UPDATED JANUARY 6TH, 2021
I created this page to help me allocate the right amount of time and energy to what I need and want to do. I will update this page regularly as I fine-tune its mandate. I’m striving for better harmony in my life and taking on too much puts the focus I need to work on the above in jeopardy.
I’m also focused on deep work (as described by my friend Cal Newport) going forward, which lines up well with my personal productivity philosophy. I’ll be writing more about this in my weekly ATTN: email and Medium.
MY DAILY THEMES
Here are my Daily Themes. Every day has one so that it triggers my overarching focus for that particular day of the week. My Daily Themes are defined as follows (with my week starting on Sunday), with dates established for those themes in parentheses:
- SUNDAY: Planning/Family Day (April 2020)
- MONDAY: Levelling Day (November 2019)
- TUESDAY: Looking Day (February 2019)
- WEDNESDAY: Listening Day (February 2019)
- THURSDAY: Deep Work Day (November 2019)
- FRIDAY: Triage Day (April 2020)
- SATURDAY: Family/Planning Day (April 2020)
(Note: Giving a day a theme doesn’t mean I only do things related to that theme on that day, but those activities/types of work receive my overarching focus.)
MY MONTHLY THEME
My Monthly Themes act in the same manner as my Daily Themes. Some months I’ll have what I call a “hybrid” Monthly Theme, named as such because the theme will apply to both my personal and professional life.
I don’t actually have a personal theme for December. There are occasions when a Monthly Theme doesn’t apply and this month is one such instance. December is usually a month where this happens because for the last two weeks of the month I’m focused more on family anyway. That’s what’s happening this time.
My professional theme for this month (January) is to give my overarching focus and attention to The BIG Ready 2021. The event takes place on Tuesday February 2nd – along with a special VIP workshop on Saturday February 6th – and Vanessa and I have lined up an impressive group of speakers. While I do have one Weekly Sprint scheduled this month (to work on my next Skillshare class), The BIG Ready 2021 is where it’s at this month.
With the aforementioned Monthly Theme for work in mind, I don’t have a personal theme for January. I don’t theme every month of the year, usually leaving 2-3 of them “themeless” and this month is an example of that.
MY ANNUAL AXIOM FOR 2021
After using Chris Brogan’s “3 Words” approach to the new year for the past several years, I’m shifting to something I’ve developed for TimeCrafting: the Annual Axiom.
Essentially, it’s a phrase or mantra that represents my aim in all facets of my life for the next twelve months. I liken to what sports teams use in their locker rooms every season to help them strive to be the best they can be, game in and game out.
My Annual Axiom for the next twelve months is an initialism for the following phrase: Whatever it takes, no matter what. (I’ve shortened it to WIT NMW.) The concept behind it is that whatever I commit to doing, I’ll approach it with a “whatever it takes, no matter what” mentality.
PODCAST INTERVIEWS
I have interviews booked through to March 2021 for The Productivityist Podcast and I have episodes mapped out until August 2021. So if you’re looking to be on the show it’s (still) going to be a while.
OTHER POINTS OF NOTE
I am not currently reviewing any products (apps, books, etc.) other than those I’ve already committed to reviewing.
SPEAKING
I am always willing to look at in-person and virtual speaking engagements – both keynote talks and workshops. Check out my speaking page to learn more.
This page was inspired by Derek Sivers.