Stop Wasting Time - 5 Time Management Skills to Master

Summary

In this video, Ali, a former doctor turned entrepreneur, discusses the five key skills for effective time management outside of a 9 to 5 job. He emphasizes the importance of prioritization, setting goals, and using daily and weekly planning to stay focused. Ali also highlights the value of time blocking, improving focus through single-tasking, and the necessity of follow-through to achieve set objectives. Lastly, he touches on energizing work through the 3 Ps: play, power, and people, to ensure that time management leads to a more fulfilling and productive life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ali, a doctor turned entrepreneur, discusses the importance of managing time effectively outside of a 9 to 5 job in his third video of a series.
• 🔑 Prioritization is key to time management; Ali suggests avoiding the phrase 'I don't have time' and instead focusing on what is truly important.
• 🎯 Setting clear goals helps in determining priorities and guiding actions towards achieving them.
• 🗓️ Time blocking is a crucial skill for effective time management, which involves scheduling dedicated time for important tasks in a calendar.
• 🏞️ The 'daily adventure' technique encourages identifying the single most important task of the day and scheduling it, which can make work feel more enjoyable.
• 🤸‍♂️ 'Side quests' are smaller tasks related to health or relationships that complement the main 'adventure' and should also be time blocked.
• 📝 Conducting a weekly review helps in reflecting on the past week and setting priorities for the upcoming week, which can be facilitated through workshops.
• 🧘‍♀️ Focus is a skill that can be improved through practices like single-tasking and avoiding multitasking, leading to less time lost to distractions.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Follow-through is the ability to actually do what you've planned, which is enhanced by creating accountability structures like an accountability buddy.
• 🔋 Energizing work involves making tasks feel more engaging and less draining through the strategies of play, power, and people, as outlined in Ali's book 'Feelgood Productivity'.
• 📚 Ali recommends resources like books on focus and productivity, and his own 'Focus Crash Course' for those looking to improve their time management skills.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video series presented by Ali?

The main theme of the video series is about managing time effectively outside of a 9 to 5 job, covering mindsets, time drains, and key skills for improved time management.

What is the first skill discussed by Ali for effective time management?

The first skill discussed is prioritization, which involves recognizing what is truly important and making time for those activities by setting them as priorities.

Why does Ali suggest avoiding the phrase 'I don't have time'?

Ali suggests avoiding the phrase 'I don't have time' because it's not about the lack of time, but rather about the tasks not being prioritized enough to make time for them.

What is the 'daily adventure' concept introduced by Ali?

The 'daily adventure' is a method where Ali asks himself what the single most important task is for the day, framing it as an adventure to make the work feel good and encouraging finding fun in the task.

How does Ali recommend using a calendar for time management?

Ali recommends using a calendar to block out time for important tasks, both work-related and life-related, ensuring that the time spent is intentional and that the most important activities are prioritized.

What is the 'side quest' concept mentioned by Ali?

The 'side quest' concept involves identifying one or two additional activities, usually related to health or relationships, that Ali aims to accomplish each day, alongside his main 'daily adventure'.

What is the purpose of conducting a weekly review according to Ali?

The purpose of a weekly review is to reflect on the past week's activities and create a set of priorities for the upcoming week, helping to maintain focus and intentionality in time management.

How does Ali define the skill of time blocking?

Time blocking is defined as the skill of allocating specific time slots in one's calendar for important tasks and activities, ensuring that time is used intentionally and efficiently.

What is the 'Focus crash course' mentioned by Ali, and how can viewers access it?

The 'Focus crash course' is a 7-Day email course by Ali that provides principles, strategies, and tools to improve focus. Viewers can access it by signing up at focuscrashcourse.com.

What are the three Ps that Ali suggests to energize work?

The three Ps are Play, Power, and People. These strategies are aimed at making work a source of energy rather than a drain, by incorporating enjoyable elements, leveraging one's strengths, and building positive relationships.

How does Ali describe the skill of follow-through?

Follow-through is described as the ability to actually do what one says they will do. It's a rare skill that involves setting intentions, time blocking for those tasks, and then consistently executing on those tasks when the time comes.

What is the 'unblock method' Ali refers to for combating procrastination?

The 'unblock method' is a three-step process from Ali's book to overcome procrastination: gaining Clarity to overcome uncertainty, finding Courage to overcome fear, and taking action to overcome inertia.

