To-Do Lists vs Time Blocking | Which is Better?

Summary

In this engaging talk, the host Paul Dittis addresses the common issue of endless to-do lists and the stress they bring. He emphasizes the importance of setting constraints, prioritizing tasks, and using time blocking to manage distractions. Paul introduces the concept of 'indistractible' from the book of the same name, highlighting the need to focus on what truly matters and align actions with values. He also shares practical tips for planning, including scheduling a 'daily highlight' and dedicating time for personal enjoyment. The talk concludes with recommendations for productivity tools and apps like Google Calendar, Sunsama, and Todoist, which can assist in organizing tasks and tracking time effectively.

Takeaways

• 📝 The problem with to-do lists is that they can be never-ending and lack a sense of priority, leading to stress and a feeling of not accomplishing important tasks.
• ⏰ Time blocking is an effective way to create constraints and stay focused on the tasks that matter most.
• 🚫 It's important to admit when you're taking on too much and to cut back to a more manageable number of tasks.
• 🎯 Aim to complete three to five important tasks each day, as this is a solid achievement and helps maintain focus.
• 🧩 People who use time blocking and commit to it tend to get more done, including fitting in other necessary tasks around their scheduled time blocks.
• 📱 Distractions are rampant, and to avoid them, it's crucial to stay focused and prioritize your tasks.
• 🛡 The concept of 'indistractible' is introduced as a superpower of staying focused and controlling your attention.
• 🕒 The 10-minute rule is suggested for focusing on tasks, where you commit to working on a task for 10 minutes before deciding to continue or switch.
• 🔄 Recognize that the opposite of distraction is traction; understanding what you're being distracted from helps in setting clear intentions for your time.
• 📈 Prioritizing tasks effectively over efficiency can lead to better overall progress and accomplishment of goals.
• 🗓️ Planning your week and setting a daily highlight or most important task can help in achieving a sense of progress and success.
• 🤸‍♂️ Time management is akin to pain management; understanding the 'why' behind tasks can motivate action despite the potential discomfort or effort required.

Q & A

What is the main problem with traditional to-do lists?

The main problem with traditional to-do lists is that they are never-ending and lack a sense of priority, making it difficult to focus on what truly matters.

What is the key realization about to-do lists and human limitations?

The key realization is that humans have limitations and cannot accomplish everything on their to-do lists. It's important to set constraints for oneself and prioritize tasks effectively.

How can time blocking help with productivity?

Time blocking helps with productivity by allocating specific time slots for tasks, which reduces distractions and ensures focused, intentional work during those periods.

What is the concept of 'indistractible' and how does it relate to productivity?

The concept of 'indistractible' refers to the ability to control one's attention and choose how to spend their life, rather than being constantly distracted. It is a superpower that helps individuals stay focused on their priorities and achieve more.

How can setting clear boundaries for tasks help with time management?

Setting clear boundaries for tasks helps with time management by prioritizing what can and cannot be done, allowing individuals to focus on their most important commitments and avoid being overwhelmed by less important tasks.

What is the '10-minute rule' and how does it apply to task management?

The '10-minute rule' involves setting a timer for 10 minutes and committing to focus on a task for that duration. This technique helps overcome the initial resistance to starting a task and can lead to more extended periods of focused work.

Why is it important to define one's values in relation to time management?

Defining one's values is crucial because it helps to identify what tasks and activities align with those values. By prioritizing tasks that reflect one's values, individuals can ensure that their time is spent on things that truly matter to them.

What is the difference between being effective and being efficient?

Being effective means accomplishing tasks that move one towards their goals, even if it takes longer, while being efficient refers to doing things quickly and with minimal waste. Effectiveness is more important than efficiency because it ensures progress towards meaningful objectives.

How can physical planners like the Finisher Secrets Planner aid in productivity?

Physical planners like the Finisher Secrets Planner can aid in productivity by providing a tangible, structured way to plan and track tasks. They often incorporate time blocking and other organizational methods that help individuals stay focused and manage their time effectively.

What are some digital tools and apps recommended for productivity and task management?

