You know that feeling when you’re expecting guests? You tidy up, but you don’t go overboard. You make sure there’s no underwear on the coffee table, but you don’t alphabetize your spice rack. That’s exactly how I want you to think about productivity. After years of teaching people how to get more of the right stuff done, I’ve noticed something interesting: There’s a sweet spot between chaos and over-organization. I call it your “minimum viable organization”. Some structure is good. Having a few well-chosen apps, a folder system that makes sense, even some color-coding (unless you’re color blind like me) can be incredibly helpful. But—and this is the key—only if it’s actually helping you get stuff done. The trick is to find that Goldilocks zone: not too much, not too little, but just right. I’ve seen students transform their productivity with a simple folder structure and a couple of apps. But I’ve also seen people get so bogged down in creating the “perfect” system that they never actually use it. So here’s my challenge to you this week: Take a look at your productivity setup. Ask yourself:
The goal isn’t to have the most intricate system—it’s to have one that works for you and keeps you moving forward. Stay productive (in just the right amount), — Peter P.S. Want to dive deeper into finding your productivity sweet spot? Check out Productivity 101, if you haven’t already. |
Hi, I’m Peter from Amsterdam. I’ll help you get organized and be more productive. Every Sunday, I send a productivity-themed newsletter to 10,000 people. Join us!
I hope you’re taking the time each day to make a to-do list. If you’re not, your to-do list will arbitrarily assemble itself from incoming emails, meetings others schedule for you, and random thoughts. Instead, make your own to-do list. That way, you’re in charge of what’s a priority. Feeling overwhelmed is one of the great challenges of our time. There’s so much to do and so much to take care of. But overwhelm is a funny thing… It’s possible to accomplish exactly the same amount of work, but...
If you’re ambitious, you need a personal productivity system. Or a personal assistant—but not everyone likes someone hovering around them all day long. So what should your personal productivity system consist of? At least these 3 apps: First, a task manager to capture to-dos and organize them. It’s your central source of truth of what you need to do. The task manager helps you to be proactive about what receives your attention. It lets you prioritize day to day. And it makes sure you don’t...
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