How does Ali suggest finding accountability to improve follow-through?

Ali suggests finding accountability by creating structures such as having an accountability buddy, joining a group with shared commitments, or making public commitments that require consistent action.

What is the significance of the 'Sunday Snippets' email newsletter in Ali's life?

The 'Sunday Snippets' email newsletter is a weekly commitment Ali has made to his subscribers, which has helped him develop the skill of follow-through and maintain consistency in his work, even during times with a full-time job.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Time Management Skills

Ali, a former doctor turned entrepreneur and author, introduces the third video in a series on time management outside of a 9 to 5 job. This video focuses on five key skills for effective time management. The first skill, prioritization, is discussed in depth, emphasizing the importance of recognizing that time constraints are often due to priorities rather than a lack of time itself. Ali provides practical advice on setting goals and using daily adventures and time blocking to improve prioritization. The video also mentions a weekly review process for reflecting on past performance and planning for the future.

05:01

🗓️ Mastering Time Blocking for Better Time Management

The second skill discussed is time blocking, which involves scheduling dedicated time slots for important tasks in a calendar. Ali explains the three levels of time blocking: basic scheduling, daily comprehensive blocking, and the ideal week concept. He argues that time blocking is not restrictive but rather increases freedom by ensuring time for important activities and clarity on when to relax. Ali also emphasizes the importance of single-tasking over multitasking, referencing studies that show the inefficiency of the latter, and suggests experimenting with time blocking to see its benefits.

10:02

🧘‍♂️ Enhancing Focus to Boost Productivity

The third skill is focus, which Ali identifies as a common struggle for many. He suggests that focus is a skill that can be developed through reading relevant literature, such as 'Deep Work' by Cal Newport, and taking part in a free Focus crash course. Ali advocates for single-tasking as the best way to maintain focus and contrasts it with the detrimental effects of multitasking and distractions. He also hints at a potential future video series on the topic, should audience interest be expressed.

15:03

🏋️‍♂️ The Importance of Follow-Through in Time Management

Follow-through, the fourth skill, is about doing what one says they will do. Ali discusses the rarity and value of this skill in both personal and professional settings. He talks about the consequences of failing to follow through on time-blocked activities, such as going to the gym, and how it undermines the intentionality of time management. Ali introduces the 'unblock method' from his book to combat procrastination and emphasizes the role of accountability in ensuring follow-through, suggesting strategies like finding an accountability buddy or making public commitments.

🔋 Energizing Work for Sustainable Time Management

The final skill, energizing work, is about approaching tasks in a way that they become a source of energy rather than a drain. Ali shares his personal experience of feeling drained after work and how he discovered strategies to make work more energizing. He introduces the three Ps: play, power, and people, as key components of his approach, which are detailed in his book 'Feelgood Productivity'. Ali concludes the series by encouraging viewers to apply these skills to make time management more effective and to transform work into an energizing experience.

Keywords

💡Productivity

Productivity refers to the efficiency with which an individual or system accomplishes tasks or goals. In the video's context, it is about being efficient and effective in managing time outside of a 9 to 5 job. The author discusses various skills and strategies to improve productivity, such as prioritization and time blocking, to ensure that time is well-spent on meaningful activities.

💡Prioritization

Prioritization is the process of arranging tasks or goals in order of importance. The video emphasizes the importance of prioritization in time management, suggesting that by focusing on what's truly important, one can better manage their time and energy. The author uses the example of choosing to learn Japanese when time is supposedly scarce, to illustrate how prioritization can change one's perception of available time.

💡Time Drains

Time drains are activities or distractions that consume time without providing significant value or progress towards one's goals. The video mentions the concept from a previous episode, where eliminating time drains can free up more time for productive activities. This concept is central to effective time management.

💡Time Blocking

Time blocking is a time management technique where one schedules specific blocks of time for tasks or activities in a calendar. The video explains that time blocking is crucial for ensuring that important activities are intentionally included in one's daily routine, which helps in managing time more effectively.

💡Daily Adventure

In the video, 'Daily Adventure' is a personal term used by the author to describe the single most important task or activity for the day. It is part of the author's time management strategy to maintain focus and motivation by framing daily tasks as exciting adventures, which can make the work feel more enjoyable and engaging.

