5 things that help me avoid procrastination

Summary

Matt, in his video, addresses the common struggle with procrastination, especially when working from home. He shares his daily 15-minute ritual consisting of five practices that help him start his day and maintain focus. These include making coffee for motivation, writing a hand-written to-do list for clarity, finding solitude for deep work, using noise-canceling headphones to block distractions, and removing digital distractions. Matt also promotes Skillshare as a platform for learning new skills to enhance productivity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Procrastination is a common struggle, especially when working from home, and it's a constant battle to overcome it.
• 📚 Steven Pressfield in 'The War of Art' describes procrastination as a form of resistance that's easy to rationalize.
• 🔄 The cycle of promising to start work tomorrow alleviates pressure and anxiety temporarily, creating a false sense of productivity.
• 📅 The realization of 'tomorrow never coming' is often accompanied by a painful deadline or consequence that forces action.
• 🧘 Matt, the speaker, shares his personal daily ritual that takes about 15 minutes and helps him avoid procrastination and stay focused.
• ☕ The ritual starts with making coffee, which acts as a trigger for the day's work and is linked to a Pavlovian response to productivity.
• 📝 Reintroducing a handwritten to-do list has helped Matt stay organized and focused on the most important tasks.
• 🎧 Finding solitude is essential for Matt to avoid distractions, and using noise-canceling headphones with instrumental music helps simulate this.
• 🚫 Removing distractions, such as blocking websites and deleting social media apps, is part of Matt's strategy to stay focused on his work.
• 🔗 The video is sponsored by Skillshare, promoting a platform for learning new skills and a specific class on productivity by Greg McKeown.
• 💇‍♂️ In a light-hearted conclusion, Matt mentions cutting his own hair and asks for feedback, showing a personal side to his character.

Q & A

What is the common manifestation of resistance according to Steven Pressfield in 'The War of Art'?

Procrastination is the most common manifestation of resistance because it's the easiest to rationalize.

Why do people often feel productive when they procrastinate and promise to do something tomorrow?

The pressure, anxiety, and stress are alleviated in that moment, creating a false sense of progress and productivity.

What is the problem with relying on tomorrow to feel inspired or have more energy to work?

The problem is that tomorrow never comes with the desired inspiration or energy, leading to a continuous cycle of procrastination.

What is the role of Skillshare in the video script?

Skillshare is a platform for learning various skills, and it sponsors the video by offering a two-month free trial for its premium membership.

What is the sunk-cost bias mentioned by Greg McKeown in his class 'Simple Productivity'?

The sunk-cost bias is one of the things that makes uncommitting hard for people, as they are influenced by the costs they have already incurred.

Why is the daily ritual of making coffee important for Matt's productivity?

The daily ritual of making coffee acts as a trigger for Matt to start his day and is linked to a Pavlovian response that surges inspiration and motivation.

What has Matt reintroduced into his daily routine to stay organized?

Matt has reintroduced a hand-written to-do list into his daily routine to keep track of the most important tasks and projects.

How does Matt prioritize his tasks using a hand-written to-do list?

Matt identifies the one to three most important tasks for the day, focusing on these rather than the numerous smaller tasks that may not be as critical.

What is the significance of solitude for Matt in avoiding procrastination?

Solitude, peace, and quiet without the presence of other humans help Matt to get into a state of flow and are less likely to distract him from his work.

How does Matt use noise-canceling headphones to create a sense of solitude?

Matt uses noise-canceling headphones to block out external noise and distractions, playing instrumental music from Spotify playlists to help him focus.

What measures does Matt take to remove distractions before starting work?

Matt uses the Freedom app to block distracting websites, deletes social media apps from his phone when necessary, and relies on headphones as a 'do not disturb' sign.