Raise your hand if the mere mention of "productivity" makes you want to crawl back to bed.
Don't worry, I feel you.
As a self-proclaimed champion procrastinator, I've spent years fighting with the mighty beast of laziness.
But guess what? I've finally cracked the code (sort of). And it's not your typical "to-do list" or "early bird gets the worm" type of stuff.
While researching the topic, I came across an interesting concept that I thought of sharing with you all in this edition and it goes as follows:
According to science, the history of laziness is deeply rooted in the core of evolution. 🧬
Perhaps our DNA carried this outcome from our nomadic ancestors who had to conserve energy to compete for scarce resources and to fight or flee enemies and predators. For them, expending effort on anything other than short-term advantage could jeopardize their very survival.
In any case, in the absence of conveniences such as antibiotics, banks, roads, or refrigeration, it made little sense to think long-term too. Back in time, desire led to action, and action led to immediate gratification, without much need for proposing, planning, preparing, and so forth.
Today, when the mere survival has fallen off the agenda, and it is a long-term strategic activity that leads to the best outcomes.
We due to our instinct still hold a firm belief that by conserving energy, we will still be able to overcome challenges. This resulted in, making us reluctant to expend effort on abstract projects with delayed and uncertain payoffs.
So, when I understood the actual psychology behind laziness, my perspective changed somewhat.🤔
So, I decided to ditch the boring advice of others and bring in some unconventional roadmap that nobody actually shares.
Once I implemented these and started seeing results, I thought why not share it with my community as well?
Therefore, here are my unconventional strategies to beat laziness:
➡️ Positive Mental Diet: Swap out the doom scrolling and negative self-talk for productive books, shows, and inspiring content. Let these motivate you to build your momentum.
Not just that, surround yourself with positive people too – they'll be your hype squad and not someone who will drag you down. Think of it as a mental detox for your brain!
➡️ Rise and Shine (But Not Too Early): Forget sunrise sprints and boot camp breakfasts. You don't need that if it doesn't sync with you.
Your morning can start at 4 AM or even 7 AM. Plan it out based on your circadian rhythm.
Here is a chart that you can refer to:
➡️ Raise Your Energy: Get your blood pumping with some movement! Any kind of movement works. Find your own sweet spot for early-morning awesomeness. Do what works for you. Take inspiration from others. However, don't try to copy others’ routines.
What works for them might not work for you.
Maybe for you, it's a gentle yoga session and a mindful cup of tea, or even a 10-minute dance break and a goofy podcast.
The key here is to start your day feeling energized and inspired, not like you've been dragged through a cactus patch. 🤸♀️
➡️ Hack Your Environment: Make your space work for you, not against you. I always keep my workout clothes visible, organize my workspace, and declutter areas that distract me. A little environmental tweak can go a long way in preventing laziness.
➡️ Shock Your System: Stuck in a rut? Shake things up! Sometimes, stepping outside your comfort zone is the exact reality jolt you need to get moving again.
If you are a night owl? Try waking up early for a week.
If you become super serious? Make laughter a priority for a few days.
Always find yourself online and on your phone? Try a digital detox.
➡️ One Task to Rule Them All: Pick one simple task, like making your bed or stretching, and commit to doing it every day for 90 days. It's about building discipline with small wins, paving the way for bigger victories later.
➡️ Gamify Your Tasks: If you have played video games while growing up, you would know the thrill of conquering a boss in your favorite video game. Apply that same logic to your to-do list too! Turn tasks into quests, give yourself points for completing them, and unlock epic rewards after a whole productive week (that don't involve virtual loot, but maybe a fancy coffee or a spa day☕).
➡️ Less is More: Don't overwhelm yourself with a mile-long to-do list. Start with 2-3 things you can accomplish, and focus on doing them well. I follow the 3 tasks a day rule and it has turned out to be way more productive than a traditional to-do list.
➡️ Dress for Success: Put on an outfit that makes you feel confident and put-together, even if it's just for yourself at home. Just a simple outfit swap can boost your motivation and help you tackle the day with more swagger.
➡️ Welcome Imperfection: We all stumble sometimes (guilty as charged). It’s natural and quite normal. Forgive yourself for slip-ups and focus on the progress you've made. Track your journey in the form of a graph or journal to see how far you've come. Remember to treat this process as a marathon and not a sprint. There is no need to rush. 🐌
➡️ Mindset is Crucial: Find your "why" behind breaking free from laziness. Write it down and let it be your north star. And whenever you feel like giving up, use your why to guide you back on track.
As I wrap up this edition, here is a takeaway I want you all to carry back:
Laziness isn't about becoming a productivity robot. It's about finding what works for YOU, embracing your weirdness, and making the journey enjoyable.
REPLY below and share the craziest productivity hacks that you follow. 👇
Remember, you've got this!
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