Hey Reader! 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

I just got back from a trip to Punta Cana, where I soaked up lots of sunshine and even more relaxation. ☀️🌴

It was good to get away and take time to just be. I didn’t need to worry about what needed to get done, or to think about how I could make things better, or whether I would be on time. It was just time to sit and relax. That time to relax and unwind does so much good for the body, the mind, and the soul.

I already had an article mostly drafted and ready to share with you, but after my vacation experience, I changed my mind. I decided to re-share an idea that I’ve shared with some of you already. While some of you may have already read this idea from me, I know there are some newer people on the email list who likely haven’t seen this content. And even if you’ve already read my take on this, it’s a great reminder – and one that I regularly need for myself. Since the reminder is useful for me, I suspect that will be true for many of you as well.

I’m convinced we could all benefit from this idea if we’d allow ourselves to truly embrace it – and live it.

Let’s dive in!

Tim

The Surprising Power Move To Unlock Productivity

You’re a human being, not a “human doing”. Yet chances are that you focus a lot more on what you’re doing rather than on who you’re being.

This focus on your to-do list paradoxically holds you back. True productivity arises from NOT doing the tasks on your list!

Harsh truth: You will never get through all the items on your to-do list! This is a simple fact of life you’ll need to accept. The better you are at delivering tasks, the more tasks will end up getting handed to you (or you’ll add more tasks yourself).

The day you’ve nothing on your to-do list is the day you’re on your deathbed. There will always be more to do.

Instead of worrying about all the things you need to do, focus in on who you want to be. This shift in perspective will unlock your productivity.

Here’s the approach:

Get yourself into a calm, quiet, and still space.
Reflect on the ways your “ideal self” would act. Note them down. You can ask yourself questions like:
- How would my ideal self act?
- What would they prioritize?
- How would they treat the people that they encountered?
- What factors would influence their decision-making?
Do your best to live according to the ways you believe your ideal self would live.
Review the list – and how well you’re living up to it – regularly. Adjust accordingly.

This is great for ensuring you’re focusing your time, energy, and attention where it matters most to you.

For some inspiration, here’s the following key ways of being that I am currently striving to embody:

Be empathetic. Pay attention to the manner in which I communicate, thoughtful of what others need and want, and conscious of how they may perceive things.
Be wise. Ensure that my choices move me towards the life that I desire. Ensure that I apply long-term thinking, considering second and third-order consequences. Understand that every decision and action that I take compounds with time.
Be reflective. My default is quick action, like the proverbial bull in the china shop. My ideal self does not procrastinate, but allows time to let ideas simmer and stew. By thinking things through before acting, I increase my effectiveness. But there’s a balance to be found between the two extremes; I need to be wary of just staying in my head and not acting.
Be healthy. Make the right choices concerning the foods I choose to eat and ensure that I get a moderate amount of exercise in daily. Only consume alcohol in moderation. Meditate daily. Remind myself that taking care of my body, mind, and soul is the only way to respect myself.
Be playful. Time management practices are helpful, and getting things done feels great. But life is not all about squeezing more productivity out of every day. Ensure that I take time each day to do an activity that I enjoy. Those are the moments that allow me to recharge, enabling me to be more effective over the long term.
Be humble. The older I get, the more I realize I don’t know. Even the things I thought I knew with certainty come into question. While that can be scary, as the human mind craves certainty, remaining humble and open to new insights and information is the best way to allow learning. Learning leads to growth and expansion.
Be honest. Speak truthfully to others to let them know what I feel or think, even when it is hard or inconvenient. In fact, that is when truth is even more important. I can speak what I believe to be true respectfully and kindly, even when it will create some awkwardness. By speaking truth, it opens up the channel for true dialogue and learning.
Be kind. To others, and especially to myself. My default is to treat others kindly, but to be hard on myself. Over time, I’ve realized how unhelpful that is. It is honestly something I still struggle with. I need to treat myself as someone I’m responsible for helping; framing it like that makes it feel easier somehow.

This list of the ways I want to be in the world has evolved with time. I review this list and reflect on them most mornings, shortly after waking up, and before I get into my day. This helps me frame my intentions for the day, to help me face the day with the mindset with which I want to approach my life. I encourage you to try this exercise and see if it works for you.

Personally, I’ve found that starting my day off the right way is a critical step to having better days; the momentum propels me forward. As a result, I can go through my day using less willpower and discipline, and more ease and calm. I have less need to “force” things, allowing them to just unfold. I can trust them to unfold the way I need them to, as I take my decisions based on the ideals that I’ve set for myself.

Of course, this is all still very much a work in progress for me. And it will be for you as well.

Please understand that you can’t have an empty to-do list; that is called “death”. Having nothing on your to-do list would mean that you’ve nothing left to contribute to the world; not exactly something to aim for.

Instead of endlessly striving to get through everything on your to-do list, make up your to-be list, and then strive to live each day in as much alignment to your list as possible. I think it’s one of the best ways to move yourself towards the life you desire.

Quotation that I’ve been pondering

The famous Greek philosopher Aristotle has a quote that’s quite relevant to today’s theme, and worth reflecting on:

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

In an age of constant busyness and distraction, it’s too easy to lose track of who you really are. Time spent in introspection and learning about yourself is one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

Journal prompt

“What can I let go of?”

We tend to keep adding more and more into our lives, filling up our physical, digital, and mental space with clutter. This clutter keeps us from becoming what we could.

Stop adding more, start removing.

Call to Adventure

Ready to get serious about unlocking the next level of your career and life?

If so, schedule a strategy call with me and together, we can start making your work something that works for you, rather than something you feel forced to do.

It’s time to unleash your potential!

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