Summary

The article discusses the futility of chasing the perfect productivity system, advocating instead for a simple and personalized approach to enhance daily productivity.

Abstract

The author of the article shares a personal obsession with coffee mugs as a metaphor for the pursuit of the perfect productivity system. They argue that like a mug's true purpose is to hold a hot beverage, the essence of a productivity system is to facilitate work, not to be aesthetically pleasing. The author reveals that many productivity gurus do not consistently follow their own systems, emphasizing that true productivity stems from simplicity, habits, and routines. The article outlines an "anti-system system" that encourages readers to define their own version of "perfect," focus on minimal viable products (MVPs), and establish habits and routines that energize rather than drain them. The author suggests that by embracing the imperfections of daily life, planning to do less, and being mindful of activities that give or take away energy, individuals can create a productive life that aligns with their joys and priorities.

Opinions

Productivity systems should not be overly complex; their purpose is to help get work done effectively.
Productivity gurus often sell systems they rarely follow themselves, which can be misleading.
A productive life is about accepting the longevity and brevity of life, doing what brings joy, and not overwhelming oneself with tasks.
The concept of an MVP can be applied to personal productivity by identifying the smallest action that can be taken to achieve a goal.
Establishing habits and routines that are life-giving is crucial for sustained productivity.
It is important to evaluate and adjust one's daily habits to minimize draining activities and prioritize energizing ones.
Universal truths for productivity include regular exercise, sun exposure, healthy eating, positive relationships, daily fun, and sufficient sleep.

In Pursuit of the perfect day, or how a coffee mug changed my life

What Productivity Gurus Won’t Tell you

Why you can’t match their effort, and why following their path will never get you there

I have a healthy obsession with mugs. I absolutely love them, to where if one of my favorite mugs isn’t clean or all are being used by other people, I will do all the dishes in order to get to my desired mug (selfishly I don’t want to be seen as the person in my house who only does one dish). I love the mug for the joy it gives me while I’m drinking my beverage. I like looking at them and how they fit in my hand.

But the point of the mug is a hot liquid delivery system.

The decoration and shape of a mug alter the contents only by providing an off-taste if the mug isn’t clean.

The important thing to realize is when you’re drinking coffee, the perfect mug is unachievable.

There is beauty and art in the mug, the artistic quality of the mug is not the reason we are searching for a mug. The reason we are searching for a mug is to drink something hot and get a caffeine boost.

This is the problem with productivity systems.

The reason you are searching for a productivity system is to get work done, not find the most beautiful system.

I fell into the same trap with being productive as I did with my mugs.

I spent all my time searching for the perfect system to create the perfect day. In the process, I wasted thousands of hours, more hours than I will ever make up in perfecting my productivity. It is simply not worth the time to find the perfect productivity system.

The truth is most guru’s systems, morning rituals, and amazing levels of productivity are lies. I’ve rubbed elbows with enough of them to know that they follow the “system” they sell about 7% of the time.

Real productivity comes from relying on simplicity, habits, and routines.

The anti-system system

Since I’m not a productivity guru, and I have no product to sell you I can tel you in on all of my secrets to being super productive. My only monetary compensation is from Medium, so I’m invested in keeping you on my page, reading my work, for as long as possible.

I’ve coached my fitness and writing clients on these principals, and they universally win out. I cannot tell you exactly what to do, but I can tell you how to get to where you can tell you what to do.

Make sense?

There are three frameworks from which you need to oporate to create your “perfect system.”

Defining perfect MVP Habits and routines

Let’s jump in

Welcoming that which you cannot change (ie, they’re all perfect)

“They’re all perfect” — Katsumoto, The Last Samurai

First, realise is that your day is already perfect. You woke up. You are here. You have not yet died. Instead of being frustrated that you didn’t do all the things on your todo list yesterday, be grateful you’re here and did some things.

Shrink your todo list. It’s okay if you don’t pump out an article, write a chapter, pick up your kid from school, volunteer at the PTA, have incredible sex with your partner, and work a side hustle. When you pile too much on your plate you’re exhausted.

To get more done, plan to do less.

Living a productive life is accepting that you will be here for a very long time. You do not have to get everything done today.

You must also accept that life is short, and while you have survived this long, the terminal illness you were born with (life) will end. Use this as a reminder to do that which gives you joy, not only things that line your pocket or feed your ego.

MVP

Minimum Viable Product.

My therapist asked me to think what the shortest workout would be so I could check the box. 15 minutes

What are the fewest words I can write to check the box? 300

And in productivity, the question is, what is the smallest I can make my system to have the most amount of output?

It came down to a single 3x5 card. Every day I write my Focus, my Tasks, and my primary Hurdle.

I use a thick sharpie so I can’t cram too much on the card, and I only write on one side of it.

As soon as I implemented this system my productivity skyrocketed. It allowed me to home in on the exact things I needed to do that day. Write an article, be present for my kids, whatever.

I had tried to schedule out every second of every day, and that’s not the life I lead. It’s also not the life I want to lead. In trying to do more I actually ended up doing less. The mug got in the way of the coffee (or tea, in my case).

What’s the smallest you can make your system to be effective? Strip it down and see what happens

Habits and routines

Simply put, habits and routines are the things you do regardless of what’s on the schedule. Make coffee, read, scroll social media, read Kian’s article of the day, etc.

It’s helpful to look at your habits and filter out your drains and gains.

Drains and gains

What are the habits that are draining you, and what are the habits that are giving you life?

If you workout each morning, for example, and loathe the training, and you feel worse afterward. Maybe that’s not the workout for you.

If you feel energized after reading, but “never have time for it” then maybe you wake up a few minutes earlier so you can purposefully put it at the beginning of you day instead of when it fits.

Orient so that your life puts your gains first, and minimizes your drains. TV during the day is something that is so much fun, but it tires me out so I don’t do it.

A simple way to figure out your drains and gains is to complete a three-day journal where you take your pulse every hour by asking three questions: How am I feeling? What was I thinking? What was I doing?

Put a plus next to the hour if you feel energized, and a minus if you feel drained.

By the end of the three days you’ll have a clear picture as to what gives you life and what steals it. Maximize the good and minimize the bad.

Universals that no one wants to hear about

There are a few things that are universal truths that will increase your productivity. I won’t go into detail here, but if you’re interested in hearing my perspective on them please let me know.

Exercise
Sun exposure
Eating good
Positive relationships
Having fun each day
Sleeping enough (Even Gary Vee gets a lot of sleep).

That’s it, folks. Let me know what you think. Agree or disagree, I want to hear from you.