HOWTO: Be more productive (2005)(aaronsw.com)
aaronsw.com
HOWTO: Be more productive (2005)
http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/productivity
60 comments
Thanks for sharing. I try to avoid identifying the author so I can focus on the content itself. I read through it blindly, and appreciated it more after looking at the domain name.
Though I think it's worth noting that despite the wisdom therein, he did not find lasting happiness. Life is a difficult enterprise.
Such is the case for a lot of figures worth looking up to: tormented artists, philosophers, even scientists seem to have to forgo the layman's definition of "happiness." I think happiness is only achievable in a Sisyphean sense.
"For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it." - Victor Frankl.
"For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it." - Victor Frankl.
If only he knew there would be so much productivity spent on destroying others'.
And it would be so successful.
And it would be so successful.
I'm getting older now and am finding this harder and harder to do as "real-life" things pile up. I was crushing it early in the pandemic, but it's really dried up in the past few months.
The big thing is having a job. Most of my life I've been freelance or happily under-employed, but working a FTJ seems just fundamentally incompatible with creative work for me. After 8 hours of staring at the screen, I just don't have anything left in the tank for side projects, writing, music, all of the creative things that make me feel like I'm using my time on earth wisely.
Would be interested in any advice from anybody who has overcome this.
The big thing is having a job. Most of my life I've been freelance or happily under-employed, but working a FTJ seems just fundamentally incompatible with creative work for me. After 8 hours of staring at the screen, I just don't have anything left in the tank for side projects, writing, music, all of the creative things that make me feel like I'm using my time on earth wisely.
Would be interested in any advice from anybody who has overcome this.
With small kids it gets interesting, weekends aren't "time off" anymore in the sense of being able to follow adult pursuits, constant distraction and day begins at 6am and goes to evening or more if there are wake ups.
The work day at my full time job is the only real thinking time I have right now. I try a bit harder now to make that meaningful and interesting.
If I can't find a way to convince myself that the time I'm spending at work is part of a "life well lived" then I need to look for a new job.
The work day at my full time job is the only real thinking time I have right now. I try a bit harder now to make that meaningful and interesting.
If I can't find a way to convince myself that the time I'm spending at work is part of a "life well lived" then I need to look for a new job.
I found that this starts to change as the kids get older. Mine are 8 and 11. They become a lot more independent and it frees up 15 minutes here and there.
Now that you have kids you need to make money in order to keep them fed, clothed, and (if you live in the USA) ensure they donpt go to a shithouse school.
Find meaningful work if you can get it. But prioritize money first. At least until the revolution comes and a living can be provided for all.
Find meaningful work if you can get it. But prioritize money first. At least until the revolution comes and a living can be provided for all.
> At least until the revolution comes and a living can be provided for all.
Unless revolution comes and things go the other way.
Unless revolution comes and things go the other way.
I find that getting up really early in the morning to work on the things I want to, then switching off from that to spend the morning with the kids works well. Being really consistent with it every day has led me to complete a few of the projects and learning tasks I've been working on.
At least then when I go to work I'm already satisfied.
For some people I imagine that night time would work best instead.
At least then when I go to work I'm already satisfied.
For some people I imagine that night time would work best instead.
This. I do the same and this works best for me.
Can you specify what you mean by “early”? 5am? And when do you go to bed?
4:30am works best for me. I go to bed between 9 and 9:30pm almost every night. Occasionally it'll be later due to some event or catching up with people after which I'll still get up at 4:30am but it makes me significantly more tired. It's quick to fix though, I just go to bed even earlier the following night, around 8:15-8:30 does it best.
I know these times won't work for a lot of people but if you have young kids it's awesome. They're asleep anyway and working at night tends to ruin sleep for me so I just go to bed! Then the next morning I can work in peace without it disrupting my body so much.
I know these times won't work for a lot of people but if you have young kids it's awesome. They're asleep anyway and working at night tends to ruin sleep for me so I just go to bed! Then the next morning I can work in peace without it disrupting my body so much.
You described my situation precisely. Weekends are long and chaotic when you have small children (and I've got three with the oldest being 5). Mondays are a return to normalcy - they go to day care and I go to work. And like you said, if work isn't satisfying, I have to find something new because work becomes my escape.
One strategy is to wake up earlier and do your side projects before work.
Accomplish more by sleeping less!
