How I Make Myself Work When I’m Lazy (it’s not discipline)

Summary

The speaker discusses common struggles with motivation and productivity, highlighting the ineffectiveness of traditional methods like time blocking and the Pomodoro technique. They propose a new system to tackle lack of clarity, overwhelm, unfulfillment, and burnout by prioritizing tasks with the Eisenhower Matrix, setting a daily focus for long-term goals, and eliminating non-essential tasks. The importance of tracking progress and reflecting on daily wins and losses is emphasized to foster continuous improvement and reduce reliance on motivation and discipline.

Takeaways

• 😣 The struggle with motivation is common, and relying solely on discipline can lead to burnout.
• 🔍 Understanding the underlying reasons for lack of motivation and procrastination is crucial before trying productivity methods.
• 📝 Clarity is often a key issue; successful people focus on a few important tasks and eliminate the rest.
• 🧠 Brain dumping can help eliminate feelings of overwhelm and provide clarity by getting all thoughts out of the mind.
• ⏲ Setting a timer for tasks, as per Parkinson's Law, can help manage time effectively and prevent tasks from taking longer than necessary.
• 🗂 The Eisenhower Matrix is a useful tool for categorizing tasks based on importance and urgency, aiding in prioritization.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Committing to 'Q2' tasks—important but not urgent—by scheduling them ensures they get done and prevent procrastination.
• 🎯 Having a 'focus of the day' that aligns with long-term goals can lead to fulfillment and happiness.
• 🚫 Eliminating unnecessary tasks is essential; even if it feels counterintuitive, it can prevent burnout and improve productivity.
• 📊 Tracking daily progress and reflecting on what went well and what could be improved is a powerful habit for continuous improvement.
• 🛑 Avoiding consecutive days of skipping tasks is important for maintaining momentum and avoiding falling into negative cycles.
• 📈 Personalizing productivity methods and understanding that different issues require different solutions is key to long-term success.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker struggles with?

The speaker struggles with motivation and procrastination, trying various productivity methods without success.

Why does the speaker believe relying solely on discipline is not sustainable?

The speaker believes that relying solely on discipline can lead to burnout and is not sustainable in the long run.

What is the first step the speaker suggests to deal with lack of clarity?

The first step is to do a brain dump, writing down everything on one's mind to eliminate the feeling of overwhelm.

What is the purpose of setting a timer during the brain dump process?

Setting a timer helps to manage the time spent on brain dumping, preventing the task from taking longer than necessary due to Parkinson's Law.

What tool does the speaker recommend for the brain dump process?

The speaker recommends using Notion or an iPad for the brain dump process.

What is the Eisenhower Matrix and how is it used in the script?

The Eisenhower Matrix is a tool that categorizes tasks into four quadrants based on their importance and urgency, helping to prioritize tasks effectively.

Why is it important to schedule time for Q2 tasks in the Eisenhower Matrix?

Scheduling time for Q2 tasks ensures that important but not urgent tasks are not neglected and are completed in a timely manner.

What is the significance of picking a 'focus of the day'?

The 'focus of the day' is an activity that aligns with long-term goals and contributes to personal fulfillment and happiness.

How does the speaker suggest using the Notion Q&A feature?

The Notion Q&A feature can be used to get instant answers to questions using information from across the workspace, acting as a personalized executive assistant.

What is the final step in the speaker's productivity system?

The final step is to reflect on what went well and what could have been better, and to write down these reflections as action points for improvement.

Why is it important to track daily progress and reflections visibly?

Tracking progress and reflections visibly helps to keep the process in mind, making it a priority and increasing the likelihood of consistent action.

What is the speaker's view on the effectiveness of a one-size-fits-all productivity method?

The speaker believes that a one-size-fits-all productivity method is not effective because different individuals struggle with different issues and need personalized solutions.