Some recommended digital tools and apps for productivity and task management include Google Calendar, Sunsama, Todoist, TickTick, ClickUp, and Asana. These tools offer various features such as task listing, time tracking, project management, and integration with other platforms.

How can one ensure they stay on track with their weekly goals and commitments?

To stay on track with weekly goals and commitments, it's suggested to schedule a dedicated time, such as an hour or two on Friday or Saturday, to plan the upcoming week. Daily reviews of the next day's tasks and adjustments based on new information can also help maintain focus and alignment with goals.

Outlines

00:00

📝 The Problem with To-Do Lists

The speaker begins by discussing the common issue of feeling stressed due to an overwhelming to-do list at the end of the day. The problem is not the individual, but the system they use to manage tasks. The speaker introduces the concept that to-do lists are never-ending and lack a sense of priority. The solution is to create constraints for oneself, such as time blocking and limiting the number of items on the list. The importance of focusing on important tasks and admitting the problem of trying to do too much is emphasized.

05:01

🎯 Achieving Indistractability

The speaker shares insights from the book 'Indistractable' by Nir Eyal, highlighting the importance of controlling one's attention to improve productivity. The story of Eyal's missed moment with his daughter due to phone distractions is shared to emphasize the need for focus. The speaker suggests that being indistractable is like a superpower, and it involves doing what one says they will do. The idea of setting clear boundaries for what one can and cannot do is crucial for managing distractions and staying focused on important tasks.

10:03

🏃‍♂️ Prioritizing and Planning

The speaker discusses the importance of prioritizing tasks and setting clear boundaries for one's time and energy. The concept of 'pain management' is introduced, suggesting that humans often avoid tasks to evade pain. The speaker encourages the audience to reflect on their 'why' to help overcome the pain of doing difficult tasks. The idea of focusing on high-level tasks, or 'rocks,' before lower-level ones is suggested to ensure that important tasks are completed first.

15:04

🗓️ Hands-On Planning

The speaker provides practical advice on planning one's week, emphasizing the importance of scheduling time for important tasks and personal enjoyment. The concept of a 'daily highlight' is introduced, where one identifies a key task that, if completed, would make the day successful. The speaker suggests dedicating time on Friday or Saturday to plan the upcoming week and reviewing the plan daily to adjust for changes. The importance of sticking to the plan, even when faced with failure, is stressed to build the skill of time management and focus.

20:05

🛠️ Productivity Tools and Apps

The speaker shares his favorite productivity tools and apps, starting with Google Calendar for its simplicity and integration with tasks. He then discusses Sunsama for its ability to combine task lists with weekly objectives and track time. The benefits of time tracking for better decision-making are highlighted. Other tools mentioned include physical planners like the Finisher Secrets Planner and bullet journaling, as well as digital tools like TickTick with its rich features and Todoist for its simplicity. The speaker also mentions project management tools like ClickUp and Asana for managing larger projects or family tasks.

25:05

🚫 Eliminating Distractions

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need to identify and eliminate triggers that lead to unwanted directions. He suggests practical steps such as unsubscribing from distracting email newsletters and setting expectations to avoid disturbances during focused work times. The speaker encourages the audience to be mindful of these distractions and to take control of their attention to improve productivity and focus.

Keywords

💡To-Do Lists

To-Do Lists are organizational tools used to keep track of tasks that need to be completed. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses the common issue of endless and overwhelming to-do lists, and suggests strategies for managing them effectively, such as time blocking and limiting the number of items on the list. The speaker emphasizes the importance of prioritizing tasks and focusing on the most important ones to avoid stress and increase productivity.

💡Time Blocking

Time blocking is a productivity technique where one schedules specific time slots for different tasks or activities throughout the day. The speaker in the video advocates for time blocking as a solution to the problem of endless to-do lists, suggesting that by committing to focused, intentional time blocks, individuals can accomplish more and better manage distractions. It is a way to create constraints for oneself to ensure that important tasks are given the attention they deserve.

💡Distraction

Distraction refers to the act of being drawn away from one's intended task or focus by external or internal stimuli. In the video, the speaker addresses the issue of distractions, such as phone notifications and the endless potential tasks on a to-do list, that prevent individuals from accomplishing their goals. The speaker suggests strategies to minimize distractions, such as setting a timer for 10 minutes to focus on a task and prioritizing what tasks are truly important.

