Sign in Subscribe
Productivity

Is there a perfect productivity system?

Is there a perfect productivity system?
Is there a perfect productivity system?

Unraveling the quest for the ideal productivity system, we delve into the realm of efficiency and effectiveness. Can perfection be achieved, or is it a mirage in the desert of work-life balance? Let's explore this intriguing concept together.

There is no perfect productivity system

Instead of wasting time trying to copy-and-paste a system from a self-help book, everyone should intentionally design a system that works for them based on their goals, their personality, and their obligations

  • Pick and choose from existing systems and add your own touches so you can build on the shoulders of productivity giants

Pomodoro Technique

Best for people who get easily distracted

The Eisenhower Matrix

Prioritize tasks based on whether they are urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, or neither urgent nor important.

Don’t Break the Chain

Also called “Non Zero Days”, this method consists in marking an X in your calendar over each day you accomplish your goal.

  • Works best to create new habits, but it won’t help you define your priorities or manage your time.

Getting Things Done

Designed by David Allen, GTD is one of the most popular productivity systems out there. It consists in getting your thoughts and tasks and to-dos all out of your head to organize them all into manageable tasks.

  • GTD uses several stages to deal with tasks
  • Capture – add anything that’s on your mind to your list
  • clarify – break down tasks into smaller, manageable steps
  • organize – prioritize and categorize your task
  • reflect – refine your task; and engage – tackle your task list

Designing Your Perfect Productivity System

A perfect productivity system should have the following characteristics: It’s sustainable

  • It works for short-term and long-term goals
  • Creates space for self-reflection
  • Takes mental health into account
  • Encourages a balance of creativity and productivity
  • Ensures that you have time for non-work activities and other forms of productivity

Zen To Done

Focusing on one habit at a time, with a little bit more structure and simplicity, ZTD is based on a list of habits which you can adopt in whichever order fits you best.

Time Blocking

This simple tool is a great way to stay accountable throughout the workday by dedicating chunks of time to specific goals

Join over 40,000 curious minds

Join Maker Mind, a weekly newsletter featuring neuroscience-based insights on learning, creativity, and productivity, delivered to your inbox bi-weekly

  • As a welcome gift, you will receive The Beginner’s Guide to Mindframing (22 pages), 30 Mental Models to Add to Your Thinking Toolbox, and a printable Plus Minus Next journal template.

Some of them aim to offer a full productivity toolbox, whereas others are more akin to a single tool you can use when needed.

The Moscow Method

List all your tasks and categorize them as a must, should, could, or will nott

The Kanban Method

Create a Kanban board with three columns: to do, doing, and done

Source

Read next

Comments ()