trying to finish before the end of the year.
Progress is progress, no matter how small.
To help me streamline the process of eliminating zero days, I made a list of small tasks I can choose from.
Streamline the Process with a List
To make it easier for you to eliminate zero days, I recommend making a list of easy tasks to choose from so you don’t waste time trying to figure out what to do next.
My list looks like this:
- Voice-type a blog post or book chapter for 5-10 min
- Spend 15 minutes editing a book chapter
- Take a 30-minute walk on my treadmill
- Transfer $5–$10 extra dollars to my savings account
- Transfer $5–$10 extra dollars to an investment account
- Pay an extra $5–$10 towards a grad school bill
- Eat an extra serving of veggies (and one fewer serving of processed carbs)
These are all small tasks. And they’re great for days when I don’t have the energy to do something more substantial.
Some take only seconds to do. But doing any one of these is better than doing nothing.
Zero days are what keep you away from the goals you want to achieve.
Obviously, it’s important to take breaks and enjoy life.
We don’t all have to (or want to) grind 24/7 like Gary V. tells us to, spending every potential recreational second working on XYZ project for 20 years straight without seeing friends and family, or relaxing.
However, the more days you go without working towards something, the more days away you are from the finish line.
The Key to No Zero Days
One thing I love about no-zero days is they force you to cut yourself some slack when you’re just not feeling it.
You will have days when you can tackle massive tasks in one sitting. And those days feel incredible.
But in between those days, you’ll also experience days when you don’t want to do anything.
By making a list of small, productive tasks ahead of time, you’ll have things to fall back on when you’re not feeling particularly motivated.
Being able to cross something off your list, no matter how small, can still be a great feeling.