Stop running along the To-Do List.

Stop Running By To-Do List: 4 Productivity Truths That Change Your Life

The feeling of anxiety that a job is never finished is universal. Many people are always busy, but do not make meaningful progress. This problem is not caused by a small amount of time (which is calculated to have less than 3 hours of practical free time per day), but by the misunderstanding that Productivity equals "Busy Work" or messy work without a goal.

The solution to the problem is a two-part strategy: one is to set a clear goal to be a "compass," two is to use the "eliminate to create more time and energy" principle. This is the main idea to help you reduce stress and work effectively.

I. Basic principle: The obvious goal is your compass.

Before using any technique, you need a solid foundation, that is. A clear goal.

The importance of "why": The first step is to ask yourself, "What is important to me? What is it that brings a sense of fulfillment?" The answer to "why" is what is needed for effective time management.

Create a Compass Against Disturbances: Written short-term goals will serve as a "compass" that keeps you from getting lost in unrelated opportunities (Shiny Objects) and must be goals that are sincere and not caused by the expectations of others.

The Mistake of Greed: Setting too many goals will lead to overwhelming feelings and failures. So be realistic about your own capabilities.

II. Principle of "elimination": Generating more time and energy

Since time and energy are limited resources, you need to rebuild them by seriously eliminating unnecessary activities. "The less time and energy you spend on things that don't bring you closer to your goal, the faster you will achieve it."

Career boundaries: Dare to "reject" an irrelevant Freelance project, an unreasonable deadline, or a client who controls every detail of the work.

Reduce Digital Disturbances: Turn off irrelevant notifications, cancel receiving unvalued email messages, and do not feel the need to read every message in the group chat to reduce the number of "to-do items" that come to you.

Manage the environment: Working from home is considered a "game flip" because it saves travel time, and reduces fatigue from making small decisions (such as choosing clothes).

III. Major Energy and Mindset Management

Energy management is equally important as time management, requiring energy protection and energy incubation along the way.

Energy Protection: Manage to keep meetings short and effective, set clear time limits to meet customers, and value 8-10 hours of sleep, to keep the mind clear.

Procrastination is a sign: procrastination is not a failure, but a "sign that you should get rid of, assign, or hire someone else on that mission."

Mindset "Complete is better than perfect": Perfection is the "enemy of progress." Be focused on getting the job done, to building momentum, not on making it flawless.

Pareto Principle (80 / 20): Focus on 20% of the activities that generate 80% of the results (i.e. Freelance work that takes less than routine work but makes 80% of the total revenue)

IV. Hands-on techniques for establishing systems

Time Blocking: Use Google Calendar to plan, limiting work to large periods of time to no more than four blocks per day. This method reduces guilt from misestimating time.

Asynchronous Communication: Replace Conferences with Non-Simultaneous Methods, such as Loom Video Recording to Share Design Editing to Customers

Data Centering: Use tools like Notion as a "brain repository" to manage all tasks, ideas, and records, which saves the mental energy of finding information.

When you are overwhelmed, anxiety is a "warning sign that you are overburdened." The solution is to return to your target and find a way to reduce the target or eliminate other unnecessary activities.

The ultimate goal is not to maximize productivity, but to design a life where you can live comfortably while working less.

# Do what you want to do # Lemon 8 Howtoo # lemon 8 diary # Subjects of little people