A partial list of the tasks I am attempting to complete, in full and with excellence, every day:
Getting enough sleep (for me, 6.5-7 hrs)
Taking my morning medication within the same exact 30 minute window, exactly as directed
Brushing and flossing (x2)
Showing up to work early, dressed like a true professional, hair perfectly coiffed and outfit elegantly accessorized
Returning all calls and emails within a reasonable period of time
Keeping up with the latest research in the EdTech market so I can stay relevant in my chosen field
Building on my corpus of data science knowledge and techniques in a way that benefits both my short and long term career goals
Using my time effectively and being productive throughout the entire workday in the face of vague and constantly shifting requirements, maddening dependencies, a noisy open office environment yielding constant distractions, and a stream of disruptive meetings
Scheduling and actually carrying out the recommended number of regular work breaks to walk, stretch, and relax my eyes so as to avoid early onset carpal tunnel syndrome, back ailments, and permanent vision impairment
Leaving that office environment at the optimized confluence of maximal number of important tasks checked off and minimal evening commute time
Squeezing productivity out of every possible commute-minute by listening to insightful, educational podcasts
Navigating the ravages of US-101 at rush hour while absorbing said insightful, educational information without maiming or killing myself
Actively thinking about ways to make a positive difference in the lives of my friends and family
Getting both of my inboxes-- work and personal-- to zero before bed
Staying up-to-date with important world news and events
Staying likewise up-to-date with equally (if not more) important news from the lives of my friends and family, most of whom live thousands of miles away
Eating a diet that is vegetarian, protein-rich, low-carb, dairy-free, tasty, well-balanced, and in-line with the best insights current scientific research has to offer
Maintain >90th percentile-level order and cleanliness in my home
Utilizing and keeping up-to-date an ever growing list of apps/software programs/hardware tools/keyboard shortcuts to keep my To-Do list in check and my life sufficiently quantified for a self-respecting "Valley-ite"
Re-evaluating the day's new inputs in light of my short and long term career/life goals, and always knowing exactly where I stand in my plan
Writing an insightful blog post that will be a contribution to anyone who reads it
Learning and practicing Spanish toward my goal of conversational fluency by November
Staying engaged and generous in time and spirit in a long distance romantic relationship
Making sure my finances are being effectively tracked and intelligently invested in an increasingly complex global economy
Making progress on reading any one of a stack of books from an intake queue that could probably span floor-to-ceiling in my bedroom, all of which are terribly vital to absorb RIGHT NOW
Staying mentally sharp and psychologically strong despite a recent major medical challenge
Practicing gratitude in the face of it all
Sounds familiar, yes? If not, read enough personal development books and you'll get there soon.
I challenge you to make your own "successful day criteria" list and take a hard look at it. Does it contain 10 things? 50 things? More things than there are hours in a day (mine has 27)?
... in any case, more than you expected.
Are you denying yourself sleep, fulfillment, happiness, or satisfaction of any kind upon not successfully completing everything on it, everyday? To what incredible heights are you subconsciously forcing yourself to rise to convince yourself that you're merely "doing ok"?
Or, an equally insidious method of self-harm: who are you comparing yourself to that you are utterly convinced successfully pulls this level of productivity off every day? Take that person out to lunch sometime and ask him or her what a typical day really looks like. You will be amazed at what you find out, I promise.
The key to licking this particular flavor of self-defeat lies in convincing ourselves of two non-obvious things:
First, that a stripping away can only raise the bar. Less tasks mean less dilution of effort, but also heightened focus, per task. It demands going deeper, and choosing to think like a master.
Second, that you are capable of achieving the focus necessary for deeply vertical tasks. Fear of focused thinking leads us to create scenarios where we don't have to engage in it. In other words, you might be spread too thin as an avoidance mechanism. If so, the good news is that your lengthy to-do list is a problem of your own making, despite the contrary perception of constant task onslaught.
Just remember, before you lose any more sleep tonight: the only person keeping score on you is you. Everyone else is just too busy to notice.