💡Prioritization

Prioritization is the process of determining the order of importance or urgency of tasks or activities. In the context of the video, the speaker emphasizes the need to prioritize tasks on one's to-do list to ensure that the most critical and impactful tasks are completed. By prioritizing, individuals can manage their time more effectively and reduce the stress associated with facing an overwhelming number of tasks.

💡Indistractable

Indistractable is a term coined by the author of the book 'Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life', which the speaker references in the video. It refers to the ability to maintain focus and avoid distractions, thus effectively controlling one's attention. The speaker uses this concept to highlight the importance of staying on track with one's tasks and goals, rather than being led astray by distractions.

💡Pain Management

Pain Management, as discussed in the video, is a metaphorical concept that relates to time management. It suggests that often, the root of poor time management lies in the avoidance of 'pain' or discomfort associated with certain tasks. By recognizing and confronting these avoidance behaviors, individuals can better manage their time and commit to completing important tasks, even when they may be challenging or uncomfortable.

💡Calendar

A calendar, as mentioned in the video, is a tool used for scheduling and organizing tasks and events. The speaker advocates for the use of a calendar to plan out one's week and to set specific time blocks for different activities. By using a calendar, individuals can create a structured plan that helps them stay focused and committed to their priorities, ultimately leading to increased productivity and a better sense of accomplishment.

💡Efficiency vs. Effectiveness

Efficiency and effectiveness are two distinct concepts related to productivity. Efficiency refers to doing things in the least amount of time or with the least amount of effort, while effectiveness is about achieving the desired outcome or goal. The speaker in the video highlights the importance of being effective over efficient, as it is more valuable to focus on tasks that move one towards their goals, even if it takes longer, than to complete tasks quickly without progressing towards the intended objectives.

💡Values

Values are the principles or standards that guide an individual's actions and decisions. In the context of the video, the speaker suggests that understanding one's values is crucial for effective time management and prioritization. By aligning one's time with their values, individuals can focus on what truly matters to them and make decisions that reflect their priorities, leading to a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

💡Daily Highlight

A Daily Highlight, as discussed in the video, refers to a significant or particularly meaningful task or event that one plans to accomplish or experience during the day. The speaker suggests setting a daily highlight as a way to focus on what's truly important and to structure one's day around this key activity. This practice can help maintain motivation and a sense of achievement, as completing the daily highlight can provide satisfaction and a sense of progress.

💡Productivity Tools

Productivity tools are applications or methods designed to help individuals manage their tasks, time, and projects more effectively. In the video, the speaker discusses various productivity tools, both digital and physical, that can assist in planning, time management, and prioritization. These tools can range from digital apps like Google Calendar and Todoist to physical planners like the Finisher Secrets Planner, and they serve to streamline the process of organizing and executing tasks.

Highlights

The problem with to-do lists is that they are never-ending and lack a sense of priority.

Creating constraints for yourself can help manage to-do lists effectively.

Time blocking is a favored method to bring structure and focus to your daily tasks.

Limiting the number of items on your to-do list can increase the likelihood of completion.

On a typical day, accomplishing three to five important tasks is considered productive.

Distractions are a major problem, and effective time management is about controlling your attention.

The concept of 'indistractible' is introduced as a superpower to stay focused amidst distractions.

The 10-minute rule is a technique to combat procrastination and build focus.

Defining your values and aligning your time with them is crucial for effective time management.

Being effective is more important than being efficient when it comes to productivity.

Time management is essentially pain management; we avoid tasks due to the potential discomfort they cause.

Planning your week and reviewing it daily can significantly improve your productivity.

Setting a daily highlight helps focus on what's truly important for the day.

Physical planners like the Finisher Secrets Planner and bullet journaling offer effective alternatives to digital tools.

Apps like Google Calendar, Sunsama, and Todoist are recommended for daily planning and task management.

Project management tools such as ClickUp and Asana are useful for larger scale organization and collaboration.

The importance of training yourself to stick to a plan, even when faced with setbacks, is emphasized.