💡Focus

Focus is the concentration of attention on a single task or activity. The video discusses the importance of developing the skill of focus to minimize distractions and improve efficiency. It suggests that by practicing single-tasking and avoiding multitasking, one can enhance their ability to focus and thus manage time better.

💡Multitasking

Multitasking is the act of attempting to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. The video points out that multitasking often leads to a loss of productivity and focus, as it can cause distractions and reduce the quality of work. It is presented as an obstacle to effective time management.

💡Follow-Through

Follow-through is the act of persisting in an action or completing a task as intended. The video highlights the rarity and value of this skill, as it is essential for executing planned activities and achieving goals. The author provides examples from the script, such as committing to gym sessions, to illustrate the importance of follow-through in time management.

💡Accountability

Accountability is the state of being responsible for one's actions or decisions and having to report or justify them to others. In the context of the video, creating structures of accountability, such as having an accountability buddy or making public commitments, can help ensure follow-through and improve time management.

💡Energizing Work

Energizing work refers to the concept of making one's tasks or job a source of energy rather than a drain. The video suggests that by incorporating elements such as play, power, and people into one's work, it can become more engaging and less exhausting, which is essential for maintaining productivity and managing time effectively.

💡3 Ps (Play, Power, People)

The '3 Ps' is a concept introduced by the author to describe strategies for making work more energizing. 'Play' refers to incorporating enjoyment into work, 'Power' is about aligning work with one's values and strengths, and 'People' involves working with others in a way that is mutually supportive and motivating. The video uses the 3 Ps as a framework for transforming work into a source of energy, which is integral to effective time management.

Highlights

Ali, a doctor turned entrepreneur, discusses the importance of productivity that feels good in his book 'Feelgood Productivity'.

The video series focuses on managing time outside of a 9 to 5 job, with the third video detailing five key skills for improved time management.

The first skill is prioritization, which involves reframing the common narrative of 'I don't have time' to recognizing what is truly a priority.

Setting goals is essential for effective prioritization, as they provide a roadmap for what is meaningful to achieve.

Ali introduces the 'Daily Adventure' concept, where one identifies the single most important task to accomplish each day.

Time blocking is recommended for important tasks, ensuring they are scheduled and not overlooked.

Side quests are smaller, meaningful tasks that complement the main daily adventure, often related to health or relationships.

Conducting a weekly review is a strategy to reflect on past performance and set priorities for the upcoming week.

Skillshare is highlighted as a platform for learning various skills, including productivity, with Ali's classes among the offerings.

Time blocking is a crucial skill for managing time effectively, not just in work but in all areas of life.

The concept of 'ideal week' is mentioned as an advanced time management tactic, though not detailed in this video.

Focusing is identified as a skill that can be improved through strategies like single-tasking and avoiding multitasking.

Ali recommends resources such as 'Deep Work' by Cal Newport and 'Flow' by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to improve focus.

Follow-through is the ability to do what one says they will do, a rare but impactful skill for time management.

Accountability mechanisms like an accountability buddy or public commitments can enhance the skill of follow-through.

The final skill discussed is energizing work through the 3 Ps: play, power, and people, to make work a source of energy.

Ali shares personal experiences and strategies for maintaining consistent productivity, even with a demanding 9 to 5 job.

