17 ways to maximize your productivity.
A thread...
A thread...
1. Record your thoughts through an audio recorder
Audio captures not just the thoughts but also our emotions at that moment.
Which is super helpful, when we hear it again in the future.
Bonus: Start the voice note with "I am recording this while I was doing..."
Context helps.
Audio captures not just the thoughts but also our emotions at that moment.
Which is super helpful, when we hear it again in the future.
Bonus: Start the voice note with "I am recording this while I was doing..."
Context helps.
2. Pomodoro Technique
A time management technique that's proven to maximize productivity and attention.
Break your day into 25min chunks followed by a 5min break (this 30min unit is called Pomodoro).
After about 4 pomodoros, take a longer break of 15-20mins.
@sketchplanator
A time management technique that's proven to maximize productivity and attention.
Break your day into 25min chunks followed by a 5min break (this 30min unit is called Pomodoro).
After about 4 pomodoros, take a longer break of 15-20mins.
@sketchplanator
3. Set specific times to check your emails
If you check your emails as and when they arrive, you will be sucked into them!
Schedule your emails to hit your inbox only at scheduled times (I do it 4 times a day).
Then use Pomodoro to go through them all in one go.
If you check your emails as and when they arrive, you will be sucked into them!
Schedule your emails to hit your inbox only at scheduled times (I do it 4 times a day).
Then use Pomodoro to go through them all in one go.
4. Set app usage limits
Use your phone to set time limits on the app you tend to waste time on.
Use a password to unlock and ask someone in your family to set that password (you shouldn't know it!)
Similarly, use website blockers.
Use your phone to set time limits on the app you tend to waste time on.
Use a password to unlock and ask someone in your family to set that password (you shouldn't know it!)
Similarly, use website blockers.
5. Create a self-WhatsApp group
Create a WA group with someone.
Delete that person.
Pin that group to the top.
Now you have a WA group with just yourself.
Use it to record your pics, voice notes, typed notes.
Basically anything!
Super hack for quick recording and retrieval.
Create a WA group with someone.
Delete that person.
Pin that group to the top.
Now you have a WA group with just yourself.
Use it to record your pics, voice notes, typed notes.
Basically anything!
Super hack for quick recording and retrieval.
6. Send emails to yourself in the future
You can schedule emails for a later time.
Use those to be reminded of things you remember right now, but cannot pick up right now.
Be as detailed as possible.
Attach images, voice notes, links etc.
You can schedule emails for a later time.
Use those to be reminded of things you remember right now, but cannot pick up right now.
Be as detailed as possible.
Attach images, voice notes, links etc.
https://twitter.com/warikoo/status/1367696864657563649?s=20
7. Put all tasks on your calendar
Build the habit of using a calendar.
And then put EVERYTHING on the calendar.
Not just meetings and work tasks.
Birthdays.
Bills to be paid.
Reminders.
Family events.
Daily routine.
It will add structure to what might look like a random day!
Build the habit of using a calendar.
And then put EVERYTHING on the calendar.
Not just meetings and work tasks.
Birthdays.
Bills to be paid.
Reminders.
Family events.
Daily routine.
It will add structure to what might look like a random day!
8. Make your frequent apps hard to find
Do not place them on the home screen.
Put them in some random folder, called something random.
In addition to time limits, the visual hurdle to get to your app will make you spend a LOT less time.
Do not place them on the home screen.
Put them in some random folder, called something random.
In addition to time limits, the visual hurdle to get to your app will make you spend a LOT less time.
9. The 2-min rule
If something takes less than 2-mins to get done, then get it done right away.
Postponing them only adds to the cognitive load our mind had to bear with.
We think we still have a LOT to do.
Feeling burdened and overwhelmed.
If something takes less than 2-mins to get done, then get it done right away.
Postponing them only adds to the cognitive load our mind had to bear with.
We think we still have a LOT to do.
Feeling burdened and overwhelmed.
10. Pick the hardest things when high on energy
Find out when is your energy at its peak.
Could be early morning, mid-day or late into the night.
Reserve the hardest things for that time.
That is when you will find the flow to get it done.
Find out when is your energy at its peak.
Could be early morning, mid-day or late into the night.
Reserve the hardest things for that time.
That is when you will find the flow to get it done.
11. Create a to-do list and check things off
Psychologically, we get a sense of progress and achievement when we check things off.
