Over the last three to four weeks, I've been struggling immensely with being productive. I find myself scrolling through Facebook or Instagram and watching Youtube videos. I am going to try reverse engineer being more productive within the next few days / weeks.
Step 1 : Locating The Problem
Not setting intentions for what to be done in a day / work session. Usually each day I have a loose idea of what needs to be done but I don't set clear work session for each item. I think if you don't give your mind direction then it will just wonder. So To fix this problem, each day I will set 3 big tasks that should be done and 2 smaller task that should be done. Within a 10 hour work day I should be able to finish each thing without issues.
Secondly, allowing for distractions around me. If I keep my phone or other items around my desk, I will gravitate to checking it while waiting for something to load. I think I will keep my devices away to prevent being distracted each day.
"To learn hard things quickly, you must focus intensely without distraction.”
Step 2 : Problem Prevention
Create deep work routines. I noticed that if I start my morning right then I am able to crush the remainder of the day. If I start my day with social media then the remainder of my day will be social media. So I need to cultivate a deep work routine in the morning.
It all starts with the morning, Welcome Self Help Drew
“Typically, we have a window of about three hours where we’re really, really focused. We’re able to have some strong contributions in terms of planning, in terms of thinking, in terms of speaking well,” Friedman told Harvard Business Review.
Most mornings I've noticed, I'll lay in bed, scroll through social media and then a hour later, go to start work. This is just inefficient use of time and not getting myself ready for the day. So my idea to fix this is, no more cellphone in the bedroom with me, I'll keep a book to read while waiting to sleep but no longer going to use my phone in my bedroom. Secondly, not going to keep my phone in the office. If I keep it nearby then most probably going to check it throughout the day. Side note, I've been also struggling with sleep and feeling tired throughout the day. I decided to invest within a whoop to track my body to see what can I optimize to feel more energize throughout the day. ( Probably going to write about my benefits and effects of whoop)
Donald Layman, professor emeritus of nutrition at the University of Illinois, recommends consuming at least 30 grams of protein for breakfast. Similarly, Tim Ferriss, in his book, The 4-Hour Body, also recommends 30 grams of protein 30 minutes after awaking.
In the morning time, I also found that I wouldn't eat anything until around 11/12 each day. I found that intermit fasting to be beneficial but possibly I can have breakfast, 4 eggs or protein powder instead that would give me fuel throughout the morning. Will track this to see how it will work.
followed by a 5–10 minute session in my journal. The purpose of this journal session is get clarity and focus for my day.
Gaining clarity and insight on what will I actually accomplish today will also be a focus within the morning.
So a morning routine breakdown?
Wake for 7
Shower and Cold Shower
Breakfast( 4 eggs or protein shake)
5 minutes mediate
5 minutes journal
Start work
Hopefully this should take at most 30 mins and it will get me started for some deep work sessions. Goal is to do deep work until 12:30 then workout from 12:30 - 1:30 then have meetings and finish meetings until 3 to deep focus afterwards.
Step 3 : Maintain Productivity
Don’t check your social media or email until after your 3 hours of deep work. Your morning time should be spent on output, not input.
There's some concerns.
I have two meeting each morning. 9:45 and then 10-11. This take up about 1 hour and 15 mins. So my only way around this is to start deep work at like 6:45 so by 9:45 I have all my deep work done. In the evenings I also have meets around 3/4pm each day. Possibly I can workout from 11:45 - 12:45 to then have 1-3 deep work.
Probably the best course of action will be 6:45-9:45 deep work. Meetings from 9:45 - 11 and then 1pm - 3pm deep work, meetings and then another deep work session from 4:30 - 7 another deep work session possibly. I'll try playing around with this over the next few days.