Transcripts

hey friends welcome back to the channel

if you're new here my name is Ali I'm a

doctor turned entrepreneur and I'm the

author of Feelgood productivity which is

a book about how to be productive in a

way that actually feels good and this is

the third video in a three-pot video

series about how to manage your time

outside of your 9 to5 in video number

one we talked about the five mindsets

that it's useful to have when it comes

to managing your time and in video

number two we talked about the five time

drains things that if you can eliminate

from your life you're going to free up

gallons and gallons of more time and in

this final video in the series we're

going to be talking about the five key

skills that it's really useful to

develop or to work on developing that

will massively improve your time

management abilities and therefore just

free up your time and your energy and

your attention to focus on what's truly

important in your life skill number one

is the skill of prioritization now one

of the most common things I hear from

people who have N9 to- FS whether

they're jobs or whether they students is

I don't have time to do x and x might be

take care of my health spend time with

my family start a YouTube channel start

my business it might be any of those

things but there's this common Narrative

of I don't have the time and one of the

key breakthroughs in my own ability to

manage my time came when I I stopped

using the phrase I don't have time in

fact I think no one should ever use the

phrase I don't have time because it's

never that we don't have the time it's

always that the thing that we are trying

to do is not enough of a priority like

you might right now feel like oh you

know I really want to learn Japanese but

I don't have the time okay but if

someone put a gun to your head and your

family's head and said you had to make

the time to study Japanese for an hour a

day you'd find the time right you know

it's it's just a matter of priorities

it's not that we don't have the time

it's just that it's not yet a priority

and that is actually totally okay I'm

not saying in fact the whole point of

the series is not so you can squeeze

more stuff into your time is that you

can do more of the things that are truly

important to you so it's really all

about prioritization what are the things

that are actually meaningful for you to

do outside of your 9 to5 and even within

your 9 to5 and therefore how do you make

the time to do those things all right so

let's talk about some practical ways for

getting better at the skill of

prioritization firstly it's really

really helpful to have some goals when

you have goals then you kind of have a

sense of where you want to go in your

work and also outside of your work and

therefore your priorities and the things

that you're spending your time on are

sort of reverse engineered based on what

the goals are if for example like me

your goal is to be financially free and

to have I don't know a few thousand a

month passive income that's a clear goal

and it leads to a very different set of

priorities compared to if your goal is

to I don't know learn Japanese and

become fluent within 2 years that leads

to a very different set of activities so

knowing what you actually want to do and

turning it into goals is ridiculously

important for this and we actually have

a whole three-part video series on the

channel it'll be linked down below

that's all about how to figure out what

you actually want and turn it into

tangible goals but once you've got the

goals how do you then prioritize the

actions that are going to help you get

to those goals and that is where a few

different methods come in the first one

and I think the easiest one to implement

is something that I call the daily

Adventure at the start of every day I

will ask myself what is today's

adventure going to be now basically what

I'm asking myself here is today what is

the single most important thing that I

want to get done and sometimes this is

work related but often it's life related

but I phrase it as an adventure because

the whole philosophy of field good

productivity is that we're more

productive and more effective and more

creative and less stressed when we can

find a way to make our work feel good

and just framing it as an adventure

encourages us to find the fun in the

thing that we're trying to do so for

example back when I had a real 9 to-5

job my daily Adventure in those contexts

would have been cool I'm going to go to

work during the day but then I'm going

to spend 2 hours editing my YouTube

video in the evening and then once I

figured out what the adventure is the

next step is to just put a Time block

for that Adventure in the calendar again

I'm always amazed you know when I do

talks and stuff and people asking me

about time management how few people

consistently put time blocks for stuff

that's important to them in their

calendar the other tool I find really

helpful for prioritization is in the

morning when I ask myself what's my

daily Adventure I also ask myself what

side quests am I going to work on today

and usually I like to have like one or

two usually in health or relationships

cuz my adventure is usually work related

and so a side quest might be for example

to call my grandma or to go to the gym

or to get my 10,000 steps in and again I

will do my best wherever possible to

time block that in the calendar because

if it's not in the calendar it's not

going to get done and then the third

thing that you can really do to boost

your skill of prioritization is to

conduct a weekly review now basically

this involves just spending 20 minutes

every week reflecting on how your

previous week went and then creating a

set of priorities for the next week now

if you're interested I actually run

completely free weekly review workshops

every single week it's on Sundays at

like 400 p.m. UK time these days I'll

put a link down below if you want to

join we usually have a few hundred

people there and I take you through a

facilitated weekly review it's good for

