Ali Abdaal – via Skill Share class
Abdaal is a UK, blogger, tech and productivity commentator as well as being a doctor. Journaling helps to reflect on what we do. How do we respond to what we wrote? What should we do different next time? We can use these thoughts to guide our ability to get things done.
The lessons in the class covered various topics relating to productivity and offered questions at the end to help our thinking. We should endeavor to be productive in the right things. Focus on what interests us and what will be useful in the future.
Productivity Equation = “useful” output/time x f (fun)
“F” is the fun factor. when something is fun, then it does not seem like work. If your task is enjoyable, then it will seem easy.
Think of our work or productivity of consisting of three elements in which we have multiple roles:
- Pilot – figures out the direction of the flight (we spend or should spend about 10-15% of effort here).
- Plane – flies safely and follows instructions. 80% of our time is here, and finally, the
- Flight Engineer – makes sure work is efficient, not using excessive energy, and keeps things organized. Maybe 10% of our time.
Questions:
In what role do we struggle the most and in what ways. Write down examples.
What are we avoiding when we say “I don’t have time”
Time Myth –
Our time is in our control. Actually this is a priority problem. You are limited by your conscious choices. Try not to say, “I don’t have time”. You really do, you just don’t choose to work on that tasks for some other reason. It could be useful to track your time for a week, hour by hour. You might be surprised, maybe not.
Myth of Motivation
“Thoughts, I should ….” how to get there requires discipline for.. Action or Doing
Motivation (feel like doing something) It’s best not to rely on feelings as they are not reliable. Through discipline we can get started on something we tend to put off. We have off days when our feelings, fatigue, emotions and attitude just overturn what we want or need to do. It happens sometimes as we all know.
To get going, try these:
- Make your action more pleasurable or fun
- Try something else for a while if you are in a funk. Exercise or may chat with a friend for encouragement.
- Track your “numbers” to see progress and get feedback
- Make consequences of inaction more painful
- Put your money where your mouth is. Tell others so you will know they are “watching”
- Shorten feedback loop so you can “feel” how you are doing
- Make the outcome more salient or clear in your mind. Do you really know what the goal is? Write down what winning or completion will look like.
Questions:
What is the goal precisely?
How to make this task pleasurable.
How to make outcomes more tangible or desirable.
The Myth of Multi-tasking
Efficiency and attention is lost switching back and forth between tasks. We do our best when focusing on one thing at the time without interruption. The goal here is to be “in the flow”
Suggestions to get in the flow:
- Be in a task difficult enough to require effort and keep you focused.
- A Stretch Zone task requires additional effort but has a high payoff.
- Try to avoid distraction while in the flow state. Turn off phone, notifications, turn on do not disturb function on computer. It helps to change your behavior to keep things from districting you. Go so far as to have your desk set up, correct lighting, your favorite beverage in reach, all materials at hand, etc before you start.
Questions:
What is an example of me in the flow state?
What circumstances and mindset lead to that?
Can I manufacture or recreate that to get into the flow for other tasks?
Parkinson’s Law
Work expands to fill the time allotted for it. Peter Thiel has a book that includes this topic Zero to One
Work arounds – give yourself an artificial deadline that is shorter so you can avoid procrastination. Make a list of 3-4 tasks you want to do. Now, what would you do, if you only had half the time to complete them. What would you do if you only had 24 hours to finish? You might learn to focus on the important items to get as much completed as possible.
Pareto Principle
80% of output comes from about 20% of our effort or input. It’s helpful to look at your efforts and think “what’s the most bang for my effort?” Think in big terms where the most value is for our efforts.
Questions:
What 20% of my efforts provide 80% of my output?
What’s taking 80% of my time, but not really contributing much to my output?
Newton’s First Law of Motion
If and object is at rest, it will continue to be so unless acted on by an external force. Conversely, if an object is in motion, it will continue to be so unless acted on by an external force. The takeaway? It’s hard to get started on a task, but it’s much easier to continue on if you are already started or doing it.
“Kick off rules”
- 2 minute rule – if it takes 2 minutes or less, “just do it”
- 5 minute rule – if we struggle to start a task, just take 5 minutes to get going on some part of it. That’s a small commitment, and we’ll see some progress.
- Try to eliminate “friction” to get started. As mentioned earlier, have your desk or wherever you are all set up so you don’t have to stop to get something.
Power of Habits (consistency) James Clear has a great book on this – Atomic Habits
An improvement of just 1% will have an effect of 37 times if applied every day over one year. Little things add up of time. Think EXPONENTIAL. Saying something publicly will push you to complete what you said you would do. We need productive habits to get things done. Believing in yourself will help too. Don’t get involved in negative thinking. Remember, ultimately you are what you think. There is an element of identity change here. Be a different person by making small (atomic) changes. Stop saying things that are counter-productive. New habits are not made in a day, just make the small changes and you’ll see differences begin to happen. Habits? Do you even think about brushing your teeth? It just happens.
Questions:
What are three things that would help, if they were a habit?
How can I make them stick?
Productive Downtime
You can be productive in downtime that would otherwise be wasted. There are times during the day when you have a few minutes commuting, waiting on someone or whatever, when you could think ahead, or organize something rather than playing solitaire or angry birds. If that’s what you want to do, then do it occasionally but know that you could be more productive.
Abdaal uses a notebook and each day he uses a clean page and creates three sections with the headings, H, L, and G. “H” is for highlight of the day… what is one thing I MUST do today? “L” is for what is one thing I could “leave” or forget from my life? and finally “G” which is a list for GO as in task #1, #2, #3…
Mornings are when most people have the greatest energy and should tackle the most difficult projects. It’s a mindset to be productive. It’s nice to look back and see how much you have done.
Question:
We need to ask, just how much non-productive downtime do we really need?
The Power of Productive Procrastination
Sometimes you can do something else that is beneficial (read productive) if you are avoiding doing the main task. i.e. would a “useful” video maybe related to an interest you have get you out of your rut (procrastination)? No, not a “puppy or kitty video”. Try reading a random article and highlight useful information. We are trying to get kickstarted and back on track.
Question:
What items on my bucket list can I procrastinate my way to progress on? How so? Working on something that you would like to do one day or some day, may help generate some useful activity.
Fun Factor
This is not talked about much in productivity papers, but it’s important. What’s the point of what your are doing? Why be productive, if you are not enjoying it? If you are not enjoying it, then change what you do so your will enjoy it. Try to make things more fun. Treat yourself with a reward sometimes for completion of a task.
Examples:
Work with a friend(s)
Anytime we “have to do…” change the thinking… “I get to do…”
Design or set up your environment so that it aids you.
Happy people are more successful. Smiling makes you happier. Change your mindset. Enjoy what you do.
Questions:
What do I have to do in my day that I’m currently not enjoying? Why?
If I had to change something, how would I make it more fun?