A common theme with a lot of people I talk to is feeling overwhelmed by the amount of things they want to get done and looking for a way to be more productive. The myriad of productivity books, articles, podcasts, systems, hacks, etc. that are dedicated to this topic tells us this is a common problem for a lot of people. As we dive into this month’s topic let’s start with these two thoughts.
1. Your “To Do” list will never be completed.
2. There is no magic solution to increase your productivity.
Don’t worry, there is hope.
You Will Never Get It All Done
When I say your “To Do” list will never be completed, that is because most ambitious people want to do more in their day, and their lives, than they possibly have time to do. Long ago I learned that if I put things on hold until my to-do list was completed, nothing would get done.
Oliver Burkman’s book “Four Thousand Weeks” has a great, unique perspective on how we view our time. His view, in part, is that we will never get everything we want to do in our lives done, and most of what we do isn’t as important as we think. The point isn’t to be depressing, rather empowering. An outlook to help free us from the productivity expectations we place on ourselves. I highly recommend this book. Once we accept the idea that we will never accomplish everything, what will you do to feel good about how you spend your time? The simple answer is that we need to prioritize. However, this is not nearly as easy as it sounds.
Type 1 vs. Type 2
My personal trainer Katie and I would always call the workouts she put me through Type 2 fun. Meaning, it wasn’t fun in the way people traditionally thought of fun, but it was rewarding.
Little did I know, this wasn’t just something we made up! As this podcast episode from The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos explains, we are literally working against the way our brains are wired when trying to do our most significant work. “Fun”, or rewards, are divided into two categories. Type 1, which are the quick, dopamine hit rewards. Think eating ice cream, scrolling social media, or cleaning out our email inbox. The Type 2 rewards are those things that take more effort and time. Think, writing a book, sticking to a workout routine, or building a business. Our brains are wired to want to do those Type 1 things that give us instant gratification. We have to put systems in place to overcome our instincts in order to achieve the Type 2 items on our list. The next time you are disappointed with yourself for spending too much time on Type 1 things just remember you are not a slacker, you are fighting biology. There are some tips in this podcast for training ourselves to work on more Type 2 activities. I also have an idea for you below.
One Small Step
This month, before you dive into your day, spend a few minutes of intentional thought about what is on your to-do list. Ask yourself why you are doing each thing. If the answer tells you that the item is consistent with your values and goals, great. If it isn’t, ask yourself why you are doing it. It will take time and practice for you to see changes, consistency is key, but a simple examination of what we are doing at a deeper level often leads to significant change.
This blog would be way too long if I started sharing detailed suggestions about different prioritization methods. If you’re interested in learning more about my suggestions, contact me here and I’d be happy to share some of my favorite methods with you.