ilawcoffee's review
4.0
3.75/5
"Don't mistake activity with achievement"
3 keys to working smarter:
1. Slowing down allows us to speed up.
Often, what gets in the way of our productivity is that we try to do too much. Multitasking, working continuously without a break, tackling email first thing in the morning. Ironically, getting more done requires that you deliberately slow things down, allowing you to bring more focus to your work.
2. Feeling good fosters smarter thinking.
It’s important to realize that investing in your personal health is not something you do for yourself—it’s what allows you to be more effective in all aspects of life.
3. Staying focused requires planning.
We live in a world with infinite distractions, and remaining on task is a constant battle. To produce your best work, you need to become disciplined about protecting your cognitive resources and avoiding energy drains that can derail your day. Shielding high-potential hours, batching emails, and frontloading important decisions all serve to direct your attention to the work that matters.
Main takeaways:
- Identify "high-potential" hours & block them off on your calendar
- Tip to avoid being disrupted by emails: auto-refresh every 30 minutes
- Schedule 2 times a day for 15-minute intermissions. Tasks that require deep concentration tend to benefit the most from intermissions
- View exercise as part of your job description. Set a specific goal for measuring your progress, and invest in improving your performance
"Walk into any airport bookstore and you're bound to encounter a staggering collection of self-help titles. The last time I visited JFK, I counted well over 70. Then I turned around and realized there were three more aisles."
"Don't mistake activity with achievement"
3 keys to working smarter:
1. Slowing down allows us to speed up.
Often, what gets in the way of our productivity is that we try to do too much. Multitasking, working continuously without a break, tackling email first thing in the morning. Ironically, getting more done requires that you deliberately slow things down, allowing you to bring more focus to your work.
2. Feeling good fosters smarter thinking.
It’s important to realize that investing in your personal health is not something you do for yourself—it’s what allows you to be more effective in all aspects of life.
3. Staying focused requires planning.
We live in a world with infinite distractions, and remaining on task is a constant battle. To produce your best work, you need to become disciplined about protecting your cognitive resources and avoiding energy drains that can derail your day. Shielding high-potential hours, batching emails, and frontloading important decisions all serve to direct your attention to the work that matters.
Main takeaways:
- Identify "high-potential" hours & block them off on your calendar
- Tip to avoid being disrupted by emails: auto-refresh every 30 minutes
- Schedule 2 times a day for 15-minute intermissions. Tasks that require deep concentration tend to benefit the most from intermissions
- View exercise as part of your job description. Set a specific goal for measuring your progress, and invest in improving your performance
"Walk into any airport bookstore and you're bound to encounter a staggering collection of self-help titles. The last time I visited JFK, I counted well over 70. Then I turned around and realized there were three more aisles."
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