THE productivity hack

E58: The one word you need for rhythmic, flowing productivity.

Skeleton Gorge Beach, Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa

We're in the second week of January already. 

Where does time go? 

Do you get that feeling - like I do from time to time - that time is sucked into a black hole.  One moment you're sitting at your desk and the next moment it's time to clock off. Yet you've barely finished the things you need to do today. And as for mindfulness, or exercise, or eating well, well … that went out of the window when you started the day!

If you've slinked back into your weekly rhythm of work after some time off over New Year, I invite you to take a moment to notice what you are feeling right now in this second week of January.

Are you feeling refreshed, purposeful, and excited?

Or are you feeling frazzled? Perhaps a little overwhelmed? 

Are you thinking about how little time you have and how many things you have to do?

Have you managed to neglect again focusing on the things that are important, like how you want to show up in the world in 2024 - as a leader, as a team player - or how you want to experience success this year?

Do you know what you are leaving behind in 2023 and what you're taking forward in 2024?

A rhythm of friction

After getting back from Cape Town last Wednesday, I've found it hard to get back into a regular rhythm.

I joined a live session this week run by RJ Nestor and was reminded of the importance of rhythm in productivity, like:

Batching similar items - like emails, more mundane tasks, or errands - into dedicated periods of time prevents us from task-switching. The constant switching from one task to another (eg emailing to drafting to answering a call to researching) is exhausting for our brains, and one of the main reasons why we can feel frazzled at the end of a day, especially when we think we've not "done that much".

Our personal rhythm is important, too. Matching our energy, our spark, and our desire with what we need to get done can supercharge our productivity, and increase our joy. After doing a vomit draft of this newsletter, I'll go outside for a walk. Letting the mind relax after a period of concentration helps our brain get creative. Our Default Mode Networks (the part of our brain that is responsible for Eureka! moments) work only when we are relaxed.

BTW, if you've not come across RJ, he's the modern-day version of Dave Allen. He's taken the principles of Getting Things Done and found a way to make productivity work effortlessly in the digital age. You can find out more about him here. 

This week's session got me thinking about something else that's fundamental to creating a solid rhythm for productivity.

Saying “No”

That’s it. “No” is the one word you need for rhythmic, flowing productivity.

Saying "No" to something, which really means saying "No" to someone, sounds easy, but the reality is harder, isn't it? 

It’s like there’s a disconnect between your brain and your mouth. Your mouth has said “Yes” before your brain has had a chance to have its say!

It’s hard because saying "No" can conflict with our values, like our desire to serve, to please, or to be helpful. 

It can make us feel like we're relegating what's important to us, like caring for others (which in a more heated moment, might instead sound like "giving a shit").

Perhaps the hardest person to say "No" to is yourself. I know that's been the case for me. And I still struggle with it. I'm a pleaser. I want to be helpful. To serve. To be the best. It's so natural - almost instinctive - for me to say "Yes". To almost anything!

But there are consequences to saying "Yes" in this way. 

One of them is that “Yes” becomes a half-yes, half-no. We aren’t able to commit fully to every “Yes”, so we end up feeling guilty or frustrated for over-promising and under-delivering. 

It’s more likely to impact what's important to us, too - how we show up for our teams, how we handle difficult conversations, how we resolve conflict in our teams, or even at home.

Choosing to say “No” wisely gives us space to say “Yes” to what's most important for us.

“No” is effortless

At the end of last year (E56 Your Word for 2024) I shared with you the word I'm paying attention to this year: effortlessness.

Your word for 2024

As I start this year, I've already noticed how effortful it is when I don't say "No" enough. Because life gets too full, too complicated, too heavy.

Saying "No" brings simplicity.

So this week I've been moving the projects and things that have been on my to-do list into a "Not Right Now List".

The funny thing is that it's not like I’m coming across this for the first time. I've had a "Not Right Now List" for a while. But it took a coaching session in the hot seat with my WELL Mastermind group to see how important it is for effortlessness, simplicity and creating space for what’s really important.

Do you want to know what else my WELL Mastermind group helped me uncover?

That I should sing when I get to the end of my 25-minute Pomodoro timer. Why? 

It simply brings me joy.

And that's what I'm going to do right now!

Over to you

What is THE productivity hack you use?

What allows you to clear space for you to say “Yes” wisely?

What brings you simplicity?

What allows you to focus on what's most important for you?

What can you do to bring yourself a moment of joy?

ps If you’re an entrepreneur, a lawyer or another high-flying professional - who’s looking to bring joy back into your work and home life - by building a healthy brain for a career that’s full of success in a way that feels effortless, get in touch and let’s have a conversation.

That’s it for this week!

As always, I appreciate your feedback on Effortless Thursdays. 

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To your health and success!

Eric