Transcripts

have you ever felt stressed at the end

of the day looking at your to-do list

and another day passes and you feel like

you didn't get the right things done

and yet

you had the whole day open there wasn't

meetings or things vying for your

attention you just

let it go so today i'm going to share

with you the problem

the good news is it's not you it's the

system that you're using to get things

done

so

stick around and i'm going to share with

you the tools that i use at the end and

then right up front we're going to dive

into some

tactics that'll help you stay focused

what's up friends welcome to the

beautiful mess where we talk about tools

and tactics to improve your life i'm

your host paul dittis a youtuber and

creative director and i'm glad you're

here because we're going to dive into

the problem of to-do lists and what to

do about it so the first thing

what is the problem with to-do lists

because i'm sure

like me you have one and it's just like

never-ending lists of things that you

could be doing should be doing

should have done yesterday

uh so the problem with to-do list

is that

like i said they're never ending you can

create unlimited number of to-do lists

and

yet

there's no sense of priority what should

you be focusing on

and so the important thing to realize is

that there are no constraints there are

no boundaries to to do lists you can

write unlimited number of things so

what you need to do is create

constraints for yourself

you can do this in a variety of ways

one of my favorites is

time blocking so we'll dive into that a

little bit later and then also perhaps

limiting limiting the number of items on

your list perhaps you have you know a

regular list of 10 to 15 items do you

get those 10 to 15 items done every

single day i'm guessing you don't so uh

first

admit that there's a problem that you're

maybe trying to bite off too much more

more than you can choose so first off

realize that second maybe

try to cut it back to the more

manageable and perhaps just take off

like the low level items you know or put

them on a different list

i would say that

on a typical day you can really get

those like important to do's maybe three

to five items that's like a solid day if

you can get

three to five

important items done it's not just like

oh call this person email this person

maybe it is to you but like oftentimes

those are like the surface level

and what they find is typically those

people that plan their week using time

blocking and

basically having a commitment to that

time

end up getting more done they they

typically fit in those other items that

need to get done around

those those big blocks of time maybe an

hour two two hours an hour and a half a

focused

intentional time

uh because

as you know the big problem that a lot

of people have is distractions there's

so many distractions out there like you

you open your phone and then there's 20

different notifications telling you to

do this and that and so i want to

introduce you to this idea that i

learned from a master class with near

ayal who wrote the book indistractible

which uh let me see the full title it's

indistractible how to control your

attention and choose your life and i

haven't read the book yet so full

disclaimer haven't read the book yet but

the master class i thought was very

insightful and so

one of his things that he he talks about

he first shares a story

about his daughter and himself

and

which led to this book actually the

title of the book is is that the

daughter basically they had i guess like

a book with different things that you

can do with your daughter and so one of

the things was like a question which he

he asked his daughter like if you could

have any superpower what would it be

and the daughter said

well

actually he never knows what his

daughter might have said because in that

moment he decided to pick up his phone

like many of us you know there's

endless numbers of distraction on your

phone so and he he doesn't really know

why you know he just decided in that

moment to pick up his phone and when he

looked up from his phone his daughter

was gone he lost

that moment

and

he can't get that moment back but what

he can do is realize his mistake

and create

steps and processes so that he can avoid

that happening again and so what he did

was he

the book indistractible basically means

that like it's a superpower like instead

of getting

distracted

you're going to stay focused

and um

so the thing with like

to to-do list is that like it can just

add more stress to your life because

it's it's just like

you can't get to everything

there's some things that you're going to

just have to say no to

because if you just look at your to-do

list and

realize

hey i'm human

i can't do

everything that everyone wants at every

single moment as soon as they want it

so it's it's important to prioritize and

set clear boundaries about what you can

do and what you can't do

and so the ins indistractable difference

um it's like a superpower that you

should aim for

and basically what it comes down to

is

basically you

do

what you say

when you say you'll do it

and so

uh

if your calendar says that you should be

at the gym

you're at the gym if your calendar says

that you should do this you're doing

that

obviously it's like a muscle you have to

train it and you will fail from time to

time you will fail there will be times

that you just feel like oh i messed up

completely and

whoops

that that happened and that's where i

would recommend using one of my favorite

