6 Tricks to a Highly Productive Me

Post by David Pierce. Find me on Twitter.

In fairness, this has nothing to do with the topic of this site. But it’s been so helpful and meaningful in my life recently that I figured I’d share.

I’ve got way too much to do, and not nearly enough time in which to do it. Know the feeling?

I’ve spent the last couple of months taking on new thing after new thing. I’ve been interviewing for jobs, writing for my school newspaper, working with a  PR company, freelance writing, writing and editing my blog, and working on a pretty awesome new project for and by students, creating a space and community for my generation. Oh, and then there’s school, friends, homework, and that thing called “fun.”

Now here’s my real problem: I want to do ALL of it. I’ve taken on tons of projects and gotten myself way in over my head because I love the ideas, get excited about the process, and love being a part of all these things. I don’t want to drop any of them – but I don’t think I can pull it off.

What I’m learning how to do, slowly but surely, is to make intentional choices every day about what I’m doing, how I’m spending my time, and what I’m working toward. I want to do it all, but I just can’t.

If you can, teach me! But if you’re like me, and feeling a little overwhelmed by everything on your plate, all without wanting to give it up, here’s how I’m learning to deal with it. Maybe it’ll help.

Make a List of Everything I Do

This was one of the most eye-opening things I’ve ever done. I sat down one day, and made a list of literally everything in my life that takes time. The list includes things from “catching up with High School Friends” to “Getting a Job”, to ”Stumbling.”

Make that list. List every single thing you do (other than things you can’t stop, like eating or showering) that asks for your time, and make no inclusion too small.

Cut It In Half

My list was a full 110 things long. I don’t know if that’s a lot or not, but it was too long for me. So I went through, and decided to cut it in half, to 55. The number was arbitrary, but it was important. By cutting things I really don’t get much out of, like “re-watching the Office” or “Hunting for new desktop wallpapers,” I’ve actually saved a lot more time than I realized.

But agreeing to cut it to 55 did force me to make some tough decisions. I stopped writing for a couple of blogs, despite having some great gigs. I turned down a couple of outstanding things, knowing I can’t devote much to them.

Now I’m the last person to complain about having too many great things to do – I can’t imagine a better problem. But to do my best on a few things, I’m realizing, is better than sort-of doing a lot more. And I alienate a lot more people doing the latter.

Daily MRTs

(I’m pretty sure I’m stealing this from somewhere – anyone know where?) Every morning, I wake up and pick three things I really want to do that day, my Most Rewarding Tasks. They’re not necessarily the most productive or rewarding for my career or school (in fact, they rarely are). They’re usually things like “get coffee with Eric,” or “go for a run.”

Those three things have to get done today. Period. There’s no debate, unless there’s some catastrophe. If I’m not doing what I want to do, then what good is what I’m doing?

Daily MNTs

Right underneath the Most Rewarding Tasks comes the Most Necessary Tasks. This is a list of three things I really ought to do today. It’s usually work-related – I’ve got a paper to write, or a blog post to get up, or research I need to do for a consulting project.

Those three things, like the MRTS, get done today. Non-negotiable.  When I sit down during my self-imposed “work hours” (a habit I highly recommend), those get done first. I have to make sure they’re attainable, and none are going to take 800 years and I won’t finish them. Every day, I force myself to cross at least three things off my task list.

Review, Review, Review

The “everything I do” list changes constantly, so I’m learning to review it all the time. I try and sit down once a week, and go through my list: what am I doing for each of these? Is one getting neglected for another? What kind of progress is being made? Are there new additions to the list? Is there anything I can knock off?

Having the list of everything  I do helps me re-focus, and figure out what I need and want to be doing, and to schedule my priorities rather than prioritize my schedule.

Panic

Despite my foolproof system, and way of dealing with all the things going-on, I still get overwhelmed every once in a while. I think that’s okay. Periodically, there’s nothing better than a nice ol’ freak-out session. I yell, listen to angry music, and then realize that Yikes! I probably ought to go do something.

We’re all human, right? We can only do so much. But being intentional about figuring out where my time goes, and devoting it equally to things I need to do and things I want to do, as well as cutting out as much as possible places where those don’t match, I’m more sane, more productive, and having a lot more fun using my time wisely.

How do you keep from getting sucked under by everything you can or should be doing?

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