Outlines

00:00

🔄 Overcoming Procrastination and Motivation Struggles

The speaker discusses their personal struggle with motivation and the ineffectiveness of common productivity methods like time-blocking and the Pomodoro Technique. They emphasize the importance of understanding the underlying reasons for lack of motivation and procrastination, comparing it to seeking medical treatment without a proper diagnosis. The speaker introduces a system to address productivity without relying solely on motivation or discipline. They highlight common issues such as lack of clarity, feeling overwhelmed, unfulfillment, burnout, and the absence of a proper system. The speaker proposes a method involving brain dumping, filtering tasks, and using the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize work effectively.

05:02

📋 Implementing the Eisenhower Matrix for Prioritization

This paragraph delves into the practical application of the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance. The speaker explains the four quadrants of the matrix, focusing on addressing Q1 tasks immediately, scheduling time for Q2 tasks to prevent procrastination, and dealing with Q3 and Q4 tasks strategically. They also introduce the concept of choosing a 'focus of the day' to align with long-term goals, advocating for a 20-minute minimum commitment to this task. The speaker shares personal anecdotes about establishing a workout routine and mentions tools like Notion's Q&A feature for workspace organization and efficiency.

10:03

🎯 Establishing Daily Routines and Accountability

The speaker outlines a strategy for maintaining daily routines and accountability by setting and prioritizing tasks, eliminating non-essential activities, and focusing on a 'daily highlight' that contributes to long-term fulfillment. They stress the importance of tracking progress visibly and consistently, using tools like whiteboards or Notion templates. The speaker also discusses the significance of reflecting on daily successes and setbacks to refine approaches and improve productivity. They acknowledge that different individuals may face unique challenges and that a one-size-fits-all solution is unlikely, advocating for personalized strategies and continuous self-improvement.

Keywords

💡Motivation

Motivation refers to the psychological drive that influences a person's behavior towards a goal. In the video, the speaker discusses the struggle with motivation and how waiting for it to 'kick in' often leads to procrastination. The video suggests that relying solely on motivation is not a sustainable approach to productivity.

💡Discipline

Discipline is the practice of training oneself to follow a pattern of behavior, often by forcible restraint or control over one's impulses and tendencies. The speaker initially believed that discipline was the key to overcoming procrastination, but later realized that it alone can lead to burnout and is not a long-term solution.

💡Productivity

Productivity is the efficiency of productive effort, especially in work situations. The video's theme revolves around improving productivity by addressing the underlying issues that cause a lack of motivation and procrastination, rather than just applying various productivity techniques.

💡Clarity

Clarity in this context refers to having a clear understanding or vision of what needs to be done. The script emphasizes the importance of clarity for focusing on tasks and eliminating distractions, suggesting that a lack of clarity is a common reason for struggling with motivation.

💡Overwhelm

Feeling overwhelmed implies being excessively burdened or preoccupied by tasks or responsibilities. The video mentions that a brain dump can help eliminate the feeling of being overwhelmed and is a step towards achieving clarity and focus.

💡Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix is a time management tool that helps in organizing tasks by urgency and importance. In the script, it is recommended for prioritizing tasks into four categories to effectively manage time and focus on what truly matters.

💡Burnout

Burnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion. The speaker warns against the dangers of relying solely on discipline, as it can result in burnout, and instead promotes a balanced approach to productivity.

💡Focus of the Day

Focus of the Day is a concept introduced in the video where one selects a task or activity that aligns with long-term goals to work on daily. It serves as a non-negotiable part of the daily routine to ensure progress towards personal fulfillment and goals.

💡Prioritization

Prioritization is the act of deciding the order or relative importance of tasks. The video script discusses the use of the Eisenhower Matrix for prioritizing tasks and emphasizes the importance of focusing on the most important and urgent tasks first.

💡Notion

Notion is a productivity tool used for note-taking, task management, and collaboration. In the script, it is mentioned as a tool for brain dumping and organizing tasks, highlighting its utility in the productivity system discussed.

💡Reflection

Reflection involves thinking deeply about one's experiences, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The video encourages daily reflection to identify what went well and what could be improved, using this insight to make adjustments and improve productivity.

