Efficiency Distilled

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nvanprooyen

nvanprooyen

Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat
Dec 8, 2008
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So most of us (the successful ones anyways) work our asses off. 10 hour days are the norm, 16+ aren't uncommon. Weekends included. I've personally been keeping up this pace for a few years.

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about how to get more out of that at a minimum...or ideally get the same amount of stuff done in 8-10 and have some quality of life on top of it all. My recently born daughter probably has a lot to do with it.

So the question is this...have any of you guys thought about this? And have you found any techniques that have been successful for you?

Me personally - I've started with the obvious stuff:

1) Cutting back on WF, other forums, blogs & reading in general. I read in the morning and at night for no more than 30 mins each session. This is a tough one, I love absorbing new ideas and information.

2) Checking my email at a set schedule throughout the day so I'm not distracted.

3) Planning the next day with a checklist the previous day so I have a set record of goals to measure myself against.

In addition, I'm thinking about implementing sprints - work completely focused for no more than 2-3 hours and then do something away from the computer for like 30 mins or so, to gain a little clarity. Come back and hit it hard as hell again. Also thinking about throwing one big break in there in the middle of the day for an hour / hour and a half or something, go to the gym, do some shit around the house...whatever. The goal being, work less hours, and be more effective than working 16 hrs a day.

Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?
 


Here's my tip:

I NEVER ANSWER FUCKING EMAILS! Unless it's VERY VERY important. This probably saves me thousands of hours in the long run.
 
If there are websites you absolutely have to keep track of, for work or for sanity (an important IM/AM/SEO blog, a favorite webcomic, etc) use an RSS reader like FeedDemon. I save so many hours a week not having to check sites manually for updates.

I hate multitasking because I have to adjust my mindset to switch gears, and then switch back. It's possible, just not efficient.

One thing I do is I keep a notebook -- steno pad, 6"x9" -- for every project, or category. If you get interrupted a lot, write things down so you don't forget and have to figure out where you were.
 
Good tips. I started using Newsgator awhile ago, and classified my feeds on a scale between "must read" and "fucking off / guilty pleasures".

Also, while I'm out, I started carrying around 2 of those tiny notebooks in pocket (the real small ones). One for ideas, and and another for task related / shit I actually have to execute on. If I think of something, I quickly make a few notes in the appropriate notebook.
 
Hire and outsource 90% of the work you do realistically what you do can be replicated by an employee be "business owner" not an entrepreneur there is a BIG difference until its realized through hiring people you will always be a slave.
 
Four Hour Work Week - Tim Ferriss

You may not agree with everything he has to say, but the guy has some solid stuff on outsourcing. Places to start at least.
 
Set aside blocks of time. Don't keep going till you finish the task. Actually schedule a break with some leisure activity, because if you're not feeling relaxed, you're making little screw ups all over the place.

And if your girlfriend is over or you live with them, properly log out of your desktop if you're leaving the room. They'll accidentally trash something really important.
 
I do well working off lists ala David Allen and his book "Getting Things Done." Outsourcing and prioritizing tasks is also really helpful.
 
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