tools is roll with the punches just pick

yourself back up

uh

realize the next step that you can take

to get back on track

uh so there's there's different ways

that you can stay focused and it's like

a muscle

you can't just like

willpower hey i'm gonna be focused now

uh instead you have to like train and so

what you can do is one of these tips

that he gave is like the 10 minute rule

so that

if there's a task that you should be

working on

you can say like hey for 10 minutes i'm

just going to set a timer for 10 minutes

and i'm going to focus on it for 10

minutes and sure enough 10 minutes leads

to more time eventually but you have to

make that commitment for 10 minutes

where either a you're just going to dive

in and do the work or b you're going to

surf that urge of wanting to avoid it

avoid the task and you're going to

hopefully at the end of the 10 minutes

be able to commit

to doing it actually doing the task and

so

it's important to realize

that

one

the opposite of distraction is traction

so

but

the reality is

is that

you can only be distracted

if there's something to be distracted

from

because

if you're getting distracted

what are you getting distracted from and

that's where it's important to define

your values

and then to set a time to them turn your

values into time because where you spend

your time is honestly kind of where

you're

subconsciously maybe saying

my values are this that and the other

um

because you're voting with your life

literally your time your energy and so

um that that's important to realize is

that

in order to be distracted you first have

to realize what you're being distracted

from

and so just having a to-do list doesn't

necessarily mean that like which one of

these items on my to-do list was i

actually distracted from there's endless

number of items that could have been

distracted from and that's where you

need to set an intention

for your time and this comes into time

blocking

and so

just to kind of recap the importance of

this is that there's a big difference

between effective

and

efficiency being effective and being

efficient because

being effective means that you're going

to move the needle even if you're not

necessarily moving the fastest

because

if you're super efficient and you go

super fast but you're like off track by

just a little bit

you're going to end up in a completely

different spot whereas if you're

effective where you're even if it takes

a while for you to get where you need to

go

it's better that you're being effective

where you're

focusing on the right tasks at the right

time because that's going to lead you

where you want to go and you're going to

end up

much better off than just simply

seeing the plethora of things that you

could be doing should be doing

so

make

a commitment to your day to your week

and so i'm gonna dive into some ideas

that will help you with that uh before

we do that i also want to share this

idea that i learned from the master

class time management requires pain

management

so

you don't necessarily have a problem

with time management it's more like pain

management because

at the root of our beings we

often choose to do something or not to

do something to avoid pain that's like

the human uh

you know underlying

reasoning so like

i think the example was given i forget

where but

you know if your child

is across the way

and there's something like burning

like the the building's burning and your

child is across the way you would climb

this you know tight rope to get there

but let's say on another day there's a

tightrope and someone says hey walk the

tightrope when where are you going to

plan to actually do it like are you

going to do it when that your child is

in peril and in danger absolutely

or are you going to just like on a whim

decide to walk this tightrope so it's

important to realize that a lot of it is

pain management so uh

think about ways that you can

get into and realize like you know

this might be painful now but i'm going

to reap the dividends later

so like going to the gym that can be

painful sometimes but

you get many rewards from going and

working out to being fit it impacts so

many different life domains

and so that's my encouragement to you is

to realize that time management also

kind of equates to pain management

uh what are you avoiding like you know

think back to the caveman days like we

um

you know they they would hunt they and

obviously there was some danger involved

in hunting however they realized that

that danger

was negated by the need for food like i

need to eat

there is food

i get the food from

um hunting animal you know it's just

like that simple so

but the thing is like oftentimes we

don't really have that like

sense of like

tiger killing us kind of

atmosphere so instead it's like uh you

have to

kind of like go back to your why why do

you need to do these things why is it

important that you undergo this pain so

that at the time when you're like

struggling and you're like ah should i

do it should i not you know hey i'm

committed to this i'm going to do it

um

and so

again what you want to do is train

yourself so that you will do what you

say you do

when you say you you like plan to do it

um and

the other thing is like don't fall for

crossing off low level items like that

it's so easy to make a long list of

to-do items like little things that need

to get done

but at the end of the day will you feel

like you've gotten so much done by

crossing off those low level items yes

there'll probably be a dopamine hit

every time you cross it off but

