Productivity Hangovers

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By Brendan O’Meara

I don’t know about you, but I tend to have really productive Mondays.

I don’t check social media. I’m clearing tasks. From dawn to dusk I’m feeling good. I get my lifts in. I get my 15,000 steps. Check check check.

But then Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be a drag and I never feel good. In fact, I feel sluggish and don’t get much of anything done compared to Monday. Then the shame cycle kicks in  and I can’t believe how little I’ve gotten done.

What’s the answer? 

My guess is two things.

One, social media isn’t much worth the time. When I abstain, I feel better emotionally and I’m more productive and more energized.

Two, doing too much on one day leaves you “sore” for the next day or two. Probably better to spread the tasks over a few days and get more “workouts” in. 

Similar to my riff on load management, maybe spreading the workload over more days instead going so hard on one will lead to greater gains over the course of a year.

Something to chew on. What do YOU think?

Wisdom from Ben Franklin

Sexy and I know it.

Written by Brendan O’Meara

Ben Franklin, the only hombre on American currency who wasn’t a president, had it goin’ on. Sure, he came down with syphilis, but who hasn’t?

I read his autobiography a few months back and it’s tough to get through. The edition I have doesn’t have paragraph indentations. Try reading that. There’s no white space. I need a break.

But, Franklin was nothing if not methodical and that’s important for the writer looking to make a living in letters. Franklin had a list of 12 Virtues to follow for self improvement, and maybe I’ll talk about those another time. What I want to talk about is his daily structure. Here it is:

The Morning Question: What Good Shall I do this Day?

5-7: Rise, wash, and address Powerful Goodness; contrive Day’s Business and take the Resolution of the Day; prosecute the present Study: and breakfast?—

8-11: Work

12-1: Read, or overlook my Accounts, and dine

1-5: Work

6-9: Put Things in their Places, Supper, Musick, or Diversion, or Conversation, Examination of the Day

10-4: Sleep

There’s something simple about this schedule I like. Also, it works in time to decompress and work on other things unrelated to work or craft. There’s time for music, recreation, reflection, etc.

I write well in 45-minute clips. I have some music records that are 45 minutes and I put the headphones on and blast away until the record is done. Then I get up and walk around, do pushups, pet the dogs.

I’d encourage you to adopt a form of structure, something easily digestible. It’s easy to get derailed. All writers know that.

What is your schedule? Is it random? Or do you carve out time each day?