One insanely productive day! Here are the six lessons I learned.

Last Friday, I started the day with a slight concern that it was going to be one of those days when you ask yourself at the end of the day:

“What did I actually accomplish today?”

I woke up a bit restless.

I knew I had set pretty aggressive goals for the day. I also knew it was Friday, and I had already done pretty well for the weak.

A lazy day was tempting. 

A day full of procrastination, unproductive screen time, coffees I didn’t necessarily need, and finding reasons to do stuff that was only masking what I really needed to do.

As it turned out, it became an insanely productive day, including over-delivering on the expectations I had set for myself that day.

Here are the six lessons I learned that day.

1. Any day can be productive, even a Friday.

I don’t think I’m wrong when I say that Fridays are the least productive working days in the western hemisphere. That was my mindset going in. But that shouldn’t stop you from proving your mind wrong.

2. How you wake up is not a sign of the quality of the day ahead.

Yes, I woke up restless and perhaps a bit lazy. But with the right mindset and tools, you can make any day insanely productive.

3. Use the natural energy flow of the day.

Most people have the most energy in the morning, a dip after lunch, and a second wind later in the day. If you follow that logic, then tackle your biggest challenge first. When you’ve accomplished that big, tedious, or time-consuming task first, you gain energy for the remainder of the day.

4. Include stuff you like to do.

Your biggest challenge may be different from the one you love to do but have to do. So, make sure to include some work that you love to do. It’s easier to be highly productive when you know there’s stuff coming you can look forward to.

5. Break tasks up into smaller pieces of 50′.

I break all my tasks into smaller chunks of 50′. Then I take a 10-minute break to stretch my legs, have tea or coffee, finish a quick task, or just rest. Since I started doing this, I have enjoyed my working days more.

6. Use Forest focus.

Forest is a fun habit tracker that plants a tree when you accomplish a task and can stay away from your phone. Phones are a huge distraction, and I don’t believe in multitasking. 

The opinions differ, but everyone is aligned that you lose time and focus whenever you let yourself be distracted. I use simple, fun tools to be my buddy and help me accomplish my tasks. Since I started doing this, my screen time, i.e., doing stuff on my phone that’s a distraction, significantly decreased.

Those are the six lessons I gained from one insanely productive Friday.

Yes, some of the lessons I was already aware of before, but once I put them together, it made sense.

I hope you’ll be able to benefit from this.

Your turn: how to plan your insanely productive day?

Do more of what makes you happy!

Erikjan