This Week’s BIG Idea
Before starting to write this week’s article, I did research on productivity and had this groundbreaking realization. Once you’ve been in this line of work for a while, read the most important books on the genre, and tested every productivity hack under the sun, you realize that productivity is a lie.
Past a certain point, you start getting diminishing returns from productivity. This is the case because instead of being a means to an end, productivity becomes the end itself. What I mean by this is that productivity stops being a tool to achieve something and becomes the reason why you do it. Furthermore, you can use productivity to avoid asking an important question: why do you want to be productive in the first place? Instead of asking ourselves questions like that (which makes us uncomfortable), it’s easier to consume more content about productivity. If we find the perfect productivity hack, we tell ourselves, everything else will be easier.
This results in a paradox: we read about productivity to avoid being productive. So here’s my recommendation to anyone starting so that you don’t make the same mistakes I did: stop. Don’t consume any more content about productivity. Just focus on what you’re trying to accomplish and the productivity hacks you need will reveal themselves to you. You don’t need to read dozens of books about the Pareto principle, the Pomodoro technique, or bullet journaling to do the work. Do the work first and everything will fall into place eventually.
When you think about it, doing deep work isn’t about using life hacks. Doing deep work is about leaving your phone in a different room and doing the thing you said you were going to do. You can figure out the optimal way of doing that later. Hiding behind productivity is not going to solve that. It’s only going to make it worse.
What I’m Working on
Soon, you’ll find a summary of The Anxious Generation on the site. This is one of the best books on parenting I’ve read so far. To be clear, the book isn’t a traditional book on parenting. The Anxious Generation focuses on a single aspect of raising kids: using phones during childhood and adolescence. Furthermore, the book encourages parents to help their kids become more autonomous.
What I’m Listening to
Robert Greene: A Process for Finding & Achieving Your Unique Purpose by Andrew Huberman: I’ve been listening to this episode of Andrew Huberman’s podcast lately. In it, Huberman interviews Robert Greene, and some topics they discuss include mastery, seduction, and power. So far, I’ve only read one of Robert Greene’s books, The Laws of Human Nature. I’ve read his work referenced in many books and podcasts, so I want to give his other books a chance.
What I’m Reading
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss: I headed to the best-sellers section on Amazon and found that Never Split the Difference is still there. I knew nothing about the book, but since it had been on my Kindle for years, I decided to give it an opportunity. The book was written by Chris Voss, a former FBI negotiator who compiled all the information he learned in the book. The author knows that most people will never find themselves in hostage situations, but he says that, since life is a constant negotiation, anyone can benefit from the book.
What I’m Watching
I Quit Alcohol 500 Days Ago – This Is Why I’ll Never Go Back: Mark Manson talked about quitting alcohol before. That video received millions of views, so he made another one where he discussed the unexpected benefits of quitting alcohol. Although he had to shed his identity as part of this change, his relationships, health, and habits transformed almost overnight. As someone who doesn’t drink, I haven’t heard anyone describe the change this profoundly.
This Week’s Quote
“Never outsource what you enjoy.”
James Clear
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