8 Habits That SAVE Me 10+ Hours a Week

Summary

In this video, Jills shares her top time-saving productivity habits, estimating they save her over 10 hours weekly. She emphasizes aligning tasks with personal energy peaks, productive multitasking by combining focused work with mindless tasks, and the importance of outsourcing to free up time. Jills also advises against overthinking and striving for perfection, advocating for 'good enough' in certain areas. She promotes automation and systematization to streamline daily life, strategic task elimination, and capping deep work at 4 hours daily to maintain consistency and avoid burnout.

Takeaways

• 🕒 Prioritize habits that save time and improve life quality.
• 🌞 Align tasks with personal energy rhythms for peak productivity.
• ⏱️ Use productive multitasking by combining focused tasks with low-attention activities.
• 📚 Outsource and delegate tasks to maximize time efficiency.
• 🤔 Combat overthinking by taking immediate action after a brief countdown.
• 📉 Aim for 'good enough' to prevent perfectionism from consuming time.
• 🔄 Automate and systematize routine tasks to reduce mental load.
• 🛒 Utilize grocery delivery and subscription services for time-saving convenience.
• 🚫 Be selective with tasks and learn to say no to non-essential activities.
• ⏲️ Limit deep work to 4 hours daily to maintain consistent productivity and avoid burnout.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to discuss productivity habits that save time, specifically the small habits that the speaker, Jills, has discovered and implemented to save at least 10 hours a week.

What is the first habit mentioned in the script for saving time?

The first habit mentioned for saving time is working with one's energy levels and not against them, which involves aligning tasks with the times of day when one's energy and focus are naturally at their peak.

How does the speaker suggest understanding personal energy rhythms?

The speaker suggests understanding personal energy rhythms by keeping a journal to track energy levels throughout the day for a week, rating them from 1 to 10, to identify patterns and peak times for energy and focus.

What is 'productive multitasking' as described in the script?

Productive multitasking refers to the practice of combining tasks that require focus with tasks that do not require mental attention, such as walking on a treadmill while working on a phone or listening to an audiobook, to save time and increase productivity.

Why is outsourcing recommended in the script?

Outsourcing is recommended because it allows individuals to delegate tasks they dislike or are not efficient at, saving time and reducing stress. It's a strategy used by many successful people to buy back their time and focus on what's most important.

What is the significance of the 'count to five' technique mentioned in the script?

The 'count to five' technique is a method to combat overthinking and procrastination. It encourages immediate action on tasks by counting to five and then starting the task, which can help save time spent on rumination.

How does the speaker suggest deciding what to outsource?

The speaker suggests deciding what to outsource by considering one's hourly rate and outsourcing tasks that are cheaper than that rate. However, she also emphasizes using intuition and considering the value and stress relief that outsourcing will bring.

What is the concept of 'deep work' as discussed in the script?

Deep work refers to tasks that require intense focus and concentration. The speaker mentions that, according to Cal Newport, the upper limit for deep work is four hours a day, as humans cannot sustain more than that without experiencing mental strain.

Why is it important to aim for 'good enough' instead of perfect according to the script?

Aiming for 'good enough' instead of perfect is important because it saves time and energy that might be wasted on achieving perfection when it's not necessary. It allows for more tasks to be completed and reduces the risk of burnout.

How does the speaker use automation and systems to save time?

The speaker uses automation and systems, such as Amazon's subscribe and save for household products, creating email templates, and organizing her home so that everything has a designated place, to reduce the mental load and save time on routine tasks.

What does the speaker mean by 'capping deep work to 4 hours a day'?

Capping deep work to 4 hours a day means limiting the time spent on tasks requiring intense focus to a maximum of four hours to prevent mental exhaustion and maintain productivity throughout the day, as suggested by productivity expert Cal Newport.