I'm currently doing both of these with success:
- Limit to 1 creative thing per month (music one month, programming the next, etc.) I find it helps to get deep into 1 thing for a while rather than skimming the surface on multiple
- Waking up early, and doing the creative things first (less interruptions in the morning, you have your energy)
- Limit to 1 creative thing per month (music one month, programming the next, etc.) I find it helps to get deep into 1 thing for a while rather than skimming the surface on multiple
- Waking up early, and doing the creative things first (less interruptions in the morning, you have your energy)
Then do them first?
The truly prolific creative people I know do that work at non-traditional times if they have a full time job. Practicing music late at night, painting at 6am, etc. Even scheduling their creative work during low points in their work day.
I am also not good at this, so take this advice as an observation rather than a personal experience.
The truly prolific creative people I know do that work at non-traditional times if they have a full time job. Practicing music late at night, painting at 6am, etc. Even scheduling their creative work during low points in their work day.
I am also not good at this, so take this advice as an observation rather than a personal experience.
This is an exercise in "managing your energy, not your time".
For me the first several hours of the day are my most productive/creative, so I carve out at least a couple of those for my personal projects. Lately that's meant getting up early (5:30-ish) and prioritizing my own work ahead of my employer's.
For me the first several hours of the day are my most productive/creative, so I carve out at least a couple of those for my personal projects. Lately that's meant getting up early (5:30-ish) and prioritizing my own work ahead of my employer's.
I have found this to be effective, the problem for me is getting into the routine. When it worked, I got up earlier in the morning and was able to devote 1-2 hours to personal projects, 3-4 mornings per week.
At some point, the habit gets interrupted and it's been tough for me to get back into it.
I’d have to wake up at 4am to do this. Young children and time to build stuff are just fundamentally incompatible.
So we just have to make do with the 7.5 hours at work.
So we just have to make do with the 7.5 hours at work.
I have 3 kids and get up at 4:30am every day to work on my own stuff. From 7am they're awake so I spend time getting them ready for school, etc. Then I go to work. Over the years I've found that getting this going consistently is the key. Even if you only get one good hour in each morning it builds up to quite a lot of satisfying work very quickly.
It did take a few years to become consistent though.
It did take a few years to become consistent though.
What time do you go to bed?
Usually 9-9:30 pm. Sometimes I'm out or doing something so end up going to bed later after which I'll still get up at the same time the following morning. This makes me more tired so I'll go to bed way earlier on the following night.
Well no, you can just neglect them instead! /s
Small children require a large amount of energy to maintain. If you’re responsible for providing that energy then you’re gonna have less for projects.
Small children require a large amount of energy to maintain. If you’re responsible for providing that energy then you’re gonna have less for projects.
>Well no, you can just neglect them instead!
Or outsource the work.
Or outsource the work.
Switch to part-time work. Obviously not everyone can, and the quality of roles tends to be lower. But if you care a lot about your creativity and other projects this option is powerful.
https://4dayweek.io/
https://4dayweek.io/
Hey does have some suggestions further down in the article. I like the bit that precedes the suggestions:
> Most people’s time is eaten up by things like school and work. Obviously if you attend one of these, you should stop. But what else can you do?
> Most people’s time is eaten up by things like school and work. Obviously if you attend one of these, you should stop. But what else can you do?
Adjust your spending and lifestyle so you can live with less money, which in turn means you can go to work less, and have more time for you.
I agree with you, but the bigger problem is jobs are always offered in this binary 5 days a week or nothing structure. Its hard to find a job that offers say 20-30 hours a week.
Oh, absolutely. But everything worth doing in life is difficult, and if you really want something badly enough you will find the motivation and dedication to find a way. I also think you'll find it's more common than you think.
If your current boss won't let you step down to 4 days a week (or even some kind of flex 4.5), then it's time to fire your boss and find one that fits better with your life goals.
The best time to start on that process (polish up your resume, interviewing, putting out expressions of interest, etc.) is now. It may very well take years. It will be worth it.
If your current boss won't let you step down to 4 days a week (or even some kind of flex 4.5), then it's time to fire your boss and find one that fits better with your life goals.
The best time to start on that process (polish up your resume, interviewing, putting out expressions of interest, etc.) is now. It may very well take years. It will be worth it.
Moving side projects earlier in the morning (perhaps as the first thing) worked for me. I can do ordinary [shallow] work late in the evening when I have no energy left for more creative endeavors.