in the long run will you be moving the

needle on your more important tasks or

will you just be like hey there's

another little check mark that i can

add to my

list

um so something to consider not not to

say that there's anything wrong with

making lists with low level items but

it's important that you plan around

those high level

like you put in your rocks in your week

first basically

um and that's going to lead us to the

actual hands-on

planning your week so

what is it in your week

that's most important so right now i

want you to kind of think about

what this week if you could get one

thing done

to move the needle in your life

and

it's important to realize that there's

different domains of your life too it's

like you have yourself

and

you impact others and others you know

have a greater impact so

first of all

what is it that you need

to be able to do everything else that

needs to get done like start with

planning out those things first like

do you need to go to the gym

so that you can interact with those

around you in a positive way do you need

to go to the gym so that you have the

energy to get the work items that you

need to get done so that's an important

thing to realize and then

the next step is what do you need to do

for your relationships

your kids your wife

your husband you name it like what is it

that you need to do for them

uh that will help

build those relationships and also under

the me i don't want to forget this

think about the things that you enjoy

doing is it video games is it

this is like the thing that people

forget it's like um you know i have to

plan out you know my work

all these important things but like you

all seem to

schedule in like margin time just time

for yourself time to like enjoy like

what you enjoy doing reading going on a

nice walk like don't

miss out on that that's so important

i can't stress that enough so make sure

you schedule out

those things that matter to you so that

you're also excited for the week

and along with that i would suggest

making a daily highlight what i've been

doing recently is i've been putting at

the top so in your google calendar you

can make an all-day event and it'll stay

at the top of your list of uh you know

basically your day

and so

i've been making a day item for like my

highlight of the day like if i get this

one thing done in the day like that's

gonna be great it's uh kind of an idea

that i got from both ali abdal who got

it then from make time the make time

book that i'm currently you know working

my way through

um

but that that's like an idea is like

make sure you have like a highlight of

your day whether that's moving the

needle on a work project whether that's

something that you enjoy a new show that

came out that you're excited about

so plan your day around what's important

and uh make sure you set off the times

um and so yeah i would suggest planning

out like take a hour 30 minutes maybe on

friday or saturday of the week

um to plan out your next week

so

and then review that like every single

day like as the evening comes in look at

your to do items for tomorrow and

schedule those if if you haven't already

like again friday saturday it's a great

time to schedule the week but then you

also have to do those mine minor reviews

and say like hey

tomorrow

uh this needs to happen at this time so

i'm gonna shift this around you know

it's it's life things happen things

change but uh the important thing is

like when the day comes that there's not

too much moving around you just realize

like hey like this is what i plan

i said i would do this at this time i'm

gonna do this now

um and so that you can

exercise that skill are you gonna fail

yes you probably will but

the important thing is you had a plan

and that you worked towards it even if

you failed the first few times you're

just going to pick yourself up and keep

going

um so yeah to-do lists are still

important because like when you go to

schedule a week you can look at those

maybe you have a quarter goals list and

then you can realize like okay to break

this down into this week i need to do

this this and this and so i think that's

that's still super important is to

realize like your quarter goals

and then your year goals and

and that way

you can break it down into smaller

actions and plan it out

because

what you put on your calendar it's more

likely to get done because you're

putting that intention onto something

that you can have traction with

so

when you get distracted you can realize

oh i should have been doing the thing

that i had planned for this time because

that's

what will move my life in the direction

i want to go

so

that's a lot of

backstory now let me give you some of

the fun stuff at least for me i love

productivity tools apps all that fun

stuff if you're interested in learning

more about productivity tools and apps

i'd suggest subscribing to my youtube

channel because i am hoping

and i have a current video in the works

for one of these tools sunsama so if you

want to check that out subscribe to my

youtube channel pauldidus

on the youtube and that should be coming

out hopefully in the next week or two

and

so what are some of my favorite

productivity apps as of

today

so

under the daily planning apps list

my first one is going to be the obvious

and the free one

google calendar

hard to beat you can just

create tasks

right in there plan out your day right

in there

don't complicate things

the next one is one of my current

favorites is uh sun sama sunsama i think

is one of the best because it combines

