Anti-ADHD Scratchpad
tl;dr - stack rank everything, orient towards the #1 item, have that item originate from the to-do list vs the inbox as often as possible. repeat daily.
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Over the years, many folks have asked me about my process. It's an amalgamation of methods and tools I've learned by experimenting and continually learning.
What I care about is performing at a high level over the long haul (decades). I measure that through the depth and quality of my long-term relationships and the value I create.
I'd love to hear suggestions, feedback, etc. This is an evolving process.
The goal is to spend ~4 hours per day doing creative work (~1k hours on a 365-day rolling basis) + complete necessary tasks + prioritize relationships
Goal/Task setting is run through rank ordered lists. Time intervals are - life, 10yr, 1yr, 6m, Q, M, W, D
Retirement planning for 70, take 5 purpose-driven sabbaticals before 70
At the end of the quarter and beginning of a new one I spend time in isolation (out of my primary location when possible) and run through check-in questions. These are updated over time and are meant to provide a high-level view on progress.
Building daily schedule & getting started:
- Before going to bed, I think about the most important question I'm ruminating on and jot it down. Then I'll revisit again first thing as I'm waking up.
- Sleep I aim for 7.5 hours (more if my Whoop suggests)
- I scan my phone for any emergencies. I've set some specific notifications to bust through my iOS Do Not Disturb settings
- Begin #1 Task (typically defined while executing my wrap up checklist at the end of the previous day)
- Check messages and respond where necessary
- Coffee nap when needed (☕️💤) (caffeine #s 🔗)
- Keep in mind what makes a productive day 🔗
3 Calendars (render into one view)
- Shared Team Cal - includes internal and external meetings
- Personal Calendar - meetings and other commitments/appointments (with others and with myself)
- Task Calendar - work and personal tasks
For recurring tasks I create a batch of them to repeat on Sundays. Each week I'll take a moment and layer them into the week ahead given specific things that are going on. I find this most useful for making sure I've slotted in enough time for working out.
Daily Checklist(s):
Spinning Up
- Pint of water
- Write force ranked list of top priority tasks for the day (1-3 items)
- Block off time in my task calendar for the day
Winding Down
- Pause current task (or reschedule wind down)
- Clear out Things inbox
- Mark down creative hours and notes (this is tracked in a central spreadsheet)
- Select next task to extend today or pause and resume tomorrow (tomorrow's task must align with #1 priority, make decision to adjust schedule, or not, to complete current task)
- iOS automation to turn phone to greyscale after sunset (link)
Tools
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The tools I use to execute my version of David Allen's Getting Things Done framework
Books, talks and other supporting material
- #1 Listen - Mike Ghaffary on Productivity
- Getting Things Done by David Allen
- GTD Summary
- GTD Weekly review checklist
- Cross-Platform File management
- Pomodoro Technique
- The Checklist Manigesto by Atul Gawande
- Never Eat Alone by Keith Farazzi
- High Output Management by Andy Grove
- Measure What Matters by John Doerr
- Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss
- 4-hour workweek by Tim Ferriss
- Mangement User Guide by Jay Desai
- How I Write by David Perell
- How to Write like an Amazonian
Tools for listening
- Audible (use Whispersync)
- Libby
- Pocketcasts
- Economist Audio feature
Folks' views on reading itself
Prep
- "Know everything that is knowable" - Bethany Mclean
- How do you ask good questions? Tyler Cowen
- During Cal Fussman's preparation for a meeting, maybe a few hours before or maybe a few minutes before idk, he'll physically write down every question he can think of, then stick the piece of paper in his back pocket...and likely never look at it again. The reasoning for this is that he wants to remain present while in conversation. Keeping 100+ questions top of mind enables him to draw upon this hopper of questions like a playbook. He is adapting to the flow of the conversation and deepening it vs continually pulling out of each thread in order to get to the next question on his list (usually one heavily informed by his editorial counsel). Cal Fussman
During
- Pen and paper only
Post
- Take a photo, within the Evernote app, of the hand written notes immediately after the session. This does a few things: (1) Timestamps the conversation (2) Creates a backup of the notes in case the notebook is lost (3) The new file is searchable and accessible across devices
- Jot down additional notes with the Evernote Note thoughts, questions, and action items (typically noted with TK to make search easier down the road)
Hardware
- iPhone 13 Pro Max + (if traveling abroad) Local provider via eSim or Google Fi/T-Mobile also work well when traveling internationally more often (Configuration Guide)
- Mac Mini 2018 3.2. GHz 6-Core Intel Core i7, 64GB
- Single 27" 4k Dell monitor (3840 x 2160 setting) Dell
- Human Ergonomic Vertical Mouse Human Ergonomics - using level 4 sensitivity
- Apple Magic trackpad 2 Apple
- Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric keypad Apple
- Extended Gaming Mousepad Amazon
- Anker USB 3.0 Hub Anker
- iPhone 13 Pro Max + Reincubate Camo as webcam Reincubate Camo
- Quad lock phone case Quad lock + quad lock tripod mount Quad lock + JUSMO camera stand JUSMO
- Logitech c920x as backup webcam and FaceTime on OSX Logitech
- Blue Yeti for Input Microphone Blue Yeti
- Humanscale eFloat Desk Humanscale
- Macbook Air 2018
- Whoop 4.0 Whoop
- Paper Tiger Canvas Notebook Paper Tiger
- Medium Blackwing Summit Notebook Blackwing