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
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The most popular productivity systems
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