your

task list and weekly objectives and

it makes it so that you can easily track

your time and review your time so that

you can make meaningful changes for

upcoming so you can better plan your

week because a lot of times

people are

not good at realizing how long something

takes

um

many times like at work i'm sure you've

had this where people like say oh you

know you should be able to do this in

that amount of time and they

don't realize that it's actually a long

process there's there's a lot of steps

that are involved

so

then you can go back to them and say hey

like last time i did this it took x

number of hours so realistically i can

get it to you by this date so that's

that's i think the helpful thing about

tracking your time is that

you can make better decisions and so

that's what i love about sensama it

integrates so well with google calendar

and so and you can also integrate it

with your project management tools like

uh click up asana and then also todoist

there's some other integrations but

those are some of the ones that were

meaningful to me so

uh the other

recommendation is some physical planners

that you can use so if you're more of a

pen and paper kind of person these are

the ones probably that you might want to

check out the first one is the finisher

secrets planner and this one's actually

based around time blocking so if you're

looking for a time blocking planner then

the finisher secrets planner would be

the one that i would recommend checking

out um javier who runs the company is a

great person

uh i've really enjoyed working with them

i've done done a course for them in the

past and

yeah they're just

it's a solid planner

um and then the other thing is just

simple bullet journaling check that out

like actually the the finisher secret's

kind of like a done for you bullet

journaling i'd say like it gives you a

lot of the bullet journaling elements

but it kind of just does it for you and

i'd say it's very much geared towards

anyone that wants to you know be

effective

um plan out their week

so yeah finish your secret planner

great option

uh and bullet journaling classic

and check those out and then action day

planner that one uh i've used over the

years uh it's just like like it could be

good for time boxing too because

basically they have like the week laid

out and want actually two pages like

monday through sunday basically

um and it's just like a great way for

you to just

you know write out all the things that

you need to get done and see it on the

week and have you like your

projects or goals that you have for the

week on one area and then the to do

items on these sides so you've got it

kind of all laid out easy easy view um

the next one that we're gonna dive into

are kind of like the to do apps so you

have things like tick tick

that's it's a fantastic app i i love it

um if you're looking for like kind of

one with rich in features they have the

eisenhower matrix it has

um

a pomodoro timer so you can actually

like have a pomodoro timer and see like

how many pomodoros it takes to do a task

uh so that that one's really cool to do

is like my minimalist favorite like

basically it's like pen and paper you

just click into something and start

writing and then todoist i would say is

like a solid all-rounder

um nothing special but it just works i

mean this i think the one thing that

todoist does really well is like you can

it just like naturally knows like what

day you want on based on what you're

writing

and

like the shortcuts are pretty nifty um

and then for project management so this

is probably you can use a project

manager for your

day list there's nothing wrong with that

but these are probably more geared

towards like running a company

or um

or even a family i i've used the project

management tool for running our family

so you can use it for that too but the

two that come to mind are click up and

asana

my disclaimer with click up it's a great

great tool it's just there's a lot of

features that you can get lost in

whereas asana it's super simple easy get

started

i would say it's the intuitive the more

intuitive one of the bunch but both are

great so

you decide which one works best for you

uh give it a go and then again i'm

hoping to review some of these apps that

i'm talking about today so

if that's something that you're

interested in be sure to subscribe to my

main youtube channel pauldidus and

love to share what i learn about these

tools with you

okay folks well that was a fun episode i

i love talking about productivity

and ways to get things done so hopefully

that was helpful for you hopefully

you're going to be

getting more traction in your life and

pushing out those distractions and

something to keep in mind are what are

the triggers in your life whether

internal or external that are pushing

you in the direction that you don't want

to go so that you can eliminate them

whether that's simply uh unsubscribing

from email newsletters that keep coming

into your inbox and you know you have to

delete them every single time they come

in

or

creating you know

expectations so that people know not to

disturb you during this time because

you're going to be recording or you're

going to be creating something that

requires your time and attention so

things to keep in mind hopefully that

was helpful for you uh if you want to be

part of the messi fan be sure to rate

review subscribe wherever you listen to

podcasts love to hear from you and until

next time my friends

stay messy

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