You know what sounds cool at first glance? Productivity habits. You know how long they’re cool for? Probably two days or so.
For the past few years, I’ve adopted every hack from early wake-ups to meditation, all in the name of growth. And that has given me some fodder to discuss today’s topic.
Here’s a quick preview: It’s not about the what, but the why. Cliche, huh?
Anyway, after a long stretch of trial and error, I now present you with my thoughts on these popular hacks.
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I used to have lofty goals. For one, I thought I’d be a millionaire by the age of 30. And I wanted to buy a pub for my parents who used to love drinking with their friends.
But my mum has since passed on and my dad’s stopped drinking, so that’s one goal out the window. And I’m nearing 40, so the before-30 goal’s out of the question too.
That’s how we arrive at my first lesson: goals never stay the same, because life never stays the same. So you best err on the side of action before your opportunities pass you by.
Continue readingHow often do you work towards your life goals? Every day, I hope?
Here’s the follow-up question: When in your day do you pursue said goals? First thing in the morning? At night when everyone else is asleep? Or during your lunch break because that’s the only time you have?
I’m grateful to be able to write first thing in the morning, though it’s not to say I enjoy it most days. Because writing is hard, and more often than not, I’d rather not leave the warmth of comforter during those dark, cold mornings.
But some wise dude once said that you should eat your frog in the morning so that the rest of the day would seem easy in comparison, and so I do.
Is there a merit to the timing though? After all, the only thing that should matter is whether or not you eat your frog, right?
Well, let’s find out.
Continue readingHow do people write without the internet?
I ask that question as if I didn’t grow up without the internet, writing stories and angsty poems with nothing but a ballpoint pen and a tattered exam pad.
I’m spoiled, is what I am. I want the ability to search for a Stoic quote to support my story, and to know which other famous authors often write without the internet. But that ability poses a certain threat.
And that’s Distraction with a capital ‘D’.
Which is why I’ve begun experimenting with internet-less drafting. And you know what? I’ve maintained a writing output of thousand words per day thanks to this technique that I shall now christen Drafting In The Dark™.
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You know that feeling when you see a grimy spot on the wall but you never get around to cleaning it?
What about when your stash of oats is running low, yet you always delay your trip to the supermarket?
Or my personal favourite, knowing you have work to do, yet somehow being able to fill your time with useless crap like YouTube and Instagram?
Welcome to the world of attention residue, or more specifically, the reason why you get that nagging feeling to complete unfinished tasks and why it can worsen your procrastination.
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