I think the most difficult thing, since ancient time, is to know thyself.
Some people find those "good problems" early and they never shoot at other targets again. They usually have a significant lead comparing to others who take the same route in a much later age.
Some people never find any "good problem" in their whole life and tend to hop from one to another every few months/years. They achieved nothing but constant worriness.
Some people find those "good problems" early and they never shoot at other targets again. They usually have a significant lead comparing to others who take the same route in a much later age.
Some people never find any "good problem" in their whole life and tend to hop from one to another every few months/years. They achieved nothing but constant worriness.
I agree, most people seem to be getting into a field, that they really like seeing themselves in. Either due to fame, money, passion, social pressure, status, role model, sticking to it..
Instead they should be getting into a field they enjoy working in. That is physically sitting down, do the work and enjoy putting in the hours.
That's the only "productivity hack" you need.
Instead they should be getting into a field they enjoy working in. That is physically sitting down, do the work and enjoy putting in the hours.
That's the only "productivity hack" you need.
Yeah exactly. Some people work in a certain field because they need the money, some because they enjoy the topic, but there are a few who work because it's like water and air to them.
You probably experienced a few times in your life that you HAVE to get that answer or you would rather grind through the night to get it. Now imagine someone who has that kind of feeling continuously for pretty much their whole life.
You probably experienced a few times in your life that you HAVE to get that answer or you would rather grind through the night to get it. Now imagine someone who has that kind of feeling continuously for pretty much their whole life.
Yeah. I'm always amazed by individuals that seem to accomplish so much and it looks so effortless. Like, let's say Donald Knuth.
I just feel that I do not have his direction, purpose and motivation and I have no idea how to get there.
He has concrete goals (like revisiting TeX every 7 years to fix bugs, writing a book during a sabbatical, reading mail X times per year) and just fulfills them.
I have a weird feeling that I'll probably reach this kind of state when I'm very old and will wonder why I wasn't able to see and live the life that way before.
My life feels directionless, I'm accomplishing things but I just don't know how to reach these zen levels of direction, purpose and motivation.
At the same time I wonder why would it be necessary for my life to go in that direction? Why am I just not content with the way things are and start focusing on that, instead of always looking for something "greater"?
I just feel that I do not have his direction, purpose and motivation and I have no idea how to get there.
He has concrete goals (like revisiting TeX every 7 years to fix bugs, writing a book during a sabbatical, reading mail X times per year) and just fulfills them.
I have a weird feeling that I'll probably reach this kind of state when I'm very old and will wonder why I wasn't able to see and live the life that way before.
My life feels directionless, I'm accomplishing things but I just don't know how to reach these zen levels of direction, purpose and motivation.
At the same time I wonder why would it be necessary for my life to go in that direction? Why am I just not content with the way things are and start focusing on that, instead of always looking for something "greater"?
Funny coincidence just happened. I was procrastinating reading this article and my partner noticed.
She asked me what I was doing and I told her I was procrastinating. She asked me, "If I'd like to do something else then?" Hinting at some assignment. Naturally, like the article mentions, I felt the urge to work on the problem I was procrastinating on.
So the solution we stumbled on, isn't to have your partner try to hold you accountable, but for them to assign you different tasks if they notice you procrastinating.
She asked me what I was doing and I told her I was procrastinating. She asked me, "If I'd like to do something else then?" Hinting at some assignment. Naturally, like the article mentions, I felt the urge to work on the problem I was procrastinating on.
So the solution we stumbled on, isn't to have your partner try to hold you accountable, but for them to assign you different tasks if they notice you procrastinating.
Hmm, I’ve noticed that if I’m procrastinating and can’t get started at work, as soon as home time approaches the block will resolve itself and I’ll be able to start (almost instantly resenting the fact that I’m required to stop.) This sounds like a similar thing (deadlock in scheduler resolved by addition of new task, in this case going home.)
Past comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5689387
I found that 'daily standup' popular in some tech companies absolutely kills motivation.
I've never procrastinated more, like literally for months, than when I had to report progress on daily basis.
What happens is the reporting itself becomes the target not the actual task to be done.
I've never procrastinated more, like literally for months, than when I had to report progress on daily basis.
What happens is the reporting itself becomes the target not the actual task to be done.
It depends on the team. Daily standup is good if you need help or other need help from you. It's fine that you're still investigating things and need/raise issues ASAP for the team to know and maybe fix it for all the team.