me because then I actually do my weekly

review and people who attend the

sessions love it as well because it

makes them do their weekly reviews but

that'll be linked down below if you want

to check it out now when it comes to the

skill of time management and

productivity there is so much more I

could say I've literally written a whole

book about it that is sort of outside

the scope of this video but if you're

interested in finding out more you

should definitely check out my classes

over on skillshare who are very kindly

sponsoring this video skillshare is the

largest online learning community for

creatives with thousands of classes led

by industry professionals across film

and media and editing and productivity

and freelance and Design and so much

more and I've personally been teaching

on skillshare since 2019 and I've got 10

classes that are currently on skillshare

three of which are themed around the

idea of productivity one of them is

about the pilot plane and the engineer

one of them is about the tools of

productivity and one of them is about

productivity specifically for creators

so if you've got an 95 for example but

you also want to start a creative side

hustle on the side and you should

definitely check out those classes but

with all these different classes and so

much Choice over in skillshare it can

sometimes be difficult knowing where to

start which is why there are these

various learning paths so when it comes

to productivity I've got my own

productivity learning path which you can

just of ort of take the classes in order

and they will teach you the principles

of productivity in an order that makes

sense and they've also got a really good

learning path all about growing a

creative business which has six classes

and over 7 hours of content in it it

focuses on brainstorming your business

building a strategy defining your brand

and audience and marketing yourself

online it's super comprehensive and I

wish I'd had something like this when I

first gotten started with my own

creative Journey cuz I was just making

up a lot of stuff as I went along and

making so many mistakes along the way if

you're interested in checking out any of

my classes on productivity or anything

else that skillshare has to offer then

do please check out the link in the

video description and the first 500

people use that link will get a

completely free one- month trial to

skillshare and during that time you can

watch any or all of these classes to

your heart's content so thank you so

much skillshare for sponsoring this

video and let's get back to it all right

skill number two to get way better at if

you want to maximize your ability to

manage your time is time blocking we

alluded to this in skill number one

basically just being able to put blocks

of time in your calendar for everything

that's important to you this is a

ridiculously valuable skill people who

work jobs that rely on a calendar often

will develop the skill in their day job

but even then we often tend to use

calendar blocking just within our work

and not within our life but actually the

skill of just creating blocks of time in

our calendar for what's important to us

is a ridiculously valuable skill for

anything we do whether it's in our

health or our relationships or even in

our relaxation time now there's three

different levels when it comes to time

blocking level one is when you have a

calendar and you just put blocks of time

for like doctor's appointments or

remember to file the taxes you know

little things like that hopefully

everyone watching this video is at least

at level one cuz if you're trying to

remember that stuff in your head again

like your brain is not a place to store

information like that it's a place to

have creative insights and thoughts and

feelings and all of that fun stuff not a

place to store having to remember

remember when your doctor's appointment

is but then level two of calendar

blocking is when you graduate from just

blocking specific appointments in your

calendar to now blocking everything in

your calendar on a day-to-day basis so

for example when I had a 9 to5 and still

to this day because calendar blocking is

a ridiculously useful skill I would

block out all of the times I had to go

to work I would block out the commute to

work because then I know what time I

need to wake up I would block out the

commute back from work because then I

know what time I'm going to get home I

would block out the time where I intend

to be editing a video I'd block out the

time where I was intending to go to the

gym either before or after work and

anytime I'd get an invitation for

anything even V social related it would

go in the calendar if I was planning to

visit my mom in the weekend it would be

in the calendar because now when I look

at my calendar I have a map of what my

time looks like and then I can make sure

that the stuff I'm actually doing with

that time is intentional now whenever I

mention time blocking there are always

people that think well this sounds like

a terrible way to live life because

where's the freedom where's the joy and

I would say that it actually increases

freedom and increases Joy because

firstly when you time block everything

it helps you know with certainty that

okay at least I've made time for the

most important things like my health my

work and my relationships and it also

means you then see where are the free

blocks of time that you can actually

intentionally relax and use for joy and

use for other Hobbies or things that

you're interested in and if we don't do

the time blocking stuff it becomes very

easy to just default to scrolling Tik

Tok or scrolling Instagram and most

people wouldn't say that that's a recipe

for a relaxing life or a life well lived

so I'm massively bullish on this again

you know anything in my videos this is

not life advice like I'm not trying to

tell you what to do I'm just saying

what's worked for me and what other

people have found useful so think of it

as an experiment experiment with time

blocking for a week or two or three and

