And as a generally unorganized person, this one hit home for me.
A few of my favorite suggestions:
3. Try a triple list:
“Every day I list three things I must do: one annoying task (eg, post letter), one uncomfortable one (eg, attend gym class) and one painful one (eg, no sugar). Having three of varying discomfort means I am more likely to do the lesser ones as a way to productively procrastinate on the bigger one.”
12. Manage subscriptions: This is boring and probably shaming, but so worthwhile. Go through bank statements for any regular payments you don’t recognise or can’t remember and check whether you are still paying subscriptions for things you don’t want or need.
20. Do a passive wardrobe audit: “At the start of the year, turn all your hangers the wrong way round. By the end of the year, if anything still isn’t facing the right way, get rid of it: if you haven’t worn it for a year, you probably won’t.”
40. Stop multitasking: “It feels efficient, but many scientific studies have shown that’s not the case”. When you’re planning your day: “Block it in such a way that you have focused attention on one thing when that’s important to you.” Make sure you communicate your plan to people around you. “Inform everyone, ‘I’m going to really need to focus on this one thing – please don’t disturb me.’”
52. Seek virtual or IRL accountability: Try logging into a livestreamed shared study and work session, such as Study Together or StudyStream. Alternatively, tell someone what you want to achieve today, and ask them to hold you to it.
65. Say no quickly: If you have to say no to something (or want to – that’s allowed!), do it immediately. That gives the asker maximum time to find alternatives.
81. Keep track of praise and thanks: Reader Sarah, who works as a teacher, keeps every thank-you card she has ever been given: “When I’ve had a rough day at school, I flick through them to remember some of the lives I have had an impact on.” Another reader, Lewis, saves positive messages about himself: “When times are tough or I’m feeling down, I dig through it and remind myself of the good things people have shared with me over the years.”
91. Use up ‘waste’ time: “I try to use small segments of available time to accomplish something that I have been putting off. For example, if I have 15 minutes before the Uber arrives, I make an appointment or I straighten out a bit of my paperwork. By using small bits of found time, I knock individual items off my list without a huge investment in time or emotion.”
Reminded me of another one of my favorite quotes: "A fit body, a calm mind, a house full of love. These things cannot be bought—they must be earned."
—Naval Ravikant
The Rule of 100
Source: Jade Bonacolta
Speaking of mastery.
Just 18 minutes of deliberate practice per day can put you ahead of 95% of people in that field.
Don't underestimate the power of small, consistent practice.
There's so much generic productivity advice out there, but I find Mark Manson always brings a unique perspective to the table.
TL:DW:
1) Work with Your Biology, Not Against It: Understand that different productivity advice works for different people. Listen to your body and find what works best for you, as this may change over time.
2) The Minimal Viable Action: To overcome procrastination, start with the smallest, most manageable action related to your task. Motivation often comes after taking action, so just getting started can help you keep going.
3) You Only Improve What You Measure: Tracking your progress is key to improvement but be cautious about the metrics you choose. They can sometimes lead to focusing on quantity over quality.
4) Don’t Fight Your Emotions; Leverage Them: Optimal productivity comes from working on things you care about. Passion drives you to work harder and overcome obstacles, so try to align your work with your interests.
5) More is Not Always Better: Putting in more hours doesn’t always lead to more output. Beyond a certain point, additional effort can lead to diminishing or even negative returns. It's important to recognize when to stop.
By Colby Kultgen Hey friends. Welcome to 1% Better! If you're new here, this is the newsletter where I share the 5 best things I find each week to help you get a little better each day. Ok, let's dive in! Today at a Glance: Infographic: How to Google Like a Pro Video: How to remember everything you read List: 10 productivity tools for a 'finite' life Idea: The harsh truth about time Tweet: What if Instagram was like a shop Read time: 4 minutes View this email in your browser 1% Better is...
By Colby Kultgen Hey friends. Welcome to 1% Better! If you're new here, this is the newsletter where I share the 5 best things I find each week to help you get a little better each day. Quick note: Last week's issue was redirected to a lot of people's promotion folder. If you missed it, you can read it here. To make sure this doesn't happen in the future, simply reply to this email with "hey". Ok, let's dive in! Today at a Glance: Idea: The "To-Start" List Video: How to Slow Down Time...
By Colby Kultgen Hey friends. 40 days and 5 countries later, I'm finally back from Europe! Expect a special edition newsletter with some lessons from my travels soon. In the meantime, this is the newsletter where I share the 5 best things I find each week to help you get a little better each day. Let's dive in! Today at a Glance: Visual: A chart that will change how you see life Question: What makes the hours pass like minutes? Quote: Old ways won't open new doors Article: Do Quests, Not...
