Thread by @DellAnnaLuca

1/ I recently changed the way I structure my workweeks, after reading @rjs' Shape-Up (basecamp.com/shapeup).

So far, it's working great.

Before I begin, a disclaimer: this works *for me*; everyone's circumstances are unique so it might not work for most.

2/ I usually work seven days a week, three to height hours a day, proactively. My girlfriend has similar working hours.

This is an exceptional situation, so the below might not work for most people. But it increased my productivity so much, I wanted to share it anyway.

3/ Now, here is how I implemented the book's process.

My "production cycle" is now 5 days long.
From Mon to Fri I only focus on doing actual work, and relegate all bureaucracy-housekeeping to Sat & Sun.

4/ On Sundays, I plan the work for the next Monday to Friday stretch. I choose chunks of work to do. Large enough so that I will evaluate the week as successful if I complete them but not so large I'll risk non-completion or I won't be able to accommodate unexpected opportunities

5/ On Mondays to Fridays I try to exclusively complete such chunks of work.

Any incoming information (articles to read, emails to answer, letters to send) gets relegated to the weekend (unless I can complete them in seconds).

6/ Having a planned chunk of work to complete
+ no distraction
+ a short deadline (this Friday)
is a great way to avoid busywork.

7/ If the chunk of work is slower or larger than planned, I need to "hammer it down": removing features so that it fits the deadline w/o sacrificing quality.

The objective of each workweek is to have completed, visible chunk of works which provide a sense of progress.

8/ I try not to plan after the end of the week, except for client-facing work.

This to allow me every Sunday to choose what to do next week based on what will create the largest impact; not just to empty the backlog.

9/ Clearly, client-facing work is an exception.

I plan & schedule my workshops, my courses, my consultancy engagements and my book releases with months of advance.

But research work, book writing, marketing & similar tasks follow the process described above.

10/ The above worked so well for me in the last weeks I wanted to share it.

It won't work for most people (we all have different jobs, circumstances & inclinations), but I trust it might be useful to at least someone, who will find his own way to apply it to his own job.

11/ I think that the following could apply to a lot of people, though:

- Divide your workweeks into "production" and "housekeeping" & stick to it

- Plan chunks of work with *short* deadlines, completing each on time, hammering it down if necessary, no excuses.