💡Q&A Feature in Notion

The Q&A feature in Notion is a tool that provides instant answers to questions using information from across the workspace. The script mentions this feature as an innovative way to retrieve information quickly, enhancing productivity by saving time and reducing repetitive questions.

Highlights

The speaker struggles with motivation and has tried various productivity methods without success.

Motivation is unpredictable, and relying solely on discipline can lead to burnout.

Understanding the underlying reasons for lack of motivation is crucial before trying productivity tips.

Common reasons for motivational struggles include lack of clarity, feeling overwhelmed, unfulfilled, burnout, and lack of a system.

Successful people focus on a few important tasks and eliminate the rest.

The importance of dumping everything from one's mind to achieve clarity and reduce overwhelm.

Using a timer for tasks, as per Parkinson's Law, to manage time effectively.

The Eisenhower Matrix as a tool for prioritizing tasks based on importance and urgency.

Scheduling time for important but not urgent tasks to ensure they get done.

Choosing a 'focus of the day' that aligns with long-term goals for a sense of fulfillment.

Starting with a 20-minute commitment to the daily focus to build momentum.

The importance of writing down the daily focus in a visible place to maintain accountability.

Eliminating five tasks from the list of ten to prioritize and prevent burnout.

The non-negotiable nature of completing the top three tasks and the daily focus for success.

Tracking daily progress in a visible place to maintain motivation and awareness.

Reflecting on what went well and what could be improved at the end of each day for continuous improvement.

The speaker's personal experience with implementing these methods and the benefits observed.

The upcoming community and resources for like-minded individuals interested in time management.

