I was always on the lookout for new hacks to be more productive and get more things done. I went from doing absolutely nothing to writing a blog post every week, something that I would never think of before.

You need to understand that everyone is different and what works for me may not work for you. Being more productive as I become busier was a must for me. I was starting to be all over the place, without a clear agenda from one task to another. I picked up some hacks from here and there to fix my bad habits.

The highlight of the day

I picked this one from Ali Abdaal. To-do-list doesn't work well for me. I tried, but I felt forced, and that wasn't the goal for me. On the other hand, the highlight of the day is one specific task that you must do, and you're all set for the day. I plan 2-3 days ahead what I'm going to do, and every day I have a HOTD. 

It doesn't matter how many "important things" you have to do. There is always something more important than the other. Figure it out. Give yourself your HOTD, get it done, and move on to the next one.

For today, mine was finishing this article. It feels really great after you're done with it. You don't feel overwhelmed, and you perform better. It pushes you to do something else. It's not always the case for me, but it happens often. 

In comparison with a traditional to-do list, I feel absolutely more productive. I got rid of my procrastination and the feeling of "I have to do it." 

Divide your tasks throughout the week

Forget about doing everything the same day, checking and responding to emails, filming, editing, writing, studying, and so on. I like to block a specific day for each big task starting with the most important at the beginning of the week. 

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Clients-projects, deadline update, and filming from Monday until Wednesday. On Thursday, I will check and respond to my emails, spend more time on social media and connect with other creatives. Finally, I like to dive more deeply into books (3-4 hours), study Japanese, and write my articles on the weekend.

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As I said before, as long as I finish my highlight of the day, I can jump into another task without regret. I tend to find the time to study Japanese for 20-30 minutes per day. I also read 20 to 40 book pages per day. Small tasks are incorporated into my days but not consuming any of my needed energy. Therefore, my productivity flows perfectly throughout the week.

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I don't really follow a specific routine. If something becomes more important, you must adapt. It is very convenient to be versatile and have a flexible schedule.

Morning thoughts dumping

It is something that I was not familiar with. Every morning, after reading my book. I write everything that crosses my mind on my phone for 5 minutes straight. 

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What can you write? Summarize what you learned in the last 2 days, an exciting scene of a tv show or a movie, how you feel and what you ate before going to bed.

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As you do this daily, you become more aware of what you experience, how particular food can affect your day and how it can make you feel. You learn to dig deep in your memory. 

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I don't know if it's a placebo effect or not. But since doing this hack, my memory is better, my thinking is better, and of course, my productivity is better.

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Either you try one of these hacks or all of them. I'm pretty sure that you'll become a better version of yourself. Be proud of your accomplishments and don't overthink it.

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