I am starting with a hot take today - brace for impact.
I genuinely believe that the idea of productivity is flawed. I call it productivity porn, but you can name it as you wish.
The problem is not in the concept itself, but in the idea that to be more productive we should be doing more.
What if we focused on doing more of the RIGHT thing, and stop racing against our to-do lists?
See, I am a recovering to-do list checker. The more I could get done, the better. I realised I was not the only one, either. In our society, we try to work faster and obsess over speed. Mindset is the true shift we need.
What is, instead of obsessing over what we should be doing, we could celebrate what we have done throughout the day?
Welcome to the “Done list”. This is not a new concept, yet it’s one that I never tried before.
👩🏫 Lesson of the week
As I was about to tackle my list of to-dos, one day, I looked at my physical planner, and realised I could no constantly go back and forth between the two, so I decided to get creative and use it to write down things I would accomplish and finish out of my to-do list.
You see, apps tracking your ‘to-dos’ are slightly flawed, in the way that they do not show you what you have done or accomplished. The finished tasks disappear to make space for the next ones.
This way we are constantly chasing our next goal.
By this logic, I decided to use my planner to record every thing I accomplish throughout the day (especially the ones that I felt I got ‘nothing done’). The results were astonishing.
Stop to Smell the Roses
Every morning I write down an affirmation, 3 things I am grateful for and quickly look at my plan for the day. I outline which tasks I should prioritise and make sure my plate is not too full based on my current calendar.
I then start writing done things I get done in my physical planner, one by one. I also write down workouts, morning walks and moments of freedom I want to celebrate.
At first, it felt like I was doubling my work, I won’t lie. After a few days, I would clutch my planner in the different areas of the house (yes, sometimes I like to work on the couch, judge me all you want).
At the end of the day, being able to see all the things I accomplished made me feel immensely proud of myself.
Another interesting realisation was linked to where I would get distracted during my day. By being able to see the small tasks I may get myself into (respond to this person on LinkedIn etc) I started better understanding where I was spending my time.
To get started, all you need really is a notepad where you can write down things you have done throughout the day - even if you do not end up doing it daily, it can become a great way to start reflecting on your time management skills for a specific period of time.
It can also be a great motivator for big projects or deadlines, like writing a book. It truly can be that little extra accountability you need to get things done.
Reclaim some freedom
We can always add “more”, but what about aiming to get more freedom?
In order to achieve “Deep Work”, Carl Newport pointed out how we need the freedom to work without distractions and focus on our tasks.
In order to do that, I’d argue we need to be more intentional with our time, and it’s a skill a lot of us lost along the way (in the journey of multiple tabs open on our screens). Becoming better investigators can help us with mastering the art of prioritisation.
Productivity should be the art of taking out unnecessary tasks, and learn how to fight overcommitment in order to better prioritise.
A few things I have learned by starting my “done” list include
being able to see what I have been doing throughout the day shows me where my attention has been at
I feel much more accomplished by the end of the day by looking at my list
I can now better assess what I can get done on specific days based on my meetings and commitments
“Done” lists can also be used to keep you accountable during a timed project
It’s a practice I’ll keep up with as it truly helps me centre during busy weeks
You can use it in conjuction with a task manager, or even if you are one f those gifted humans who can just ‘go with the flow’
🏫 Class in session
Talking about working smarter and approaching “to-dos” kinda goes hand-in-hand with the idea of making choices (and which choices should you make, and HOW can you make better choices?)
The class below will definitely help you answer those questions ⤵︎
How can you get started with your “Done” list?
Take a moment to forget everything you need to do for the rest of the week. You heard me. Relish in your accomplishments and write out 10 things you've done in the past 3-4 days.
It can be things as simple as organising your sock drawer, going to bed 15 minutes earlier, or finishing a proposal.
Take your list and post it somewhere where you'll see it - on your fridge, on your phone case, on your nightstand, on your forehead when you look in the mirror.
In a world that constantly asks us to do and be more, being able to look back each day and see what we have accomplished, as well as celebrating more of our everyday victories.
Always cheering you on,
Fab ✌️