What would happen if you stopped chasing productivity advice and hacks and started getting stuff done?
Picture that moment when you realise being ‘productive’ is making you exhausted. Imagine that moment is now.
1. Delay your morning caffeine shot
Terrifying? I know. I used to think I couldn’t start my day without my adaptogen-powered energy shot (basically fancy caffeine with impressive-sounding ingredients). Turns out I was just masking how drained I actually felt. Now I drink a full glass of water first, then caffeine. But, most days I forget about the caffeine because I’m already awake. Those are my best mornings.
2. Good things come in threes
Massive to-do lists have started to overwhelm me. They never seem to be anything other than massive. First thing every morning (while I drink my water) I write down the 3 things I really want to do that day. That’s it. Three things. Some days I get through all three, some days I don’t. But I always feel more focused than when I was trying to do 47 things at once.
3. Right here, right now
Walking through the door after work with the best of intentions. Something catches my eye. I get distracted. I sit down for a minute, it becomes an hour. I’m now tired and can’t be bothered. I say ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’ and switch on the TV. The nights I walk through the door with a plan, or where I pause and think ‘right, what’s next’, are the nights that mean I go to bed feeling smug and winning. This is so effective that I’ve now got a sign on my wall – What’s next – is the first thing I see. There’s no avoiding it.
4. Following the crowd (for once)
I tried to be different from the 5am crowd, so I went with 4:30am. Crazy. I was exhausted and falling asleep at my desk by afternoon. My ‘perfect’ morning routine was impossible – meditation became nap time. Now I get up at 5am (yes, following the crowd) and habit stack: water and write 3 priorities; prep lunch and check bag, then 5 sit-ups. My willpower’s still in bed, but I don’t need it.
5. Some people (yes, you know the type)
There is lots of advice out there for dealing with ‘difficult’ people. Let’s call them what they are – toxic. You know the type. You make excuses for them because they challenge your self-vision of being ‘nice.’ But they are what they are, and they aren’t for you. So why keep trying? Limit your time with these energy vampires and you’ll be amazed how much more tolerable they become. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Apparently.
6. Sandwich your way through the day
You know the tasks you love and the ones you hate. I used to save the good tasks as rewards for finishing the boring ones. But I never got anything done. Frustrating as hell. So now I create task sandwiches: nice task, crap task, nice task. The good stuff makes the boring bit more palatable.
7. Time after time
‘I don’t have time’? What you meant to say was ‘I don’t have a plan.’ Harsh but true. I used this excuse constantly until I realised I wasn’t doing myself any favours. I did have time – I just didn’t know what I was doing with it. It’s amazing how much time appears when you actually have a plan.
8. Just another Monday
‘I’ll start on Monday’ is just procrastination in fancy dress. If something matters to you, Thursday at 3pm is as good a time as any to start. Perfect conditions don’t exist, but imperfect action does.
9. Discipline: not clear, not clever, not helpful
Everyone talks about discipline like it’s some magical quality successful people have. But what is discipline? What does it actually mean? It’s a word people use to sound clever and imply they know something you don’t. Spoiler: it’s not. Don’t force yourself to do things other people do. Build systems that work with your natural tendencies – they belong to you, so why not use them?
10. Listen to your gut, when it’s calling to you.
Your body and mind are constantly telling you what works and what doesn’t. A project drains you but it ‘should’ be exciting? A routine looks perfect but makes you feel awful? Stop trying to convince yourself otherwise. It’s pointless wasting energy on something you know isn’t true. Listen to your gut, there’s nothing else you should do.
11. It’s such a perfect day
Life isn’t perfect every day. Some days are just crap. The exhausting part is trying to convince yourself. Embrace the awful and get the important stuff done. The fun is just around the corner again.
Stop trying to convince your way out of exhaustion and start paying attention to what’s actually going on. Life’s too short to spend it kidding yourself. This doesn’t mean never speaking to people you don’t like, or only working the stuff that energises you. This is about minimising the crap, accepting that you can’t have everything your own way and getting on with it so the important stuff gets done and the distractions go away. Use your energy wisely.
Struggling to spot what drains you? Don’t have the energy to stop and think? Download this worksheet and see what it reveals. 10 minutes max and the perfect way to take a break if your day isn’t going how you’d like.
Want to know more about my approach to sustainable energy systems? Learn about my background here.
