- The AAA Letter
- Posts
- Feeling Unproductive Today?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Focus on being productive instead of busy
The Breakdown
DEEP DIVE
Hey fam!
"Hustle harder", "Rise and Grind". Have you seen these quotes on your social media feed in the last week and feel pressured to live up to them? If this is you, then let's break free from these cliches and find out how to unlock real productivity.
Debunking Common Productivity Myths
More Hours = More Success
Early bird or night owl, it doesn't matter. Find your focus zone (when you feel at your best and you have minimal distractions) and make those hours count. When planning your day's to-do list, condense it to put your 3 most important tasks first. After this, then tackle 5-10 lower-priority tasks outside of your focus zone.
2. Multi-Tasking is Good for You
Juggling ten tasks feels impressive but leads to none done well. Quality over quantity. Doing bigger, more important tasks is daunting at first. What's worked for me is to make the task as actionable and simple as possible.
For example, instead of 'complete an essay', aim for 20 words (or 2 sentences) towards the final draft. The simpler the task, the easier it is to follow through.
3. The "Always On" Dilemma
Being constantly available doesn’t make you productive. What will instead happen is you'll be overstretched, overwhelmed, tired, frustrated, and unable to keep your focus for very long. That doesn't sound very 'productive', does it?
Photo used from handsoffceo.com - More hours doesn't always mean more work done
3 Simple Truths to Start Your Productivity Journey
Deep Work Over Long Hours: Dive deep. Quality, focused sessions can be more productive than long, draining hours.
Rest and Reset: It's not lazy; it's essential. Your brain needs it. Read here to learn how to become more restful today.
Time's Reality: Our time is finite. Recognise and respect that. Choose the work and personal projects that matter most to you.
TIPS & TRICKS
TAKE ACTION TODAY
Actionable Tips for Genuine Productivity
The Beginner's Pomodoro: Work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break. Rinse and repeat.
These are a good way to find your working rhythm. If you can focus for more than 25 minutes, bump up the working time (adjust the break time). Here's a timer I'm currently using.
Digital Time-outs: Our brains aren’t wired for constant screen time. Schedule breaks. and be mindful of your online activity.
The 'Momentum' Google Chrome extension is a good starting point. Also, apps like 'Freedom' go deeper and block out distracting sites to help you focus.
Asking for help can feel uncomfortable at first. However, there are willing helpers if you make the effort. Don’t hesitate to seek mentorship and practice what has worked for them (and avoid what didn't!).
Your journey to productivity is yours alone - it's not about rigid rules but what works best for you. This is just the tip of the iceberg as there's so much more to unearth. What productivity myth did you believe? If you're keen to go further, dive deeper into Oliver Burkeman's "4000 Weeks" and subscribe for more productive insights.
Let's continue to Evolve Every Day, no matter how big or small the step...
Embark on a beginner-friendly productivity journey with the Pomodoro Technique.
THIS WEEK’S RECOMMENDATION
If you’re just starting out with productivity techniques, use the Pomodoro Technique to find your working rhythm. This week’s recommendation is an online (and free) Pomodoro timer to use. Get started!