lesson #7—about doing less (productivity hacks)

Many times I confused productivity with doing more, but today I understand that productivity is much more about simplifying. This is where a classic saying comes in: "The one who tries to do too much accomplishes too little." (this sounds better in Spanish, I promise).

For a long time, I associated part of my self-worth with my level of productivity, and I tried to make every aspect of my life productive. What's the big problem with this? Well, I limited my idea of productivity to doing things that produced tangible results, and clearly, rest did not fit into this category. I felt that the time I dedicated to studying, working, or creating something was my only productive time (I know, pretty bad, right?).

After many years of exhaustion and fatigue from overloaded days, I learned that the key is not to fill every moment but to free them and use them more wisely. My productivity hacks come from doing less, not more.

Pausing to move forward

Rest is productive (!!!) To maintain focus, nothing is more important than allowing ourselves to take breaks. Allocating time to have a coffee between tasks, going outside for 10 minutes, or reading a few pages of our favorite book (insert your preferred relaxing activity here ) will allow us to concentrate better on what we need to tackle. Free time and enjoyment nourish our creativity. It's equally important to dedicate time to your professional life as to everything else.

Crafting a routine that suits me

There is no one-size-fits-all routine. It has to serve you and no one else. You don't have to follow the routines of entrepreneur gurus who say that to achieve success, you have to wake up at 4 in the morning, jump rope, plant 4 trees, read 3 books, and write a poem, all before 6 in the morning. Do you feel more productive in the morning? Take advantage of that. Is your best time to concentrate in the afternoon? Focus your working hours in the afternoon. Consider your peak energy and productivity hours to assign them to more challenging or important tasks. You can always adjust and modify your routine as you progress and figure out what works best for you. The key is to find the balance that allows you to achieve your goals while enjoying the process.

Prioritizing and dividing my calendar into time blocks

When we work, we sometimes try to fill our schedule with many tasks, trying to accomplish as much as possible in a day. But this can lead to more brain fog than anything else. Less is more. Take the tasks you have for the day, sort them by priority and urgency, and assign them a space in your calendar. Time blocking helps us avoid dividing our attention, preventing distraction and mental exhaustion. These dedicated time blocks allow you to set clear priorities and maintain focus, improving your performance and efficiency. It's about taking back control of how we use our time. Oh, and don't forget to schedule time to rest.

Minimizing distractions

Turning off/silencing notifications on the computer (slack, email, etc.). If something is important or you are waiting for a response, naturally, you will pay more attention. However, constant notifications give us a sense of urgency that only puts us on high alert. It is also super useful to put your phone on 'do not disturb' mode when you need to focus on a task.

Separating life from work

To be productive, we need to know how to set boundaries, with ourselves and with others. That's why I believe having Slack (or any other work communication tool) on your phone is a big no-no. We dedicate almost the majority of our days to work, and it is KEY to be able to disconnect outside of working hours. There are situations where it's okay to be contacted outside of working hours, but in industries like technology, the reality is that very few things are THAT urgent. Log off!

The biggest challenge is to simplify, to do less to achieve more. It's a skill that I keep trying to refine, and this can only be achieved through iteration and experimentation.