Transcripts

I struggle with motivation a lot trust

me I've tried everything from time

blocking to Pomodoro GTD method to

2-minute roll and none of them worked

for me there's always something I know I

got to do it but I don't I wait for the

motivation to kick in but it never comes

when I need it and suddenly around 2:00

a.m. in the middle of night I would get

super hyped up about something and

promise myself that I would change this

time only to find myself in the same

position 3 days after what's worse is

that the more I repeat this cycle the

more I doubt myself and feel awful I

used to say you don't need motivation

only thing you need is discipline but I

disagree now because completely relying

on discipline is not sustainable in the

long run and it causes burnouts so how

can we get things done without relying

on motivation neither on discipline I

read dozens of books watch hundreds

hours of content and with trial and

error I found the solution today I'm

going to introduce you the system I used

to get things done and work without

relying on motivation so the major

mistake we all do is not understanding

the underlying reason why we struggle

with motivation and procrastinate

without understanding what is causing it

it's almost like going to a doctor

getting a medication without getting a

diagnosis imagine you're actually like

an Alzheimer but get a medication for

like diabetes it doesn't make sense

rather than like trying every sing

single productivity tip you see online

it's much better to First understand the

reason and try to solve that issue so

that you spend less time trying to

figure out what works for you so there

are a bunch of reasons why you might be

struggling with motivation and even the

same person can struggle with different

reasons depending on the season of their

life so today I decided to talk about

the most common ones which are lack of

clarity feeling overwhelmed feeling

unfulfilled burnout and also lack of

system if you're interested in other

reasons and how to solve them I will

have videos coming so stay tuned so most

of us I think including myself really

struggle with Clarity because we are

taught especially if you're in

productivity we are taught that the more

you get done the better it is but one

thing I learned after talking with other

entrepreneurs is that most successful

people actually only focus on handful of

things and they just eliminate

everything but to do so we first need to

be super clear on what to focus and what

to eliminate the first step we're going

to do is actually dumping everything we

have in our mind I usually like to

either use notion or use my iPad for

doing a brain dump by beginning our day

doing a brain dump they eliminate the

feeling of overwhelm notifications

popping in and so many things that are

distracting else and all these things

are inputs in our brain so

subconsciously actually we're getting

like overwhelmed every single day and

that's completely normal when you do

this even for once you're going to see

the immediate results of like getting

Clarity and feeling in peace so so

whether you decide at 5 10 or 15 minutes

the important thing is that you

basically set yourself a deadline the

reason why we set a timer is because of

the Parkinson's love basically if you

would give a task an hour it's going to

take an hour so if we're going to give a

5 minutes it's going to take 5 minutes

so step two is filter go through your

brain dump and write down 10 things you

need to get done that day now what we

need to do is prioritizing them so I'm

actually terrible at prioritizing when I

have 10 tasks in in front of me I look

at them and I'm like okay which one

should I do first which one should I do

next and then I get overwhelmed and I do

nothing so if you don't want to be like

me what I recommend is using the eisenh

how Matrix it basically divides the

tasks into four different categories

based on their importance and also their

urgency so the quadrant one is the

important and Urgent tasks these are the

tasks that requires your immediate

attention let's say the kitchen's

floating or your toilet is broken like

happened to me two weeks ago we want to

ideally get these done first so that we

won't get stressed over them and we will

also not face these consequences next up

we have the Q2 tasks these are the

important but not urgent tasks often

times because they don't have a deadline

we always say that we're going to start

someday and then that someday never

comes I always did that a couple of

years ago I would always tell myself

that I'm going to start working out

tomorrow and that tomorrow never came so

one day I said okay I should actually

schedule a time in my calendar if you

don't make actively time for your Q2

tasks you will never have time for them

once I started to actually commit to

working out I got actually quite jacked

in like two years not really sure

whether you can see my muscles but I'm

like pretty healthy and doing pretty

well let's see whether you can see them

maybe not that much but yeah I'll

include some pictures don't worry about

it okay and then we also have the Q3

tasks these are the Urgent ones but not

not important one for example like work

emails that you don't care about so

we're going to always do the q1 first

schedule time for the Q2 batch Q3 and

try to eliminate Q4 once you create this

list of 10 different tasks make sure

that there's at least one Tusk in Q2 if

there nothing in Q2 that is a very big

red flag I would go through my list once

again and find one in Q now step three

is going to be picking your focus of the

day this is going to be something that

is going to get closer to your long-term

goals whether that's working out whether

that's working on your business maybe

taking online courses maybe spending

more time with your family or let's say

going to a therapy something like that

this focus of the day should be

something that is going to make you more

fulfilled and happy in the long term if

you have All or Nothing attitude like me

starting from I think 20 minutes is a

really good spot because if you do

something 20 minutes every single day

you you actually see significant amount

of results and also if you have more

time you can spend more time on it the

important thing is that every single day

you pick a focus of the day and do

something for your future self and

saying no to all the deadlines all the

distractions all the obligations that

you have and making time for yourself

whenever I don't make actively time for

the things that I care and gives me

fulfillment I really start to question

the meaning of life and Life starts to

feel really pointless and everything

becomes boring and that really

demotivates me and I start to

procrastinating when picking your focus

