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!
The Goldilocks zone of productivity (not too much, not too little)
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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. |
Peter Akkies
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!
Earlier today I was on a call with a group of people who enrolled in one of my live programs. We had a fascinating discussion about people who seem to have it all together. And in particular about people who adhere to rigid weekly schedules that make it seem like they have time for absolutely everything. Here’s one example: (And it is just an example. It doesn’t matter whose schedule this is. This person actually has some great ideas.) What matters is that this is productivity porn. When you...
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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...