Showing posts with label productivity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label productivity. Show all posts

Early Book Review: Timeboxing: The Power of Doing One Thing at a Time by Marc Zao-Sanders

Timeboxing: The Power of Doing One Thing at a Time by Marc Zao-Sanders is a non fiction read written to help readers master the practice of choosing one thing to do, when to do it, and getting it done. It is currently scheduled for release on March 18 2024.

Every day, a billion knowledge workers wake up, gravitate towards a pixelated screen and process information for eight hours or more, facing an endless and bewildering array of work and life choices. This book is a comprehensive guide to carefully and intentionally selecting what to do, specifying start and finish times, focusing solely on that single activity, and getting it done to an acceptable standard within that timeframe. This is the fundamental, transcendent time-management practice; countless luminaries, from Carl Jung and Albert Einstein to Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, have employed some form of it in their daily lives. Zao-Sanders provides an informative and accessible look at every aspect of this revolutionary method– how to do it consistently, and how to do it well. This pragmatic practice of intentional daily activity has been proven to yield what almost every human being wants most: a chosen, cherished life.

Timeboxing is a time and life management tool that can work wonderfully for many people. Many of us already do aspects of the practice to a certain extent- and this book explains how and why we might want to expand on it. I like the idea of it, and think and can be a very valuable tool. The author also touches on some of the problems and solutions for things like distractions, procrastination, and poorly chosen tasks for multi tasking. I do like that he emphasized to do what works for your work style and life. This type of tool is great fore many people in reasonably predictable positions or lifestyles. However, those of us in positions where our workday is more dependent on other people's actions (just about any service or customer facing position) would find this type of scheduling very difficult in practice. That being said, the tips and tools shared certainly were helpful when it came to the more predictable parts of life like groceries, taxes, bills, and finally calling to schedule that thing you have been putting off.

 

Audiobook Review: Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You by Ali Abdaal

The audiobook Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You has been written by and narrated by Ali Abdaal. We think that productivity is all about hard work. That the road to success is lined with endless frustration and toil. But what if there’s another way? Dr Ali Abdaal – the world's most-followed productivity expert – has uncovered an easier and happier path to success. Drawing on decades of psychological research, he has found that the secret to productivity and success isn't grind – it's feeling good. If you can make your work feel good, then productivity takes care of itself. In this audiobook, Ali reveals how the science of feel-good productivity can transform your life. He introduces the three hidden "energizers" that underpin enjoyable productivity, the three "blockers" we must overcome to beat procrastination, and the three "sustainers" that prevent burnout and help us achieve lasting fulfillment. He recounts the inspiring stories of founders, Olympians, and Nobel-winning scientists who embody the principles of Feel-Good Productivity. And he introduces the simple, actionable changes that you can use to achieve more and live better, starting today.

Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You is an interesting and informative book. Abdaal does a great job narrating, and I think that only enhances the audiobook format of this read. I thought that he described the problems that many of up face with motivation and productivity and offers information to help us understand the science and feelings that sometimes make us get in our own way. I thought the examples and information was well chosen and explained, getting the details and inherent nature of them across without getting too technical or dry. The suggestions and tools Abdaal offers are manageable, and I like that he mentions several times that not every tool or method will work for everyone. However, the awareness, effort, and intent can all help us work towards happier and more fulfilling lives.