of the day you can use a notion template

like mine or you can use this app vidget

where you can type a note and put it on

the screen of your phone so that

whenever you unlock your phone you see

it whatever it is it's important that

you write this in somewhere else that

you can easily see it speaking of notion

they've recently launched an amazing

feature called Q&A this this feature

provides instant answers to your

questions using information from across

your workspace it's like having your own

executive assistant that you can bug

24/7 with questions let's say you had a

meeting with your team but can't

remember the task you need to handle no

worries you can ask the Q&A or let's say

you're using notion for school and you

want to find a specific class note you

can ask Q&A the difference between Q&A

and traditional AI chat Bots is Q&A on

understands your business previous

decisions and meeting notes to provide

accurate and relevant answers it only

uses the internal knowledge within your

notion workspace making it far more

personalized than other AI models

trained on publicly available

information it saves so much time and

reduces repetitive questions whether

you're trying to find company policies

or trying to check a project status

instead of messaging your coworker or

your friend to find the answer you need

you can simply ask q and day it will

also give you the link to the relevant

notion page so that you can dive deeper

if you need it to if you're already a

notion AI user you can get started today

with Q&A already in your notion

workspace you can get started with

notion AI for only $10 a month if you're

interested trying out join the weight

list to get Early Access I have my link

in the description below at this point

we should have 10 tasks in our list and

one focus of the day so now out of these

10 tasks

we're going to eliminate five of them

yes you heard it right we're going to

eliminate five of them one thing that I

learned over time is that even though

sometimes I think I have to get this

done today or I'm going to die I do it

the next day or maybe the day after and

it's actually not end of the world in

the beginning you might not be able to

eliminate if you have been

procrastinating for a while and things

piled up but make sure that it's

absolutely must if you can't eliminate

one thing that you can do is that only

to get them done once you accomplish

your top five and also your daily

highlight once you have finished these

then you can work on the remaining tasks

if you skip your daily highlight and

keep focusing on urgent tasks you will

get burned out and you will find

yourself in the same position so it's

actually a non-negotiable for this

method to work I think most of the

productivity methods just doesn't have

the step and this is the most important

step in my opinion at least like for me

at the end of the each day I sometimes

forget it I'm not going to lie but at

the end of each day ideally I'm supposed

to do it and you're supposed to do it is

go through your task list and look at

how many of them you got done so the top

three and the daily focus is a

non-negotiable if you get done your top

three tasks and your daily Focus you're

going to give yourself a tick and if you

couldn't get done your top three tasks

you know your daily Focus these are just

like a set then you give yourself a one

cross and the important thing is

tracking this in a visible position

whether that's a notion template that

you have and where you track it or

whether it's a whiteboard or whether

it's the sticky vidget or what is your

like Apple notes doesn't matter it

should be in a place where you see it

all the time so that your subconsciously

make it sure and make it important that

this actually matters for you because

one actually really important thing I

learned is that out of side out of mind

is so true if I'm not seeing it visually

you know on a whiteboard then I find

forget about it and I never do it so

make sure that every single day you

track it and I think actually doing this

on a whiteboard kind of like becomes a

game and being able to see that first

thing in the morning really motivates me

actually sometimes things don't go well

I mean 90% of the time things will go

well to be

honest but one important thing is that

we never skip 2 days in a row I mean if

something extreme happens obviously you

have all the rights to rest but I'm not

talking about that and you know that

once we have marked our day

the last important step is writing down

in one sentence what went well and what

could have been better this is going to

be the action point for tomorrow and by

looking at this we're going to try to

prevent the same mistake happening maybe

that day you forgot to turn off your

notifications and you got a call from

your friend and you ended up chatting

for 3 hours which I did last week so it

was actually my feedback for a couple of

days ago to the next day you know just

put your phone and do not disturb mod

depending on your life the reason why

you're struggling is going to be

different so we can't act like there is

going to be a one magical method that is

going to like cure it like ha GTD method

cure everything that all the problems

you have in your life like it doesn't

work like that I don't know at least it

does it works like that for me so by

reflecting every single day of like what

went well maybe you went to a cafe and

you were like really able to focus so do

that next day again the same thing by

repeating the things that went well and

by eliminating the things that maybe

didn't go that well we give ourselves

every single day a chance to improve so

Ka by doing this you start to rely on

motivation and discipline less and less

and less and because we gamify this and

we also try to understand our emotions

and behaviors it gives a very high

awareness of your actions it actually

made me realize that I'm a human and I'm

not a robot and and depending on you

know the things that is happening around

me sometimes my motivation and my dry

life flows I learn that and the

important thing is rather than pushing

yourself all the time and telling

yourself like oh you're a loser rather

than doing that understand your

situation adapting to it and knowing

what to do in those scenarios is going

to help you more in the long run if you

like this video and found it helpful I'm

currently working on creating a free

community where I can connect

like-minded people and also add a master

guide maybe a mini course maybe a PDF

who knows about time management for

different reasons today we mainly

covered overwhelm burnout lack of

clarity and luck of fulfillment in

upcoming videos I'm thinking about

covering other areas so if you're

interested let me know in the comments

and see you soon