Create a small to-do list everyday, on a piece of paper (not your phone/PC)
And check them off, as you finish them.
Psychologically, we get a sense of progress and achievement when we check things off.
Create a small to-do list everyday, on a piece of paper (not your phone/PC)
And check them off, as you finish them.
12. Reply to messages/emails when people are less likely to respond
The biggest time suck is real-time communication.
It requires you to be attentive, respond and take decisions.
It consumes energy.
If not needed, then avoid it.
The biggest time suck is real-time communication.
It requires you to be attentive, respond and take decisions.
It consumes energy.
If not needed, then avoid it.
13. Schedule distraction time
Do not try to shut down distraction time.
Instead, schedule it.
You will love forward to it.
And you will be more disciplined about it.
Do not try to shut down distraction time.
Instead, schedule it.
You will love forward to it.
And you will be more disciplined about it.
14. Do not try to remember anything
This is my magic hack!
I write everything down.
And have a way of retrieving that, when required.
Not spending your energy in remembering things, frees you up to do things!
This is my magic hack!
I write everything down.
And have a way of retrieving that, when required.
Not spending your energy in remembering things, frees you up to do things!
15. Listen to songs without lyrics
Songs with lyrics get us to hum along.
Taking our attention away.
Instead, play music known to help with mindfulness.
Listen to your favorite songs, during your distraction time.
Songs with lyrics get us to hum along.
Taking our attention away.
Instead, play music known to help with mindfulness.
Listen to your favorite songs, during your distraction time.
16. Write down your distracting thoughts
Keep a notepad handy.
As soon as you are distracted, write it down.
Writing tells your brain that it is important.
The minute the brain identifies it as important, it relieves itself.
Allowing you to go back to what you were doing.
Keep a notepad handy.
As soon as you are distracted, write it down.
Writing tells your brain that it is important.
The minute the brain identifies it as important, it relieves itself.
Allowing you to go back to what you were doing.
17. Minimize decisions
Minimize the decisions you have to take.
Which starts with, being quick to take decisions too.
99% of the decisions we take are reversible.
Don't spend time trying to make the right one.
Just make one!
Spend time on the few decisions that truly matter.
Minimize the decisions you have to take.
Which starts with, being quick to take decisions too.
99% of the decisions we take are reversible.
Don't spend time trying to make the right one.
Just make one!
Spend time on the few decisions that truly matter.
Productivity is another word for progress.
If we sense progress, we feel productive.
So you want to design your life in a way that you are constantly measuring progress, and feeling a sense of progress.
The more you do, the more productive you will become.
If we sense progress, we feel productive.
So you want to design your life in a way that you are constantly measuring progress, and feeling a sense of progress.
The more you do, the more productive you will become.
These hacks are simple.
What's harder is the intent.
My experience tells me that forming habits to be productive and feel productive have massive compounding effects.
The best time to start was in your teens.
The next best time is today!
What's harder is the intent.
My experience tells me that forming habits to be productive and feel productive have massive compounding effects.
The best time to start was in your teens.
The next best time is today!
Even if you were to pick 5 of these hacks and create a 30-day challenge to follow them, I guarantee you results that will surprise you!
Productivity is never an accident.
It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort.
- Paul Meyer
It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort.
- Paul Meyer
Here is a thread I had written on 10 challenges for your mind, body and soul
https://twitter.com/warikoo/status/1456500811404439557?s=20
Here is the start of the thread. If you liked it, please do retweet it so that it reaches a lot more like you.
https://twitter.com/warikoo/status/1464115671592173570?s=20
Every Friday, I write a thread on Twitter on personal growth, failures, entrepreneurship.
Follow me on @warikoo to get these threads on your timeline.
Here is the list of all my past threads
Follow me on @warikoo to get these threads on your timeline.
Here is the list of all my past threads
https://twitter.com/warikoo/status/1300042004810944513?s=20
I also write a newsletter every Friday, that goes out to 75K+ people
These newsletters are the most personal stories I share anywhere and my lessons from it.
You can read all my previous newsletter here and subscribe to it for free
ankurwarikoo.com/newsletter-edi…
These newsletters are the most personal stories I share anywhere and my lessons from it.
You can read all my previous newsletter here and subscribe to it for free
ankurwarikoo.com/newsletter-edi…
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