Author Archives: jannoteelem

Curiosity

In general, I have noticed there is a strong correlation between being curious and being productive. Curious people spend more time investigating problems and solutions and over time build up quite a solid stack of knowledge and skills which will later on make it much easier for them to achieve their goals.

Get Up-To-Speed Gradually

Whenever trying to pick up a new habit or starting a new process, make sure you don’t start off too aggressively. Choose a reasonable pace. For example, make a commitment to go to gym just once a week. After a while, start going twice a week and so on. It’s ok to fall back to old habits a little bit now and then, just make sure you don’t fall back too much. Slow gradual progress is important. Take a couple of steps every day.

High Concentration Material

Whenever learning or reading something or even listening to podcasts, try to find the highest concentration material possible. You can spend weeks reading a 500-page book, but if it only contains 20-pages worth of valuable information, it’s not very effective.

Rate Your Effort

Productivity depends on your effort. You may be very well organized, but some days are better than others. Rate your effort every day on the scale of 1 to 10. Every evening think back what you did during the day and how much effort did you put into your activities and how focused you were. Did you bring your A-game or did you just struggle through the day. Every week and every month try to beat your previous average score.

Too Busy To Plan

Some people say, “I don’t have time to plan. I’m too busy with so many things.” While actually, the busier you are, the more you need to plan. In fact, constantly being too busy is often a sign of weak planning. Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Manage Your Energy

This is an important part of time management. Notice how your energy level fluctuates throughout the day and week. Sometimes you feel fully energized to move mountains and sometimes you feel like taking a nap. It’s important to allow some flexibility in your schedule, so that you tackle the most complex problems, when you are full of energy and deal with simple tasks when you are struggling staying awake. Some ideas:

1. Notice how your eating habits affect your energy levels

For example, I always eat properly before I have to solve complex problems, because then my mind is sharper.

2. Complete physical tasks when you have low energy

For example, when I notice my energy levels drop after sitting for hours and working online, I start doing some other tasks which require some physical activity, which require minimal mindpower.

3. Notice which factors increase your energy

For example, listening to music while programming or talking with some smart colleagues. Use this factors to pump up your energy when needed.

4. Notice which factors decrease your energy

For example, ambient noise, frequent interruptions or dealing with certain annoying tasks. Try to minimize these.

5. Visiting new places usually increases energy

When you are in a new place, you are naturally more alert and have higher energy levels. That’s why a lot of people like travelling. But it also works in smaller scale. For example, go to a cafe for an hour and work from there, when you feel tired in the office.

6. When you feel tired, take a break, don’t struggle through it

Minimize the time you spend in low energy state. Recharge your batteries and continue when you feel full of energy again.

7. Ride the wave of high energy

When you feel excited about doing something, follow through and complete this task, if your calendar allows it (e.g unless you have an important meeting or something). For example, if I feel particularly inspired in working on the #3 item in my prioritized task list, I rather complete this today and tackle the #1 item tomorrow. Just make sure this doesn’t become your habit and you don’t deviate from your long term priorities too much.