Productivity, Workaholic, Burnout

One Size Fits All Technique to Gain Productivity

So that you can rest properly not to encourage you to become a workaholic

Lately, I don’t know why my time management went so badly. I had a hard time sleeping at night until the next morning I woke up tight to the start of the activity. When I start the day, I feel that I have been burdened with this and that by my full-time job until the night almost comes, I am already too tired and lazy to think anymore. At night, I spend time doing something that entertains me instead of doing my hustle or taking more rest. I don’t know, I’m really feeling burnt out lately. I feel like I need more extra time each day, but when I have it, it ends up doing something that doesn’t really mean much. Feels very busy even though I don’t do many meaningful things. I know something’s wrong so my life feels like a mess.

We already knew productivity doesn’t mean getting so many things done each day but, how we can be done several important tasks with a good quality efficiently. In fact, from the many tasks on the list, there are just a few things that really matter. Some methods below almost can be implemented by all of you.

The Eisenhower Matrix | Determine the priority

What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important. -Dwight Eisenhower

Dwight Eisenhower on his method divided tasks into 4 quadrant areas, as you can you in the picture below:

Each area is already paired with the action you can take with the 4D formula. Do it now things that matter and are urgent like your task in the office, the hustle, etc. Decide to adjust and reschedule the time for things that are important enough but no need to rush to do like learning a new skill, adding new foreign vocabulary, and any other things to the space you have more time for like the weekend or holiday. Delegate things that urge to finish but don’t really matter like instead of cooking by yourself you can order some meal package with affordable price, call a daily pass housekeeper instead clean all the room by yourself and any other things that spend a lot of your time but doesn’t really impactful. It may seem that you are spending more money, but believe me, if you can replace that time by doing more essential things, you can even earn more money than that. The last, delete unimportant activity that doesn’t affect your life enough like watching a movie, scrolling social media, chit chat, etc. Indeed, the kind of priority of everyone was different. Some of the lists above are only general examples.

5/25 Rule Warren Buffett | Manage the Energy

The energy we expend is really what matters. Warrent buffet asked his personal pilot namely Flint to write down 25 tasks that he is going to achieve this week then, he ask to divide them into 2 categories only. Flint marked 5 tasks into category A and the rest of category B. At the start, Flint thought category A is a priority to do and that B is not an obligation but still can do it if he has much time. Amazingly, guess wrong because Buffet just asked Flint to do the group A tasks and let the B delete at all. According to him, every behavior has a cost because after all, minimalism and simplicity will make our lives easier and less chaotic. For me, this strategy is work quite well. Even I can just focus directly on the 5 essential things instead of wasting time making 20 lists more that I know will be thrown away.

Emotions Time Zone

I often heard procrastination happen not because we are bad to manage time but because we are bad to manage emotion. However, every emotion we feel consumes our energy as well. In a day, part your time into several categories below :

1. Which time did you feel energized and more creative? (Zone 1)

2. Which time do you feel have energy but are less creative and focused? (Zone 2)

3. Which time do you feel so tired and what activity triggered it the most? (Zone3)

The first area is when your mind is fresh and the situation is quite conducive. This time area you can use to things that need to think, more focus, or creative ideas such as writing a blog, making a concept of things, creating a plan, or any other things that can’t literally finish by doing instead of needing more comprehensive analysis. The second one is the time you still have energy but start a lot of distractions such as family or coworker who paces back and forth, starting making noise, or other things that make your concentration decrease. You can do technical things in this zone such as replying to emails, backing up data, doing domestic things, printing documents, etc. The last area is when your energy and focus literally runs out. This is the right time to do something that makes you chill such as replying to text, scrolling, watching a movie, etc. However, you will let the golden time has gone when you used the creative zone to scroll or do something that needs focus while a lot of distraction comes.

What is the Outcome?

We can just cross out a task on the list just because we took a few minutes to wrestle with it. In fact, you need clarity on the outcome of the activity you are going to do otherwise it will only be limited to doing it. Define a clear outcome from your to-do list and include something measurable if possible. Suppose you produce one post per day. If the task is long enough you can divide it into several small parts, for example determining the topic of writing, making drafts, editing, etc.

A Focus Formula | Pomodoro

Pomodoro is already in great demand and used by professionals because its effectiveness is quite satisfying. By blocking a certain amount of time without letting any distractions make us more focused. Also, try to monotask because your brain needs more time to readjust when you juggle too often.

Convenient Atmosphere

However, the environment influences productivity as well. Whether you are working or studying, whether you are working from the office or home, make your surroundings convenient enough to make you stay for a long time. These are several tips you can do:

1. Tidy up the desk.
2. Get fresh fragrance.
3. Cool temperature.
4. Ornamental plants or photo frames of people who are important to you.
5. Your favorite snacks and drinks besides.

Bottom Line

Productivity is closely related to priorities. However, it’s important to readjust and evaluate your priority every now and then so you don’t get carried away or neglected too far. Don’t forget to be productive so that you can balance the needs of your body and brain, not to make you a workaholic at all.

Shout out to Martina D. Such nice info about How to produce good quality writing.

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