It's a team effort/collaboration that makes daily standup useful.
It's a team effort/collaboration that makes daily standup useful.
Totally agree. I've seen it go both ways, one where it's a total drain and waste of time, another where the best thinking, best solutions and ideas all came out during stand-up.
I suppose getting that right team is what makes an awesome manager though right?
I suppose getting that right team is what makes an awesome manager though right?
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I remember reading this essay years ago; it was interesting to revisit. I guess the two main problems for one who wants to be productive are:
1) Procrastinating, which usually comes from: a) fear of failure, b) disinterest, or c) not knowing where to start (or some combination)
2) Life getting in the way. Some of this can be helped with time management, sleep/diet/exercise to maximize energy, but some of it there's unfortunately not much you can do about. (Though I do wish they'd stop making robots dance and do parkour and make one that can load my dishwasher.)
I've also noticed that feeling "unproductive" can really stem sometimes stem from other sources:
1) Does the need to be "productive" have to do with self-image? Such as, "I wish I had more work out there that other people could see." This feeling disguises itself as feeling "unproductive" but I think it really has more to do with a sort of social status dissatisfaction.
2) Does the feeling of being "productive" come not so much from what was produced but by how what you feel about what you produced? That is, being productive on work you don't much care about feels unproductive. In which case, the issue really isn't about "productivity" in and of itself, it's about interest in one's work (or lack thereof). Sometimes you may be able to change your perspective on some kind of work to make it more interesting and then it feels more productive, but much of the time this is difficult (at least for me).
1) Procrastinating, which usually comes from: a) fear of failure, b) disinterest, or c) not knowing where to start (or some combination)
2) Life getting in the way. Some of this can be helped with time management, sleep/diet/exercise to maximize energy, but some of it there's unfortunately not much you can do about. (Though I do wish they'd stop making robots dance and do parkour and make one that can load my dishwasher.)
I've also noticed that feeling "unproductive" can really stem sometimes stem from other sources:
1) Does the need to be "productive" have to do with self-image? Such as, "I wish I had more work out there that other people could see." This feeling disguises itself as feeling "unproductive" but I think it really has more to do with a sort of social status dissatisfaction.
2) Does the feeling of being "productive" come not so much from what was produced but by how what you feel about what you produced? That is, being productive on work you don't much care about feels unproductive. In which case, the issue really isn't about "productivity" in and of itself, it's about interest in one's work (or lack thereof). Sometimes you may be able to change your perspective on some kind of work to make it more interesting and then it feels more productive, but much of the time this is difficult (at least for me).
1) http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/ is amazing when done properly. It should not be confused with productive procrastination which is closely related but much less useful.
So the idea of structured procrastination is you put at the top some task that is very important but at the same time could possibly be delayed or dealt at the very last minute.
Your tasks 2-5 are where the gains lie.
This is where you put your writing a book, writing that documentation for your project, writing that game, polishing that UI for your visualization.
Recent anecdata: I had to grade 90 algorithms exams, which I had foolishly allowed to submitted in about 10 different languages without an auto-grader. So I was getting PHP, Java,Rust, TS for Deno etc etc.
Instead I procrastinated for a few days writing a number of Jupyter Notebooks for munging some data which I had put off for about 4 months.
As soon as I received 10 bachelor thesis to review I moved those to the top of my list and I graded the 90 algorithms exams with time to spare.
So productive procrastination is the less useful cousin of structured procrastination.
In productive procrastination you put in slots 2-5 tasks that seem productive but rapidly reach diminishing returns.
So if my slot 2 was going over 40 points on chess Puzzle Rush, it would be better than playing 30 second bullet chess but still not really that productive...
So polishing UI could not be that productive at some point, or running 1000 AB tests.
So the idea of structured procrastination is you put at the top some task that is very important but at the same time could possibly be delayed or dealt at the very last minute.
Your tasks 2-5 are where the gains lie.
This is where you put your writing a book, writing that documentation for your project, writing that game, polishing that UI for your visualization.
Recent anecdata: I had to grade 90 algorithms exams, which I had foolishly allowed to submitted in about 10 different languages without an auto-grader. So I was getting PHP, Java,Rust, TS for Deno etc etc.
Instead I procrastinated for a few days writing a number of Jupyter Notebooks for munging some data which I had put off for about 4 months.
