"How to focus on what matters every day"
This is a book I came across a year or so back, sat on the shelf of an apartment I was staying at. I subsequently got it on my Kindle for 99p! A bargain and worth a read to see what they had to say on all this productivity business…
It's all about making time, and focusing on what really matters on a daily basis (they gave it away a bit with the title and subtitle ;))
It's not the first time I've read this kind of book (same for you I suspect) and sure it won't be the last, but always interesting to get different perspectives, as you never know if there's that golden nugget that may make all the difference. Or reinforce something you already knew, or give fresh ideas.
The authors were unknown to me, but they have written at least one other book. Zeratsky was a designer at Google for a number of years, and Knapp also worked for the tech giants, helping create many of their products.
Here they come together to give us their pearls of wisdom based on scientific research and their own experience…
Great quotes from the book, followed by my thoughts…
Busy Bandwagon mindset
This is their term for the prevailing attitude and expectations of work and society. It's all about being busy, feeling busy, and being seen being busy. And it's a wild, insatiable bandwagon rollocking down the hill and not slowing up any time soon.
Of course, perhaps this isn't the best way, getting caught up in all sorts, and maybe it's better to figure out what's important and go after that.
Infinity Pools are apps and other sources of endlessly replenishing content.
'Infinity Pools' is the other main term they use (along with the busy bandwagon) that we need to get away from, or at least limit.
All the apps and feeds are endless and we can get sucked into them very easily and kept there… and never get done what we really want and need to.
The big tech companies employ people whose job it is to get us coming back and staying there, and without some intention on our part, our life may just get sucked into the whirlpool of nonsense.
The first thing we learned was that something magic happens when you start the day with one high-priority goal.
Eat that frog. Identify what your top priority is, protect that space, and go after it with all you might until it's done (or at least to the degree that makes sense).
Dilly-dallying and getting dragged along with someone else's tide, or being sucked into scrolling through various drivel is not what's going to get the prize or leave you fulfilled.
The first step is choosing a single highlight to prioritize in your day. Next, you’ll employ specific tactics to stay laser-focused on that highlight—we’ll offer a menu of tricks to beat distraction in an always-connected world. Throughout the day, you’ll build energy so you can stay in control of your time and attention. Finally, you’ll reflect on the day with a few simple notes.
An overview of the process…
There are 4 main sections – highlight, focus, energy and reflection. You pick your 'highlight' that moves the needle most for you, use tactics to keep focused on that objective, keep your energy up and as high as possible and throughout the day, then reflect on all that and do even better tomorrow.
Long-term goals are useful for orienting you in the right direction but make it hard to enjoy the time spent working along the way. And tasks are necessary to get things done, but without a focal point, they fly by in a forgettable haze.
The ol' paradox. We just have to understand it and work with it.
For sure, have long-term goals as you need to know where you're going and have a target to work back from. You also need to do specific tasks to get anywhere.
But you can't get too bogged down in either… tasks on their own are 'pointless' if you don't know where they're leading, and just focusing on the end goal is a bit airy-fairy, off into the future and may not obviously equate to what you're doing right now.
You need to bridge those 2, and some of these tactics may help…
Highlight
You need to pick one main thing and clearly highlight it as your highlight. This can't be stressed enough and is covered in other books like 'The ONE Thing' (recommended) and many more.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-2n2s6xacx
This helps keep you focused and more likely to get it done and to a good standard.
the way you experience your days is not determined primarily by what happens to you. In fact, you create your own reality by choosing what you pay attention to.
We covered Stoicism in the last BookBabble (The Daily Stoic) which has similar ideals as this quote. Outside events are neutral, and your interpretation is what makes them what they 'are'.
Where focus goes, energy flows and all that…
The first strategy is all about urgency: What’s the most pressing thing I have to do today?
The most important thing. There can be many things going on and things you'd like to do, but what stands out as the most urgent that really needs be done and has the biggest impact going forward?
The second Highlight strategy is to think about satisfaction: At the end of the day, which Highlight will bring me the most satisfaction?
This may not be 'urgent' but it may be more pleasurable or rewarding, leaving you satisfied that it's done or even just out the way. Accomplishment.
The third strategy focuses on joy: When I reflect on today, what will bring me the most joy?
Not just mindless 'fun' but genuine joy and something you can feel good about, and actually enjoyed your day.
A good rule of thumb is to choose a Highlight that takes sixty to ninety minutes.
This seems to be the sort of cycle we operate from. Anything over 90 minutes is too long and heads into another 'section' as it were, but less than 60 doesn't really do it justice and isn't enough time to make real inroads.
Anywhere 60-90 is that sweet spot where you can get plenty done and not overreach.
That same 90 minute cycle applies to sleep too, by the way.
daily satisfaction comes from a medium-size Highlight rather than tiny tasks or lofty goals
One is too small, and one far too much… like Goldilocks the middle ground is where it's at! It's great to tick those tasks off, and also glance at and head towards our larger goal(s), but a completed medium sized highlight achieved means a day well spent.
