I am often asked for advice on productivity. People want to know how I get things done.
The truth is I am not well organized, I don’t use any productivity tools.
I work hard but I don’t work all of the time. I have a decent work life balance.
My secret, if I have one, is routine.
I try to do the same things at the same times every day or every week.
Some examples:
– I like to meditate first thing after I wake up.
– I like to handle personal financial matters on Saturday mornings (something I learned from my Dad).
– I need to blog before I leave home or I have a hard time getting that done.
– I work out before breakfast.
When I stick to my routine, I seem to be able to get a lot done.
When I get out of my routine, things fall apart quickly. It is like dominoes. One falls down and knocks down all of the others.
There are challenges with relying on routine. Lots of traveling, for example, makes it hard to stay in a routine.
But I have not found any organizing principle more powerful than routines and I try to apply them to as much of my life as I can.