As soon as I received 10 bachelor thesis to review I moved those to the top of my list and I graded the 90 algorithms exams with time to spare.
So productive procrastination is the less useful cousin of structured procrastination.
In productive procrastination you put in slots 2-5 tasks that seem productive but rapidly reach diminishing returns.
So if my slot 2 was going over 40 points on chess Puzzle Rush, it would be better than playing 30 second bullet chess but still not really that productive...
So polishing UI could not be that productive at some point, or running 1000 AB tests.
I add my goals to Habinator habit tracker. After a couple weeks I have progressed or I delete the goal because I have realized the unrealistic expectations what I had about my goal.
Oh cool, Habinator looks interesting!
"Unrealistic expectations" -- This is another one of those things that can make one feel unproductive. Realizing the expectations are unrealistic can be hard to accept because it can make the pursuit of the goal feel like wasted time. One solution I've heard a lot is to pursue goals for which failure can also be considered productive, basically by learning useful information or a useful skill (or, if you're lucky, repurposing the failure, such as selling a failed synthetic rubber as a novelty toy called "Silly Putty").
Also may be helpful to consider beforehand what exact metrics will constitute "success" or "failure", as it can be easy to constantly think "it just needs a bit more time". Looks like Habinator may help with that.
"Unrealistic expectations" -- This is another one of those things that can make one feel unproductive. Realizing the expectations are unrealistic can be hard to accept because it can make the pursuit of the goal feel like wasted time. One solution I've heard a lot is to pursue goals for which failure can also be considered productive, basically by learning useful information or a useful skill (or, if you're lucky, repurposing the failure, such as selling a failed synthetic rubber as a novelty toy called "Silly Putty").
Also may be helpful to consider beforehand what exact metrics will constitute "success" or "failure", as it can be easy to constantly think "it just needs a bit more time". Looks like Habinator may help with that.
You should only work in the most important problem of the world if you have a high rate of probability of solving it.
Usually only young and naive people try that because they don't know something is impossible and they believe they are much more capable than what they really are.
Then what happens is they fail catastrophically, like Gutenberg, Columbus, Einstein, Plank did. Over time people that succeed eventually recover(most people don't) and discover something did not plan to discover in the first place that turned to be more important that what they were looking for.
You don't need to do that, Newton probably died virgin. He had no offspring. Gutenberg died bankrupt. It was a great deal for the world, but not that good deal for them personally. The Madam Curie and daughter died on their fifties being exposed to radiation in order to help WWI soldiers with early radiograph. Again great deal for society, not that great for them.
Most people won't risk as much as the people that usually succeed spectacularly. And that is great for them, their lives will be much more balanced and way happier.
People can only see the success part, the beautiful side of the coin, not what it took to get there. They can see SpaceX rockets being reused but don't see Elon Musk asking for money as he went bankrupt after several rocket failures and nobody wanted to lend him more money(and banks wanted to profit from that seizing everything). They can't see Elon sleeping in the Office.
Usually only young and naive people try that because they don't know something is impossible and they believe they are much more capable than what they really are.
Then what happens is they fail catastrophically, like Gutenberg, Columbus, Einstein, Plank did. Over time people that succeed eventually recover(most people don't) and discover something did not plan to discover in the first place that turned to be more important that what they were looking for.
You don't need to do that, Newton probably died virgin. He had no offspring. Gutenberg died bankrupt. It was a great deal for the world, but not that good deal for them personally. The Madam Curie and daughter died on their fifties being exposed to radiation in order to help WWI soldiers with early radiograph. Again great deal for society, not that great for them.
Most people won't risk as much as the people that usually succeed spectacularly. And that is great for them, their lives will be much more balanced and way happier.
People can only see the success part, the beautiful side of the coin, not what it took to get there. They can see SpaceX rockets being reused but don't see Elon Musk asking for money as he went bankrupt after several rocket failures and nobody wanted to lend him more money(and banks wanted to profit from that seizing everything). They can't see Elon sleeping in the Office.
Over the years I’ve developed a simple ”YES and NO” system that now allows me to publish ~10 quality, long articles every month as a professional writer. The binary philosophy is rude but efficient: https://personal.jatan.space/p/yes-and-no
If you enjoy Swartz's writing you might also enjoy his other blog posts. My favourite is a game theory analysis of The Dark Knight [1] (which incidentally turned out to be his last).
[1] http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/tdk
[1] http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/tdk