Meta Thoughts on Productivity

I’ve been thinking alot recently about productivity and getting work done, in general. I’ve read a number of books and blog posts, listened to podcasts and watched youtube videos on the subject. I’d say I know a few tips and tricks, strategies and what not. But I’ve also realized I’ve gotten absolutely no work done, besides learning how to get work done. A little bit of a paradox I would say.

The more I’ve thought about this, the more I’ve realized that I’ve been studying what could be considered the “micro”. Which, although potentially useful, particularly if you’re looking to maximize productivity, as in, you’re already a somewhat productive person. I’ve realized that I, and probably alot of people out there, need to focus more on the “macro”. By that, I mean, actually starting and doing work. These productivity tips and strategies don’t work if you’re not actually doing work already.

So in my case, I’ve realized I need to actually start doing work, and more specifically in my life, doing homework and studying, since I’m in school currently. This led me to think about: why am I not currently doing that? Well fact is, homework and studying sucks. I’d say I’m a fairly smart person and things come quickly to me, so I often feel the need to not have to do homework or study because “this seems easy!” But obviously, exam time comes around and although I pass, sometimes barely, my marks don’t reflect that “this was easy!” Like a lot of students, new terms start and I say to myself, “I’m going to stay on top of my homework this term!” which, I actually said about a week ago and well, here I am! Not doing that.

While I was sitting around today, not doing anything, just thinking (highly recommend to do, by the way) and I had the epiphany I’m writing about now. The most important “productivity tip” there is, is to just start. I related this to a couple books and quotes, notably “Zero to One” by Peter Thiel, “Eat that frog” by Brian Tracy and the quotes “embrace the suck” by Nick Bare and I couldn’t remember this last one but it’s something like “good things aren’t easy and easy things aren’t good”. These two books and two quotes are all providing a similar message, in my mind.

Zero to One is saying, to me, you’re either on or your off, you’re working or you’re not, you’re making progress or you’re not, you’re achieving your goals or you’re not, etc. I realized what I have been doing is just blowing smoke, I wasn’t on. I maybe had the illusion of being on, but I wasn’t working on what was important.

Eat that Frog talks about doing things you don’t want to, doing the things that are hard and how you just have to do them. Seriously, if you don’t do them… then what? They don’t get done and you don’t go anywhere.

Nick Bare is a youtube fitness personality and supplement company owner, also former military. He’s often said while in the military he had to some crazy things, things that suck and were terrible for whatever reason. Him and his platoon didn’t have any other choice than to “embrace the suck.” Things are going to suck, embrace it, do them.

This last quote I’m thinking of but can’t exactly remember is basically saying, all these dreams and aspirations I have, you have, are not just going to land in your lap, they’re not going to come easy. It’s going to be hard. There is no way around it. So, do the hard things or don’t, it’s your choice. But whatever you choose, you’re going to live with the outcome.

I can add one more thing, it’s that you need to know what’s important or I should say, why it’s important. In my case, with school, well, I want to graduate at the very least. Failing classes or just getting by could equal any or all of the following: not graduating, increased costs, longer time in school, more stress. I don’t want any of that. School is my what, graduating is the why, doing homework and studying is the how. So, I just need to do it.