Major Techniques

  1. Run Task Management System (Hierarchical Goals)
    • Plan each day in advance
    • Schedule on a calendar in addition to a to-do list
  2. Build streaks / habits / momentum
  3. Triage (80/20, Pareto Principle)
  4. Single, clear task at a time
  5. Most important task in the morning with focus
    • Do the most difficult task first
  6. Cut off all distractions
  7. Enter the appropriate mental state
    • Music
    • Visualization
  8. Create Large Chunks of Time
  9. Social Accountability
    • Precommitment
    • Feedback
  10. Bite off the smallest action step possible
  11. Many small projects - large projects kill morale
  12. Focus Tracking
  13. Time Tracking
  14. Metrics as a reward system
  15. Set Deadlines

Major Models

  1. Momentum
  2. Process Focus vs. Outcome Focus (Growth vs. Product)
  3. Goal clarity / fuzziness, level of abstraction of goals (lower the better)
  4. Focus / Attention
  5. Social Norms
  6. Habits (Cue, Routine, Reward)
  7. Metrics associated with clear goals

Minor Techniques

  1. Say no to everything misaligned with goals
    • Hell yes or no.
  2. Meditation
  3. Cold Shower
  4. Timer
  5. Take Breaks
  6. Stop Doing list or Not To Do list
  7. Batch tasks
    • Ex, email/messages 2x a day
  8. If an action takes less than 5m to complete, do it immediately
  9. Be Well Rested
  10. Stopping Time
  11. Have tiers to your daily tasks, don’t stop a tier until that tier is done.
  12. Do the hardest thing first

Minor Models

  1. Attention Switching Costs / Impact of multitasking
  2. Self Sabotage
  3. Parkinson’s Principle
  4. Willpower