12. When all your productivity hacks fail you

This past week was not a win for my productivity.

At the halfway point of my newsletter meanderings about my 23 in ’23 experiments in productivity, it would be great to be hitting my stride, sailing along, productive AF.

Instead, I spent far too long on a straightforward project despite trying an embarrassing number of strategies described previously.

And, not that it matters, but the newsletter is late.

Why couldn't I get my task done?

Other challenges?

Yes, the world is in a terrible state. Hard to concentrate. Hard to know what to do.

And Yes, I have some petty personal concerns.

• Not sleeping my best.
• Didn’t walk outside enough.
• Had usual back pain.

But to be honest, it wasn’t any of those reasons.

Things are very good for me. I’m incredibly privileged in almost every way. I won’t make a list, because it’s absurd how great I have it. What do I have to complain about? I am on sabbatical, for crying out loud.

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Difficult project?

The task that took me far too long was working on a manuscript. Writing can be challenging, yes. But this paper was already written, had a R&R, AND the first author had done the heavy lifting on the revision. It was my turn to contribute by making certain the document was persuasive, circumspect, and stylistically clear yet flowy. That we had truly addressed the letter and intent of the reviewers’ critiques.

I am not inexperienced in this task. I usually enjoy it. [You know, as much as one can enjoy writing and re-writing.] It is really exciting to see a product come to completion and venture out into the world.

This manuscript was already clear and strong.

So why did it take me so long?

I tried all my tricks

Seriously, I did all the things I have been talking about here:

• I booked numerous co-working Flow Club sessions.
• I told people my intentions. They encouraged me, gave me accountability.
• I declared some sections and pages to be frogs.
• I made grid lists to highlight.
• I set time limits.
• I used end-your-day rules.
• I left breadcrumbs.
• I wrote it on my daily to-do lists. Repeatedly.
• I used other obvious strategies like coffee, snacks, breaks.
• I made MORE grids to highlight with bigger boxes for smaller units of work.

Yeah, eventually it got done, but…

I just don’t want to estimate how long it took me.

What I can say?

Sometimes things take way longer than you plan.

Sometimes there is no great reason.

Sometimes you have to give yourself a pass.

Sometimes your colleagues have to be very patient (thank you!!)

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[Also, Pro Tip: Sometimes you really should save your work so you don’t lose 2 days’ effort when you are already feeling so frustrated and inefficient.]

And, Sometimes, no amount of productivity hacks can make beautiful words emanate from your fingers.

Writing is hard

For many people I know, writing is especially challenging. It is hard to define what is needed, to know when it is done, and to motivate the reader to be carried along following your rigorous, logical, important, and relevant work. Standards are high, the task is complex, and the outcome is uncertain. So, it takes a long time.?

My conclusion: We just have to live with this, and importantly remember how fortunate we are to be worrying about this kind of challenge.

Evaluation: Jenn 'Meets Expectations'?

It’s hard to call this experiment #12, but I will. Let’s say the strategy is cutting yourself a break. This may mean letting others down (if you are late), asking for help (from strangers, loved ones, an editor, or your colleagues), or letting it not be perfect.

What ended up working for me was just getting back to the paper every day—at my best (morning) times—and plugging away. ?And maybe part of the strategy is not grading myself in letters this week, but instead using primary school categories.

The work is done, and I am really happy about that. ?

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?? What strategies do you use when something is surprisingly difficult to complete? Please share in the comments what works for you.

?? And?subscribe?to be notified when I post Experiment #13 on Tuesday 24 October (or so)

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