see how it feels for you see how it

feels to block out a time in your

calendar to read or to play the guitar

or to learn Japanese or to call your

grandma or whatever the thing might be

and see if it doesn't improve your

abilities of time management it

massively works for me it works for most

people who I coached through the process

and I think it can work for you as well

there is in fact a third level of time

blocking and that is something called

the ideal week that's also a really cool

time management tactic we're not going

to talk about it in this video because

that I've explained in detail in my

Trident Method video for managing my

time that'll be linked up there and down

there if you want to check it out all

righty skill number three that's really

important to develop if we want to get

better at time management is the skill

of focus now when I pull my audience in

surveys and in talks I give in real life

one of the most common things that

people struggle with is focus just

actually sitting down and doing the

thing and not getting distracted from

the phone or the notifications or social

media or anything else and like with

almost everything in life focus is a

skill that can be honed and learned and

developed and sometimes I'll do q&as and

stuff and when people will be asking me

like have you got any tips for focusing

I feel like I really struggle to focus I

will often ask them okay you feel like

you're struggling with the skill of

focus what have you tried to improve

your focus and they're like um I don't

know I just sort of really struggle with

it okay have you read any books about it

have you read deep work by Cal Newport

or the book flow by Mii chmi who was a

psychologist who discovered the concept

of flow or the art of focus which is a

new book by Dan Co have you tried

reading anything about the topic have

you tried listening to podcasts about it

and like most people who struggle with

Focus which is basically everyone

haven't actively tried to develop the

ability to focus so firstly if you want

to develop the ability of focus firstly

I'd recommend reading those books about

it secondly you should totally sign up

to my completely free Focus crash course

just go to focus crash course.com this

is a 7-Day email course where every day

I'll email you a bunch of principles and

strategies and tools that you can use to

improve your focus but really all of

this stuff basically comes down to the

core principle of single tasking it is

not about trying to do multiple things

at once we all Focus best when we're

just doing one thing at a time and once

we've done that thing then we do

something else and there's data

apparently from McKenzie and company

that workers in the US lose 25 to 27% of

their work days to multitasking and to

distractions and if you imagine that's

like in a career which it might be 40

years long you losing a Whole Decade to

distractions and the ability to just not

focus and the solution to a lot of this

stuff is single tasking but you can read

a lot more about it in these books cuz

it's kind of outside the scope of this

video but if you guys are interested

leave a comment down below and we can

absolutely do a three- part video series

on the Art and Science of actually how

to focus and get things done okay so

what does Focus have to do with managing

your time well Focus has everything to

do with managing your time because it's

focus at work during your 9to 5 and also

Focus outside of work so if you can

focus during your 9 to 5 you'll end up

getting a lot more done in that time and

hopefully then your work will not bleed

into the evenings and the weekends I

found this when I was working as a

doctor and also when I was a medical

student when I gained the ability to

focus and actually get through my

studies during the workday it meant I

didn't have to study so hard in the

evenings because I was able to focus and

do the work during the workday it meant

that I wasn't spending weekends and

evenings having to update my portfolio

or having to worry about publications CU

a lot of that stuff was stuff I could

get done during the workday thanks to my

ability to focus the other thing as well

is that outside of the workday the

ability to focus means that when you

intend to do something when you set a

block of time in your calendar to for

example play the guitar or to for

example go to the gym when you're doing

the thing you're actually just doing the

thing you're focusing on that one task

that you have intended to do whereas the

default for most people is is like you

know you might start I don't know maybe

you've intended to watch a show on

Netflix or something but you like start

watching the show and you're like then

your brain disengages and you go to Tik

Tok then you go to Instagram then you go

to Twitter then you check the phrase and

you continue watching the show and it

doesn't end up being a particularly

relaxing or energizing experience even

though it might have been had we

actually just been able to sit there and

focus on the thing that we were trying

to do and that brings us on nicely to

skill number four which is follow

through follow through is the skill of

actually doing what you say you're going

to do oh my goodness this is such a rare

skill to find people it's a surprisingly

rare skill in the workplace from the

various managers and leaders I've spoken

to now what's the relevance of this to

let's say you've got a 9 to5 and you're

struggling to manage your time outside

of that well the skill is that if for

example you have time blocked certain

things let's say you've decided you want

to hit the gym three times a week

because that's really important for you

to hit your health goals to live a life

that you love and you've time blocked it

you know after work before work after

work now it's this case of like you have

said you're going to go to the gym

between let's say 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. on

a Monday Wednesday and Friday and now

5:00 p.m. rolls around on a Monday and

you're just wrapping up work and now you

