The world is littered with hacks and quick fixes to get things done. Most of it is BS.
For productivity in your deep work, here's what actually works.
19 scientifically-backed ways to improve our work:
For productivity in your deep work, here's what actually works.
19 scientifically-backed ways to improve our work:
1. Own Your Work Space
Create a home-field advantage. When we feel psychological ownership over where our work space, we boost our performance, confidence, & efficiency.
How? Make it feel your own: pictures, reminders, organized to your liking, etc.
thegrowtheq.com/to-perform-bet…
Create a home-field advantage. When we feel psychological ownership over where our work space, we boost our performance, confidence, & efficiency.
How? Make it feel your own: pictures, reminders, organized to your liking, etc.
thegrowtheq.com/to-perform-bet…
2. Work near a window
Research finds that when we work near a window, we experience:
-Increased Creativity
-Improved sleep
-More physical activity
-Improved cognitive performance
-less eye strain/headaches
-Increased satisfaction & well-being
-Less likely to quit our job
Research finds that when we work near a window, we experience:
-Increased Creativity
-Improved sleep
-More physical activity
-Improved cognitive performance
-less eye strain/headaches
-Increased satisfaction & well-being
-Less likely to quit our job
3. Use your environment to invite action
Tie what you do to a space or object you use.
Research on affordances shows that physical objects and surroundings can invite us to action. A notebook and pen or a whiteboard invites creative thinking.
A TV and couch invites sitting.
Tie what you do to a space or object you use.
Research on affordances shows that physical objects and surroundings can invite us to action. A notebook and pen or a whiteboard invites creative thinking.
A TV and couch invites sitting.
The more you pair going to a specific coffee shop at a specific time of day and using a specific computer with writing, the easier it becomes to get into a productive creative rhythm.
Even how desks are arranged in the office matter, impacting cohesion:
journals.plos.org/plosone/articl…
Even how desks are arranged in the office matter, impacting cohesion:
journals.plos.org/plosone/articl…
4. Work In Intervals
Highly focused, single-task intervals allow you to exert and sustain the physical, cognitive, and emotional energy required to get the most out of what you’re doing.
Follow the deep work with rest, which allows you to do it again.
Stress + Rest = Growth
Highly focused, single-task intervals allow you to exert and sustain the physical, cognitive, and emotional energy required to get the most out of what you’re doing.
Follow the deep work with rest, which allows you to do it again.
Stress + Rest = Growth
The best research says work hard for anywhere from about 20 to 90 minutes, then take 3-15 minutes of rest. The harder and longer the work, the more rest you need.
The more fatigue accumulates (i.e. by the afternoon), the longer breaks we need!
The more fatigue accumulates (i.e. by the afternoon), the longer breaks we need!
5. Rest and recover well
Don't scroll on your phone during your breaks! Let your mind turn off. What works well for breaks?
-Nature- Look or go outside
-Walks or moving
-Closing your eyes- even if it's just for a few minutes
-Socializing with friends
Don't scroll on your phone during your breaks! Let your mind turn off. What works well for breaks?
-Nature- Look or go outside
-Walks or moving
-Closing your eyes- even if it's just for a few minutes
-Socializing with friends
6. Get outside...or at least look at it.
Evidence suggests that looking at nature not only restores our attention, but it enhances our problem solving problems and boosts our creativity.
Nature tends to put our mind in a relaxed alertness state.
Evidence suggests that looking at nature not only restores our attention, but it enhances our problem solving problems and boosts our creativity.
Nature tends to put our mind in a relaxed alertness state.
Nature restores our battery. It improves our mood, decreases levels of inflammation, and hastens our transition from stress to recovery.
https://twitter.com/stevemagness/status/1359143937307459589
7. Use Your Hands
Fidgeting increases alertness. It’s your subconscious way of saying, “do something!”
Gesturing while you talk improves clarity of speech & helps with problem solving and creativity. We think with our hands.
Read @anniemurphypaul book Extended Mind for more!
Fidgeting increases alertness. It’s your subconscious way of saying, “do something!”
Gesturing while you talk improves clarity of speech & helps with problem solving and creativity. We think with our hands.
Read @anniemurphypaul book Extended Mind for more!
8. Know Your Pattern
Scientists refer to those who are most alert in the morning as larks and those who are most alert in the evening as owls.
When do you do your best creative work? Mindless work? Deep work? Physical work?
It varies. Figure out your pattern.
Scientists refer to those who are most alert in the morning as larks and those who are most alert in the evening as owls.
When do you do your best creative work? Mindless work? Deep work? Physical work?
It varies. Figure out your pattern.
9. Find What Works for YOU
Some people perform better while listening to music. Others do not. Some people get a boost from caffeine. Others experience anxiety or an upset stomach.
Test, tinker, and reflect. Self-awareness allows you to see what works for you.
Some people perform better while listening to music. Others do not. Some people get a boost from caffeine. Others experience anxiety or an upset stomach.
Test, tinker, and reflect. Self-awareness allows you to see what works for you.
