1. Work more (effectively)
I always claim to be a workaholic but sometimes I find myself slacking off still, scrolling on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter or Amazon or whatever it is. Sometimes I just want to lie in my bed and do nothing. Sometimes I sit at my computer and no matter what I try I can't snap into work mode. The amount of time spent doing things like this should be reduced significantly.
Some strategies that I use to help me focus / snap into work mode are as follows:
- Meditate for 5 minutes before I start. I like this video. Nothing special about it, it's just the first one I've found that I like and the length's just about right (5 minutes). Sometimes I just close my eyes and set a timer.
- List down the things I have to do. Quite self explanatory. I either physically write it down with pen and paper or use my iPad and Apple Pencil which arguably I paid too much for. Recently I've been transitioning to Trello which seems like it could be a good fit into my workflow. Especially with managing projects where there are multiple parties working off-site for most of the time. Trello allows me to use the kanban methodology to keep track of tasks that have to be done, are being done and have been done. This works especially well in teams because everyone can be kept in the loop. A good read can be found here if you're interesting in learning more.
- Turn off the lights. Probably not very good for my eyes but it helps me focus.
- I've started using a Pomodoro timer to keep track of how much work I've done and it's nice to be able to visualise this information in terms of pie charts/bar graphs. If you don't know what the Pomodoro method of studying is, it's basically working for 25 minutes and taking a break for 5 minutes. Every fourth break is longer with 15 minutes instead of 5 minutes. This supposedly helps with your productivity. I like to stare out of my window during my breaks and smoke on my juul (opps).
- I also pop caffeine pills like they're candy but let's not talk about that.
One of my key aims is to make sure that I work everyday for longer than I was asleep. This should help increase the amount of work I do over the course of weeks and months and years. Of course, I am referring to productive work. Hopefully some of these strategies work for you too.
2. Keep on learning
I've picked up chess, poker and golf in the past couple of months and I enjoy them all. Looking to get a guitar here so I can continue practicing - I'm trying to learn jazz but my music theory is just atrocious.
Still kinda want to learn how to code but I'm finding it less important as the days pass. What I've found more important is the ability to manage / lead. I can't do everything but if I can find people to help me do the things I can't then I don't have to be able to do everything. At this point in time schoolwork is merely an obstacle that I have to cross for me to learn the things I want to learn.
Also I should read more - think I've only read 6 books in 2018. Let's aim for a modest 100% increase this year.
3. Create better structures
Structures ensures that I know where everything I need is and should be. Structures are things like workflows and these still require improving. I'm happy to say that I've done a lot here in 2018 but there is still work to do. Might write a longer post where I dive deeper sometime in the near future.
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I'll also probably start doing a year in review in December. Could not be more pumped for the start of a new year.
