My 12 Powerful Lessons On Productivity and Efficiency ✅
Issue #66: Improve your Productivity with these 12 Rules. My Favorite blog/newsletter Reader App. Real Productivity.
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💡 Here are 3-tips to help you learn, grow, and be inspired this week!
🎓 Learn
Hey everyone, guess what?
I'm turning 37 this Wednesday! Time flies, doesn't it? 😄
As I'm about to celebrate, I've been thinking a lot about the lessons and principles that really shaped my life over the years.
Initially, I started jotting these down just for myself as a guide for my own peaceful growth in the coming years.
Then, a thought struck me - why not share these insights with all of you in the Learn + Grow community?
There's quite a bit to share, so I'm breaking it down into three parts for easy reading:
Productivity and Efficiency (In this issue)
Mindfulness and Mental Health (Coming up in issue #67)
Personal Growth and Self-Improvement (Watch for issue #68)
Stay tuned, and let's continue to Learn and Grow together!
My 12 Powerful Lessons On Productivity and Efficiency:
#1: One Home for Everything
Do you know? The average adult will WASTE 1 year of their life looking for lost or misplaced items.
Assign each item, be it keys, wallet, or AirPods, a designated place to call home.
By consistently returning items to their designated spots, you can effortlessly locate them in under 30 seconds.
This simple rule eliminates the frustration of searching for misplaced belongings.
#2: Something In, Something Out
Around 80% of our possessions go unused.
When you buy something new, let go of something old by selling, throwing away, or donating it.
This rule helps maintain a life free from clutter.
#3: Meditation is the Ultimate Productivity Hack
As an optimizer, I've experimented with various productivity hacks over the past decade. However, meditation has proven to be 100x more effective than any other technique.
It enhances focus and peace, making it a powerful tool for increasing productivity.
Read this book to learn more about scientific evidence on the impact of meditation on productivity.
#4: Don’t Underestimate the Power of Browser Bookmarks
Web browsers are like the operating system of the internet.
And bookmarks are the file/folder organizers.
If you use it actively and intelligently, it can boost your productivity 5x.
#5: Let Your Calendar Lead the Way
Planning your day on a calendar helps you avoid procrastination and stay focused on your priorities.
It brings a sense of peace and productivity as you follow your scheduled activities.
It saves mental energy by removing decision-making frictions.
#6: Prepare Today for a Productive “Tomorrow”
The success of each day depends on how well you prepare the day before.
Research shows that planning and preparing in advance for trips or daily tasks leads to increased productivity, happiness, and task completion.
Example:
I'll choose the podcast or audiobook I'll listen to for my morning walk.
I select my outfit.
Pack or arrange everything I’ll need in the morning, such as AirPods, chargers, etc.
Add task outlines, links, documents, etc., to the calendar.
These proactive steps set you up for a smooth and efficient start to your day.
#7: Consistency > Quality + Quantity
Quality and quantity improve gradually when you stay consistent in your efforts.
By consistently taking small actions toward your desired goals over time, you achieve better results than sporadic bursts of effort.
Consistency forms the foundation for progress and success.
#8: Unlock 3-5 Months of Results in just 3-5 days of Growth Trips
These purpose-driven trips are different from your typical vacations. They are designed to focus on specific areas of improvement or learning.
For instance, you can plan a book reading trip where you dedicate a few days to immerse yourself in books that inspire and educate you.
I have done multiple growth tips of 3-5 days, and the outcome from these growth trips was worth 4-5 months of my time.
(For more, read the original piece here)
#9: Learn Anywhere with AirPods + Audiobooks and Podcasts.
I listen to 2 hours of audiobooks and podcasts every single day during my walks, breaks, and commute on my AirPods.
That’s 14 hours of learning per week.
If you are struggling with time to learn, do yourself a favor and buy a pair of AirPods (or any wireless earbuds) to learn on the move.
#10: Make 1 Big Decision to avoid 1,000 small Decisions
You’ve likely read articles or studies stating that we make up to 35,000 decisions in a day.
Each decision you make – big and small – will take your time and energy.
Save your time and energy for bigger life decisions by automating small daily life choices. Examples:
(Daily Small Decision) What am I going to wear today? → (Big Decision) I’ll wear a black shirt every weekday.
(Daily Small Decision) What am I going to eat for lunch today? → (Big Decision) I’ll make my weekly lunch planner.
(Read more about this rule here)
#11: Growth Routine > Goals
Instead of big goals, I focus on designing a growth routine.
This process helped me design a healthy, high-performing lifestyle that I can comfortably maintain throughout the year.
The main reason people fail at their goals is that their goals are around the outcome rather than the action.
(For more, read this issue here)
#12: Give new Habits a chance with the "2-Episode Rule"
Remember a show that was slow to start, but then you got hooked after two episodes?
Just like that:
Reading a book
Writing a blog
Going on run
Doing yoga
Meditation
And several other habits and actions
It may sound boring in the beginning, but it will get interesting after a few minutes of doing it. When you feel like quitting on your habits, remember this “2-episode” rule.
🚀 Growth Tip
In a past newsletter issue, I introduced you to "Instapaper" as my preferred app/platform for reading newsletters, articles, and various digital content.
However, a few months ago, I made the switch to Readwise, and I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed.
I've fully transitioned to using this app, and now I consume all my reading material through Readwise.
If you're seeking a modern and professional reading experience, Readwise is sure to captivate you.
🤩 Inspire
For Better Productivity.
Routine → Plan. Focus. Rest. Repeat.
See you next week for more incredible tips to keep growing and succeeding!
May the Peaceful Growth be with you! 🪴
