November 17th, 2021
David Peachment
Two Methods for Productivity
There is always so much stuff to do and things to keep track of! We can always be going and going and forget to take a breather. Or, on the flip side, we crumble under the pressure and procrastinate on what we are supposed to be doing! I’ve had my fair share of moments where I need to get some work done but just don’t feel like doing it. It is during these periods of uncertainty that we need to buckle down and get to work. But our brains can say otherwise. Our phones can go off with alerts, notifications, and messages all vying for our attention. Quite suddenly, our mind wanders away from doing work and gets distracted.
Below are two methods for being productive at work, school, and when simply trying to get some hobbies done free from distraction. They provide a robust framework for focusing on work, followed by some necessary breaks. Use these to kickstart your workday and be ultra-productive!
90/90/1
This first method is for the start of your workday. As soon as your day begins, you will put your phone in a bag, mark the bag with “90/90/1,” and then put the bag in another room. The whole point of this practice is to be able to conduct some focused work at the start of the day before the distractions come creeping in. By eliminating distractions, you’ll be able to complete some truly meaningful work that will advance your career. So what does the 90/90/1 mean? Commit to keeping your phone in another room for the first 90 minutes of your workday over a period of 90 days. At the end of the 90 days, analyze the difference it made. How much extra work were you able to get done? Did it make a significant difference? And if so, would it be worth it to continue? 1 90-minute session at the start of 90 workdays.
And when the phone is away for the 90-minute segment, don’t just spend your time checking email and jotting off small tasks. Take the time to focus on those big projects that you need to get done. The projects that will truly make a difference in your work. Why do this at the start of the workday? Because as the day goes on, your brain will get used more and more, and your attention span/focus will decrease. By the end of the day, I’m sure your brain is too tired to really do some solid, meaningful work. Do it at the beginning and take care of the mindless tasks later in the day! Once you are done with your 90-minute period, take a 10-minute break to relax your mind. This will get you adequately refreshed for the following method.
60/10
The next productivity method is a continuation of the last one. After you have finished your 90-minutes of productivity and a brief break, you will spend the next several hours of the day following the 60/10 formula. It’s pretty straightforward and follows a similar style to the 90/90/1. Simply put, spend 60 minutes hyper-focused on work, followed by a 10-minute break. It will be harder to focus your attention much longer than 60 minutes as the day wears on. Doing this method ensures that you are getting some good work done and that you have ample time after each work period to relax and refresh your brain for the next period. Keep following this for the bulk of the rest of the day. You’ll find that you’ll be much more focused on your job and not distracted by notifications, email, and social media. To make it even easier, turn off your phone or its notifications during the 60-minutes and only look at it during your 10-minute break. By scheduling your breaks and distractions, you’ll find it much much easier to remain focused on the task at hand!
I hope these two simple methods for staying productive at the beginning and throughout your workday will help you exceed your own expectations. Making sure to keep your phone away from distracting you during your morning and taking breaks at regular intervals will keep you focused and productive. Using these two ways of work will boost your workday and make it an excellent one! Interested in a great method for starting your morning off right? Click HERE for another great productivity blog post!
Until next time,
David Peachment