Simple And Inexpensive Productivity System
No need to paid hundreds of dollar for a productivity system. No need for a painful, complicated, and convoluted system which doesn’t work half the time. No weird symbolism to learn and understand. No long journal implementation and maintenance. Just good old Post-It, a pen, and your freedom.
A change of mindset
In life, you don’t have to do anything. You really don’t. You can sit on your couch all day, every day, watch TV and chock on the unexploded grain of your popcorn bag because you don’t have to do anything. You do not have any obligations.
The “need to” and “have to” of the world are just mirage; an illusion created by society (and yourself) in order to control you. To guilt you. To enslave you. Obligation creates resentment and laziness but also destroys initiative and curiosity.
I need to precise a lack of obligation doesn’t equate to “doing nothing”. What it does mean is complete freedom, control, and responsibility for your life.
Decisions and actions always bear consequences. Sometimes with many great benefits such as learning a skill or improving yourself. Sometimes with major losses like smoking cigarettes every day. Other time with somewhat inconsequential actions such as choosing what to eat this afternoon.
A lack of obligation does not mean a lack decision — because we always make decisions even when the decision is to avoid making any decisions — but it means you should be aware and accept the consequences that come with it. You do not have any outside obligations, but you do have personal responsibility. I know obligation and responsibility are pretty much the same, but the main difference lies toward whom it is directed. Obligations are toward others while responsibilities are toward yourself.
Do this means, you should avoid altruism altogether? No, but if you value friendship or self-improvement, the mental frame should not come from “I have to do something for them” but “I want to do something for them”.
But that’s selfish!
Yes, it is. I hate to break to you, but everybody is selfish. As Scott Adams in How To Fail at Almost Everything And Still Win Big:
when it comes to the topic of generosity, there are three kinds of people in the world:
1. Selfish
2. Stupid
3. A burden on others.
Your best option is to be selfish, because being stupid or a burden on society won’t help anyone.
Image yourself in an airplane, something happens and the oxygen mask drops from the ceiling. What do you need to do? Well, you help yourself first before you can help others. Helping yourself first is selfish, but it is the kind of selfish that will make you useful for others instead of a burden for them.
At this point, you must be wondering “what the hell is the point to all of this”. I hear you, but it was necessary to explain in order for the “system” to work. The system is simple and easy. What is not easy to understand is the mindset. You need to frame decisions from a perspective of total freedom (even when you think you do not have any freedom). Reframe every “I have to” (or “I need to”) by “I want to”. Make your tasks, even the chores, a desire rather than a necessity.
I’m aware cleaning the bathroom is not the most pleasant thing to do (no one really wants to do that) but if you value a clean living space, eventually you’ll want to make sure everything is clean and well-organized in your environment.
The “no-really-technical” side
Write every thought down. Paper, phone, computer, email, etc. It doesn’t matter were, just put it out there. Then use it to schedule your day. I usually use a simple Post-it.
- I draw a little circle with that task (not just a word, but structure sentence. The more specific and precise it is, the easier it is to actually do it.)
- Write in parenthesis how many hours I expected to work in this task.
- When it is done, either I draw a line over the task, or simply put an X on the circle.
You don’t necessarily have to plan for the day, which in my case, even if I do plan I never follow through. The post-it act more as a reminder that what you can with your life than actual scheduling.
Be busy because you have nothing to do rather than having a lot to do.
Thank you for reading. If you are interested in seeing more, follow me and follow the publication. New essay every week (kind of).