could go to the gym but dot dot dott dot

dot dot you start to procrastinate you

start to say oh no it's kind of cold

outside oh I don't really want to do

that I know it's in the calendar I know

I've said I would do it I know I've told

myself I would do it I know it's

important for me to do the thing but

something happens and you get derailed

and you start scrolling Tik Tok or

Instagram instead because you don't

really want to do the thing that you

said you would do this is terrible when

it comes to time management because the

whole philosophy of time management is

kind of based around this idea of

intentionality and then time blocking be

intentional about what you want to do

and then put time for it in the calendar

and then when it comes round to the

thing actually do the thing and I've got

a whole method for combating

procrastination that's in the middle

three chapters of my book it's called

the unblock method it's about getting

Clarity getting courage and then getting

started Clarity is to overcome the

Blocker of uncertainty we don't quite

know exactly what we're doing courage is

to overcome the Blocker of fear because

usually fear holds us back from actually

doing stuff especially if involves

discomfort in some way and then the

Blocker of inertia which is where you

know it just takes a little bit of a

push a little bit of a dose of

discipline dare I say to just get

started with the task again this is a

whole thing how to be procrastination as

sort of somewhat outside the scope of

this video but I'll link a video up

there and down here of a previous video

I've done about procrastination and if

you haven't yet read my book or listened

to the Audi book you may want to check

it out but the other really good

strategy when it comes to actually

developing the skill of follow-through

is finding accountability if for example

you have an accountability buddy if

you've got a friend that you go to the

gym with if you maybe get a personal

trainer if you maybe have a group of

friends that you know you make this

packed with each other that you're all

going to do this specific thing you're

all going to I don't know publish a

video a week on your YouTube channel or

you're all going to study for an hour a

day for your exam if you can create

those sorts of structures in your life

that give you accountability it means

you're a lot less reliant on your own

willpower motivation discipline whatever

you want to use you're a lot less

reliant on that coming purely from

within and you're tapping into the power

of the people around you this also works

for public commitments for example like

for me you know for the last six plus

years 6 years I've been writing a weekly

email newsletter it's called Sunday

Snippets you can check it out al.com

Sunday where every email I write a

newsletter and I send it to my fans

subscribers followers whatever word you

want to use but I've made that Weekly

commitment and therefore I do it every

week and I've done it pretty much every

Sunday for the last 6 years and that's

pretty cool I've intended to do a thing

and then I've done the thing and there

were certainly times when I had a 9: to

5 you know I'd be finished up with a

shift on a Sunday night I'd get home at

11:00 p.m. I'd start falling asleep and

then I'd remember oh crap it's Sunday I

haven't written my email yet and I'd get

up I'd get myself out of bed I'd grab

the iPad and in bed I'd sort of bang it

out and be like oh guys really sorry and

it would take me 20 minutes to write it

and then I would send it and I would

send it because I made that public

commitment I had the accountability of

like these s of email subscribers and

even though no one really cares no one

would have cared if I skipped a week I

cared and it would have been so easy for

me to skip a week and then another one

and then another one and then another

one but I managed to stay broadly

consistent with writing my Sunday

Snippets email every single week every

Sunday for 6 years for three of them I

had a full-time job four of them

actually and I was able to do that

because of the accountability so my

question for you would be with that

thing that you're struggling with

whatever it is what is an accountability

mechanism you can add to it to make it

much easier for yourself to follow

through and to do the thing that you say

you were going to do all right the final

skill to develop to get really good at

time management is actually the skill of

energizing your work what I mean by this

is that as you get good at time

management you'll realize that often

time is not not actually the bottleneck

the bottleneck is energy like when I had

a 9 to5 job it wasn't really 9 to5 it

was more like 7 till 8 or 7 till 6 um

but when I had a real job for the first

few months of the job I was actually

pretty miserable because I'd get home

from work and I would feel completely

drained I would feel as if I don't have

the energy to do the things I actually

want to do sure I can be as intentional

as I like about all this stuff and time

block you I was good at time management

but I just didn't have the energy and it

took me a little while it was a

Christmas day where I kind of it all

came to a head but I realized over time

that I could choose to approach my work

in a way that made it much more

energizing there are three strategies

for that the three PS play power and

people now this is the entire philosophy

of my book field of productivity I've

written literally a whole book about how

to make your work into a source of

energy and if you're interested in

hearing more about this you should check

out this video over here which kind of

talks about my struggle when I had a 9

to5 when I had a real job with this

whole energy stuff and the solution that

I found to the problem and how I

Incorporated these 3ps play power in

people to make my work feel good and to

turn it into a source of energy so that

is a video that's going to be right here

thank you so much for watching I hope

you enjoyed the series and I'll see you

in the next video you bye-bye