Pick, Test, Repeat.
Pick something (a tactic, routine, way of living), test it out then repeat (and improve) if it's working, or try something else if not. Keep going through this process of tweaking and refinement.
Being this scheduled might sound annoying: “Where’s the freedom and spontaneity, man?” But in reality, a structured day creates freedom.
Another paradox! Discipline equals freedom as Jocko Willink and others have said.
https://inleo.io/threads/view/adambarratt/re-leothreads-pvl46tcs
Many artists and the like just want to be 'free'. But what happens when you're too free is that things simply don't get done (or sporadically) as it tends to be only when 'inspiration strikes' which may or may not happen, and is a bad strategy really.
In that structure, there can actually be increased freedom as you know where you are and what's getting done and when, releasing your mind from such matters and knowing that outside of that is open.
Laser
The next section (after Highlight), which is about laser-focus. Obtaining it and keeping it for the duration that is necessary.
Apple reports that people unlock their iPhones an average of 80 times per day, and a 2016 study by customer-research firm Dscout found that people touched their phones an average of 2,617 times per day. Distracted has become the new default.
It's an obsession and an epidemic. These devices are cool and bring a lot to the table, but all this touching and looking is driving us to distraction.
Use these tools for sure, but have a strategy of keeping them at bay when they aren't adding anything and is just more a reflex reaction.
It’s like compound interest. The longer you remain focused on your Highlight, the more engaging you’ll find it and the better work (or play) you’ll do.
Yeah, it's a positive loop. Not only do you get more done (and better quality), but it's more enjoyable as well as helping everything outside that focused highlight session too. Those sessions rise and life improves as a consequence.
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
A short philosophy there. Food is great (some may say essential ;)), but not too much of it and make it healthy and plant based.
caffeine doesn’t technically give you an energy boost; instead, it blocks you from having an energy dip caused by adenosine-induced sleepiness.
I'm not sure about this one and it's the first time I've heard this, so do your own research.
They're saying that caffeine doesn't give the boost in itself as everyone believes, more that it negates the energy dip we have as the day progresses, giving the impression of a lift.
Their suggestion is to 'wake up' first before you caffeinate. So it's not the first thing you do, you wake up naturally and after you're up for a while, you then take your first coffee as that will slow down any oncoming tiredness as the morning goes on.
I would agree that it's not necessary straight away, and almost pointless. You need to give yourself a chance to get up in the morning as you're bound to be a little groggy… but I would suggest not tired as such, as you've just spent a fair few hours flat on your back! But it does take time to adjust from that mode to awake/daytime mode.
A lot of this comes down to mindset and habit. People believe they need that coffee, so ta-da then do 'need' it. Do that for a number of weeks and it's just 'what you do' and would feel weird without it.
I'm sure there's a debate in all this, so do what works for you and try a few methods and routines out. Also, there's nothing wrong with drinking something you simply like the taste of. And if it signals the start of the day and prompts you to 'get at it' then all well and good.
I doubt it makes that much of a difference anyway, but worth gaining those percentages if they're up for grabs.
caffeine naps
Another caffeine tip: this is where you consume a coffee/caffeinated drink and immediately take a nap if you can. This will be before the caffeine kicks in so you're able to do it and it may increase the quality of the nap, as well as when you awake you'll be ready to rock and roll.
This would be a short nap, maybe 15 minutes, so you get the benefits and then raring to go following that.
Japanese government has been encouraging a practice called shinrin-yoku, which can be translated as “forest bathing” or, more simply, “taking in the forest atmosphere.”
A lot has been said about nature and being in it. Makes sense and why not get out there if you can. Not sure about 'forest bathing' but I get the sentiment… live and breathe in the atmosphere of nature and it will do wonders.
Do not ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. —HOWARD THURMAN
Classic quote which I'll just leave there…
Thanks Jake and John! Anything else?
Another one of these kind of books to add to your collection. There are better and worse ones out there, and this does have some great ideas and will help if you apply some of them. And if you're new to this kind of material then it may be a revelation.
Nicely laid out, with inputs from both authors who don't agree on all aspects (which is great, nor should they) as they have differing personalities and lives, but they do have cohesion in their overall messaging.
There were a few different ideas like their caffeine tips which I hadn't considered (and may question, but then again the proof is in the pudding), so definitely worth a read.
If you're looking to focus more (who isn't), be a bit more productive and 'on it', and seeking out some fresh perspectives and potential ways of going about things, then for sure pick up a copy.
I can't guarantee the Kindle deal is still going but worth a read and trying out a few techniques either way!
First image my own, others linked to source
1-50: First 50 BookBabbles
51: THE DAILY STOIC - Ryan Holiday
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The Make Time 4 steps and loop…