10. Routines are great. Develop flexibility
Routines are fantastic. Establish them. But there is a danger in becoming overly attached to the routine
The 1st rule of routines is to develop one and stick with it. The 2nd rule is to cultivate the capacity to easily release from it
Routines are fantastic. Establish them. But there is a danger in becoming overly attached to the routine
The 1st rule of routines is to develop one and stick with it. The 2nd rule is to cultivate the capacity to easily release from it
11. Prioritize consistency over heroic efforts
It’s okay to do what I call ‘see God’ workouts every once in a while, but the best athletes are the best not because of a few massive efforts, but because of consistency over a long duration.
Same goes with our work.
It’s okay to do what I call ‘see God’ workouts every once in a while, but the best athletes are the best not because of a few massive efforts, but because of consistency over a long duration.
Same goes with our work.
12. Surround yourself wisely
A 2017 study found that sitting within 25 feet of a high performer at work improved an employee’s performance by 15 percent. But sitting within 25 feet of a low performer hurt their performance by 30 percent.
thegrowtheq.com/good-vibes-are…
A 2017 study found that sitting within 25 feet of a high performer at work improved an employee’s performance by 15 percent. But sitting within 25 feet of a low performer hurt their performance by 30 percent.
thegrowtheq.com/good-vibes-are…
13. Phone Off
If it’s on the table, or in your pocket, your brain is monitoring it. Waiting for it to buzz. You’ve trained it to do so.
Ever experienced phantom vibrations? I rest my case.
Out of sight, out of mind. When doing deep work, turn it off, throw it in the closet.
If it’s on the table, or in your pocket, your brain is monitoring it. Waiting for it to buzz. You’ve trained it to do so.
Ever experienced phantom vibrations? I rest my case.
Out of sight, out of mind. When doing deep work, turn it off, throw it in the closet.
14. Move…Slowly
Daniel Kahnemann goes on strolls at 17 minutes per mile. Why? It helps him think.
Mild activity increases alertness just enough, while occupying your mind with an ingrained task. That frees it up to wrestle with the hard stuff.
Walking improves creativity.
Daniel Kahnemann goes on strolls at 17 minutes per mile. Why? It helps him think.
Mild activity increases alertness just enough, while occupying your mind with an ingrained task. That frees it up to wrestle with the hard stuff.
Walking improves creativity.
15. Learn how to turn the dial of physiological arousal.
Feeling lethargic? Do some jumping jacks, or some rapid breathing or jam out to music.
We can modulate our adrenaline and arousal levels with simple activities.
Learn when to turn the dial up or down.
Feeling lethargic? Do some jumping jacks, or some rapid breathing or jam out to music.
We can modulate our adrenaline and arousal levels with simple activities.
Learn when to turn the dial up or down.
16. Take your online work offline.
Writing by hand can help us comprehend and remember work better. It allows us to wrestle with ideas in a different way.
When stuck, ditch the computer or tablet, turn to the notebook. cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.udel.edu…
Writing by hand can help us comprehend and remember work better. It allows us to wrestle with ideas in a different way.
When stuck, ditch the computer or tablet, turn to the notebook. cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.udel.edu…
17. Show Up Rested
If you show up to do deep work in a hole, these tips and tricks won't matter. They are band aids.
Show up rested to do the work. How? Sleep, time away from work, etc.
A deep thread on the science of sleep:
If you show up to do deep work in a hole, these tips and tricks won't matter. They are band aids.
Show up rested to do the work. How? Sleep, time away from work, etc.
A deep thread on the science of sleep:
https://twitter.com/stevemagness/status/1365302730919706627
18. Work on just manageable challenges
When a task is too easy, we get bored and unmotivated. When we don't have a shot at winning, our motivation wanes and we give up.
Find challenges that are in the sweet spot of just beyond your current capabilities. A slight stretch.
When a task is too easy, we get bored and unmotivated. When we don't have a shot at winning, our motivation wanes and we give up.
Find challenges that are in the sweet spot of just beyond your current capabilities. A slight stretch.
19. Separate Your Deep Work from Your Collaborative work
Open spaces, coffee shops, etc. work well when we are in collaborate mode.
They fail miserably for deep, focused work. We need quiet space.
Know what kind of work you're doing. Create the space to do it.
Open spaces, coffee shops, etc. work well when we are in collaborate mode.
They fail miserably for deep, focused work. We need quiet space.
Know what kind of work you're doing. Create the space to do it.
To work smarter, all of these tips can be put in 3 buckets:
1. Stress + Rest = Growth - Manage your energy & effort
2. Modulate your physiological arousal. Turn up or down the dial to focus attention or recover
3. Make sure your environment is working with you, not against
1. Stress + Rest = Growth - Manage your energy & effort
2. Modulate your physiological arousal. Turn up or down the dial to focus attention or recover
3. Make sure your environment is working with you, not against
Thanks for following along!
If you enjoyed this information, I tweet threads about the science of performance every week. You can
1. Follow @stevemagness
2. Sign up for my free weekly newsletter for deeper dives: getrevue.co/profile/stevem…
If you enjoyed this information, I tweet threads about the science of performance every week. You can
1. Follow @stevemagness
2. Sign up for my free weekly newsletter for deeper dives: getrevue.co/profile/stevem…
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