Finding the best productivity system
My everlasting search for it
I can’t seem to find the best way to get stuff done.
I have tried it all — the Pomodoro technique, time-blocking, simple to-do lists… Nothing. Works.
Figuring that my problem might be a lack of efficient tools, I have tried creating everything from pretty Bullet Journals to a standard Google Calendar. Didn’t help.
Maybe I need a unique system tailored to my needs? So I colour-coded and cross-referred my entire life, and prioritized in different ways. I even switched up my systems based on the need of the hour. Nope.
Maybe I just need to trust myself! So I laid back and followed my intuition and memory. Aw hell no.
Not only do I end up handing chaotically assembled projects in at the last minute, but I can’t seem to enjoy my leisure activities with peace either — the guilt of having to be productive seeps in.
It cannot be this difficult. I should have this figured out by now. I’m in my mid-20s, for God’s sake!
Perhaps there’s more to it, and I just need to analyze the problem better (said the overthinker in me). So here goes another attempt.
Broadly, all the systems I have tried can be categorized into two: time-bound and task-based. In their simplest forms, these might look like so:
Viewing from my usual lens, that is “How do I feel about these?”, the one that’s time-bound disciplines me. It forces me to do things at specific times and that’s something that just isn’t sustainable for me. Boy can I be an insufferable child who just doesn’t feel like it.
On the other hand, when given the freedom to pick tasks and go through them when I do feel like it, I become even more susceptible to my whims, and acutely aware of whether or not I’m “vibing with the task”. It’s a slippery slope into absolute inactivity.
Both seem to have the same underlying issue — me being a slave to my many moods. But my lack of self-discipline can’t be the only issue here? Surely I can blame the notifications on my phone? Or the unrealistic expectations of the fast life we’re living?
Right? 😢
While I might indeed be the problem, that still doesn’t help me find the solution. Doubling down on any productivity system won’t help me in the long run — sure I might develop some discipline which I certainly require, but I wouldn’t enjoy the process, the everyday work.
I believe that systems are made to support human activities, rather than humans being made to fit into systems.
Hence I think I must dig deeper:
My procrastination might very well be driven by perfectionism and the fear of failure. My unwillingness to get something done might be because the thing doesn’t need to be done at all! The fact that I view everything through the lens of my feelings is another underlying cause that needs work.
Further, I don’t think that tracking my every move and judging how “productive” I’ve been is healthy. I should also just let myself be, and find peace in the fact that some things just can’t be done.
It seems that there’s still a long time until I find balance and my optimal practice, but I know I’m heading in that direction by analyzing my experiences in this manner. I have always believed that asking the right questions is the key to solving personal strifes — and learning to exist in a fast-paced world where we constantly expect ourselves to accomplish great things, is certainly a subject that demands such investigation.
