We are all so overwhelmed by the current situation during this pandemic that most of the times emotions and stress drive our day. With these challenging times, our routines have gone for a toss. Working from home has actually changed the perspective with which we used to see through the day. During the initial days, when the Lockdown was very severe, procuring ration for the house was the most important agenda. But over a period of last 2-3 months, most of us have accepted this as new normal. When things are not planned during the day and we see the day through on its own, it’s basically an auto-pilot mode on which we are running. This needs to be changed and stopped if we want to create some value for ourselves and for others.
This calls for a creation of a system which can help us steer through the day more productively. I faced this challenge mainly on 4 fronts: as a father, as a husband, as a Government employee and as a Boss to my immediate staff. Then I sat sown one day to reflect upon what I was doing, what were my plans for the coming months and how do I intend to achieve them. I realized the importance of solitude. It’s so vital to be on your own at times doing the stuff that you like, planning your calendar and carving your niche day by day.
I have started using the TODOIST app which is keeping me on my toes every day in and out. It has driven me to do the meticulous planning. And accordingly, I have created a system of my own which works for me. Today, being a Sunday, June 14, 2020, is my Review Day and a planning day for the upcoming week. This is really helping me populate my calendar for the coming week so that I am not lost during the week searching for the stuff I need to do as now I already know what are my high priority jobs which needs to be accomplished beforehand. Populating your calendar is such an important concept. Jot down the important areas of your life where you want to work. The starting point can be your major goals. Then they can further be divided into smaller bit by bit achievable goals which can be spread out over the weekdays setting different levels of priorities. This is a discipline I really feel we all as professionals or students need to inculcate. This ensures that we are not driving our life in an autopilot mode and accepting what comes as it is. Personal Discipline is a muscle. The more you stretch it, the stronger it grows.
Further, I have realized the importance of using FEEDLY app. This brings to you the feeds of the websites that you have subscribed to. You need not visit those pages. Whenever a new article is published, you get intimated and updated accordingly. This is such a great productivity tool.
I have my major feeds in Feedly, for instance, Fitness, Parenting, Editorials, Photography, Candlesticks, Relationships, Transfer Pricing, Productivity etc. What I do is I spread these feeds over the coming week and dedicate one hour during a day for that particular feed. For e.g., Monday is my day to read the Editorial feed. Here, I read all the major articles of the newspapers I have subscribed to and grab the ideas from therein.
Also important is to use the EVERNOTE app along with it. Its primarily a note making app. So, while reading, if I come across something interesting grabbing my attention, I don’t waste time clipping it to the relevant notebook in Evernote. Likewise, Tuesdays dedicated for Parenting, Wednesdays dedicated for Stock Market Candlestick charts etc.
Recently, I have also drawn a list of online tutorials which I need to study. This is such an important area which many of us may not delve into. This may include productivity masterclass, Creative writing, photography tutorials, MS Excel ninja, Transfer Pricing Webinars etc. You can cover up the areas wherein you are interested in.
This creation of a system will help us lead a more meaningful, productive and energy driven life. It’s all a game of will power. World class will power is not an inborn strength, but a skill developed through relentless practice.
Cheers!
