You have no problem keeping busy.
No problem crossing things off your to-do list.
You multitask like it’s going out of style.
I got sick of this pattern.
So I changed it.
This post originally appeared on theCrew Blog.
Not only that, but you’re exhausted.
Your creative juices don’t flow the way the used to and you feel stressed and inadequate.
You’re treading water.
That’s why it was time for change.
What Productivity Is Really About
Being productive isn’t just about quantity.
And it’s not just about quality either.
This last part is especially tough for many of us.
Like most things in life, there are two ends of the spectrum.
On one end you’ve got no structure.
You bounce from task to task and back again, free-flowing and aimless.
Constantly jumping between mental states, conversations, internet tool tabs, etc.
Rigid routines, rules, and structures that are hard to follow.
I have a problem sticking with this kind of rigidity.
To me, most formalized productivity structures are like crash diets.
You may do fine for a short while, but it’s ultimately unsustainable.
You’re setting yourself up for failure.
I ended up only making three changes to how I work, but the impact has been remarkable.
I’ll spare you the lecture.
But I did a little research and what I found was pretty alarming.
This is because we’re essentially competing to use the same part of our brain.
Just like a computer when it gets overloaded, it simply slows down.
Slowing you down is only the half of it.
This is dangerous territory.
In other words: out of sight, out of mind.
So again, I took to a little visualization.
This diagram (inspired by one fromTarang Baxi) has been incredibly helpful.
It’s a simple exercise that illuminates what you really ought to be focused on at any given time.
Your main goal may be building a stronger brand or growing your audience on social media.
Whatever it is, put that on the y-axis where I currently show “revenue.”
Then work in order of the numbered boxes.
My number one priority right now with my companyHookFeedis building revenue so we can continue to grow.
And this isn’t always the “fun stuff”.
Each week I have a handful of tasks and responsibilities that are mainstays in my schedule.
I always had a feeling I was forgetting something or juggling miscellaneous tasks in the back of my head.
It was killing momentum on HookFeed and burning me out onwhat started asa passion project.
I made a simple change.
I batch all the production for the week’s episodes on Monday nights.
It doesn’t require much creativity so I save it for later in the day.
Now we only schedule new interviews on Fridays in 2 time slots.
Same time every week.
I also do this for some of my recurringHookFeedtasks as well.
The result is that I have a few hours each week blocked out for the “mainstays”.
The tasks are black and white, and I know exactly how long each will take.
It removes a massive amount of mental load so I can focus on the big stuff.
Initially, all I wanted was to make progress toward my goals any way I could.
A huge part about anything you do in life is making sure you have time to recharge your batteries.
This has been by far the most important lesson for me in all of this.
And feeling guilt-free about prioritizing my free time has made me better at everything I work on.
The value of doing so outweighs the little odds and ends that previously kept you spinning your wheels.
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