FORGET Weekly Reviews, Projects, Goals, And Other Maintenance (Barbell #12)

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The best productivity system is invisible, gains from disorder, and requires zero maintenance, which is completely counter to popular productivity systems.

The Getting Things Done methodology praises the weekly review as the master key. Cal Newport’s system requires planning at the quarterly, weekly, and daily scales. Even my previous system, 1-Glance, preached for a harmonious integration between reality and your “higher levels.”

However, every second you spend refining, adoring, and probably procrastinating behind your workflows could be spent doing what is really important.

You do not need weekly, monthly and annual reviews

The only reason why you would want it in the first place is that your system is not current enough. That is in itself alarming since it will not help you when you need it the most.

Instead, as long as you are updating your calendar and task manager as new demands and ideas arise, you do not need to work out everything at once. If you constantly adjust the system, there is no need for further reviews.

But then you say, “I need the weekly review to know where I’m going in life, check-in on my projects and goals so I do not fall off track.”

Time to erase this common fallacy and need for certainty once and for all:

You do not know what you want and cannot predict the future

The sooner you accept this truth, the faster you become liberated and act based on current reality and what you find fascinating at the moment.

I have argued in great length why you must abolish goals altogether here, but the main reasons are the following.

• You cannot predict the future. Black swans exist that can throw your entire world upside down at any moment. Therefore, adjust to the present moment instead.
• You do not know what you want. This teleological fallacy of knowing where you are going is dumbfounded and deeply entrenched in the productivity world. Be a rational flaneur instead and evaluate your options as you go.
• You restrict reality and become option-blind. If you are praying to your projects regularly, you miss precious opportunities that you could not imagine before. You are your own worst enemy since you lock yourself in a fixed worldview that you want to defend with your soul.
• You become miserable. In this Twitter-thread, I argue that negative emotions come when expectations are higher than reality. By setting goals and projects, your expectations will inevitably rise, which leads you to constantly seek reassurance at best and become depressed at worst. You are never at the present moment.
• It does not lead you to success anyways. Any successful person has tried and failed multiple times instead of following a determined map. The entrepreneurs and creators are great examples of effectuation. Even David Allen had 35 jobs before age 35.

Finally, there is no evidence that strategic planning works, but solid evidence against it (here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). Aside from mundane matters, you are better off maximally preparing and not planning ahead. Stop deluding yourself and enjoy the journey of living instead.

The solution

You have to let go of the fact that you are (and even want to be) in maximum control of your reality. You do not need that pressure and inflicted reassurance.

Instead, see reality without judgment for what is. Watch closely on what is possible at the moment. Adjust to what is true right now for you.

However, you still have obligations to do or experience unwanted consequences. The barbell system allows you to take care of the obligations via the calendar while leaving plenty of room for spontaneous tinkering.

Trust that reality will help you as long as you are open to reality. Watch closely and act.

What do you do with your goal-driven self (executive mind)?

The executive mind (that is strong among us Type-A achievers) still loves certainty, objectives, and forward direction. Instead of repressing it (which you never should do), you redirect your goal-driven tendency to the prevention of harm.

You want to prevent ruin instead of ensuring progress. You want to make sure that you eliminate your destructive tendencies instead of spurring futile action. Take care of the downside, and reality will take care of your upside.

This is the ultimate advice for succeeding in life. If you do not lose, you will eventually win. If you do not go bust, you will eventually become extremely wealthy. If you do not become a slave to addiction (more info on how you can quit your addictions here), your health and relationships will be stellar. Survival before growth, always!

So next time you are in a strategizing mood, think instead, “how can I/we make sure to prevent as much harm as possible.” Focus on how you can insure yourself as much as possible because that is the only thing you can control. Become paranoid enough to protect yourself from long-term unfavorable conditions.

Eliminate the bad, and the good will take care of itself. The next article will dive deeper into being more spontaneous and giving up control.

If you like this article series, you will enjoy the full e-book (a full expansion on how to use the Barbell System in your daily life). Click here to learn more.