My Guide to Personal Productivity

Published on November 27, 2024

I have found this guide of productivity again: Pmarca Guide to Personal Productivity so I wanted to write down my version of it.

Pre-read

Before you read my guide below, which is very short, make sure you check out the original inspiration. That post contains many great points and sources.

My guide

I follow just five principles:

  1. Do only what you love doing

    This is the most important one. I focus solely on what I love doing — delegating or refusing to do everything else.

    However, there is a significant drawback: after a while, I have to say no even to things I would love doing because I no longer have the mental bandwidth to do them too.

  2. Don’t keep a schedule

    In the past, my busy schedule kept me from focusing on what I enjoy. Now, I aim for an almost empty calendar with minimal scheduling.

  3. Before sleeping, make a loose mental plan for the next day

    I don’t use to-do lists, tracking tools, or task management systems — they’re stressful and take too much time to maintain. Instead, I spend that time doing what matters.

    Keeping the plan simple and focused is crucial.

  4. Procrastinate regularly

    Procrastination is valuable. Taking time to do nothing allows for deep thinking and reflection. Embrace it and do it often.

  5. Do not split your focus

    Our brains can’t multitask; we only switch contexts, and context-switching is costly. I focus on one product or task per day, avoiding unnecessary jumps.

That’s it. I have no other tricks.