In order to design a perfect and efficient workflow for myself, I unexpectedly found myself investing more time. In fact, a large part of the time is just a seemingly reasonable form of denial, allowing me to avoid those tasks that should have been tackled, both difficult and tricky.
And what are the results of my efforts, you may ask? Honestly, they have been minimal.
Every method I have tried seems to only work temporarily, ultimately leading to failure. Whenever I inevitably fall back to reality, the short-term benefits brought by the new system mostly end up being in vain – followed by a sense of guilt for not sticking to the established plan.
I seem to belong to the type of person who needs to try every method before accepting a certain basic solution. Looking at the bright side, every concept I hold about productivity now can be described as acquired through failure, which has not come easily. This firsthand experience holds extraordinary significance for me, far beyond what can be gained by simply reading books.
Throughout the process of constant trial and error, I have gained many lessons and experiences – with the hope that these insights may inspire you.
While I rarely directly adopt specific systems from others, they have always remained a source of inspiration and drive for me. When I share insights on how to get through a simple and productive day without complex systems, I hope to bring about the same inspiration.
One of the most classic tips I can share for improving efficiency is to make a plan. While improvisation may seem exciting, it often does not lead to the most effective use of time. Making decisions does not have to take up too much time – just spend five minutes at the end of each workday, determining the top three things to prioritize the next day. This simple practice can give you a significant advantage the following day.
At the beginning of the day, one’s energy is often at its peak; more importantly, the motivation summoned at the start will influence your entire day. For instance, if I choose to start my day by browsing my favorite blogs and websites, I fall into a relaxed mindset, making all subsequent work seem particularly challenging. On the other hand, if I dive into the most difficult task right at the beginning, I will feel energized throughout the rest of the day.
In the era of smartphones, a significant portion of our productivity issues stem from no longer allowing ourselves to feel bored. This raises two issues. Firstly, in the past, boredom was a good motivator for people to do constructive things. When you felt bored, you would find something to do because being idle felt truly boring. Nowadays, we no longer have to feel bored since entertainment content is easily accessible with a simple tap.
The second issue is that our psychological baseline has shifted. Since “entertainment” has become the norm (as opposed to “boredom”), most tasks compared to those entertaining activities will seem particularly dull and uninteresting. This is not to say that one should not enjoy leisure, but it is important to be mindful not to continuously flood the brain with dopamine stimulation all day long, leading to a lack of interest in anything else.
One of the obstacles hindering my personal productivity improvement is a form of perfectionism that prevents me from taking action promptly. I am not the kind of person who insists on achieving perfection once I start; rather, I am someone who envisions a perfect blueprint in my mind but hesitates to take the first step because reality often falls short of the ideal.
The work in the real world is always full of chaos and imperfections, involving difficult trade-offs. For someone like me, this situation can be discomforting. You have to lower your standards for “acceptable” work while learning to tolerate the feeling of imperfect work. The only way to produce outstanding, even excellent work is to let go of the obsession with “perfect work.”
The current societal definition of “productivity” is largely tied to economic output. While this definition holds value at a macro level, it can be detrimental to individual well-being. It turns you into viewing yourself as a machine, where working harder or longer will earn you more wealth.
Productivity can and should be viewed from a more humanistic perspective. It’s about living consciously, confronting inner fears and discomfort, and readjusting your expectations based on reality. By earnestly practicing these, you can escape the overwhelming “busy culture” and spend a beautiful, simple, and productive day.
This article was originally published in the English version of the Epoch Times.