Upgrade- Six Simple Ways To Be The Best Version Of You
HOW TO READ THIS BOOK OR ANY SELF-IMPROVEMENT BOOK?
First things first, keep a notepad open and jot down notes in bullet points. Follow the 20% knowledge and 80% action rule. Your notes should make up 20% of your efforts, while the remaining 80% should be divided into two parts: 40% for understanding how this impacts your life, and the other 40% for actionable steps.
#1 DEEP WORK
First things first, we all have tasks at hand, whether big or small. It can be any type of task. Cal Newport has written an elaborate bestseller on this topic, which happens to be my favorite topic as well - Deep Work. In a world full of distractions, it's crucial to understand how to focus and engage in deep work.
#1A : Focused Productivity: Tackling Important and Valuable Tasks with Concentrated Effort
The first step is to develop a concentration mindset. One technique i would recommend starting with is the pomodoro technique.
For example, let's say you're writing a blog post and you finish it in 20 minutes, leaving you with 5 extra minutes. Instead of wasting those minutes, use them wisely. You can use the extra time to improve your work, read about writing techniques, or learn more about the topic you're writing about. This way, you can make the most of your time and continuously strive to get better at your task.
#1B : Delving into the Depths: The Power of Creating and Analyzing Meaning in Your Work
Now, this is an interesting approach. It's essential to take a step back and analyze the depth of work, by listing out all the valuable outcomes you want to achieve from the task at hand. Creating a checklist of these outcomes can help you evaluate your work and stay on track. This connects well with the next tip, which is to find the "why" behind the task.
#1C : Discovering Your 'Why': How Connecting to the Soul of Your Work Boosts Motivation and Purpose
The intention behind your work is more crucial than the work itself. It's not just about analyzing the depth of the task, but about finding the underlying "why" behind it. Understanding the purpose and motivation behind the task helps you connect with the soul of the work, giving it a deeper meaning.
#2 MINIMALISM
One does not accumulate but eliminate. It is not daily increase but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always run to simplicity – Bruce Lee
Embracing minimalism and prioritizing quality over quantity can have numerous benefits for your mindset, productivity, and overall well-being. By decluttering your physical space and being mindful of your possessions, you create a sense of calm, avoid distractions, and live more intentionally. Minimalism also promotes sustainability and environmental consciousness, contributing to a more responsible and conscious way of living. So, consider incorporating minimalism into your life and experience the positive effects it can bring.
#2A : Declutter Your Life: The Power of Minimalism for Increased Productivity and Focus
This first point is for the mindset. Be a minimal soul. The mindset is to have only important things.
#2B : Maximize Your Productivity with the 80/20 Rule: Prioritize What Matters Most
Pareto's 80/20 Law is a powerful concept that can be applied to various aspects of life. Take a moment to reflect and ask yourself: What 20% of sources contribute to 80% of your happiness? These sources could be people who bring positivity into your life, habits that improve your wellbeing, or possessions that hold sentimental value. By identifying these sources, you can prioritize them and ensure they play a prominent role in your daily life.
#2C : Focus on What Matters: Eliminate Distractions and Boost Productivity
I would recommend selling or giving away all non-important items, but if that's challenging for you, you can start with a "Hoarding Box." A Hoarding Box is simply a designated box for storing non-essential items that you may think you'll use later or that are one-off items. Once you become more comfortable with minimalism, you can create a donation/sell box to dispose of those items. By the end of the day, you'll have saved more space for yourself and embraced a higher quality lifestyle. Thank me later!
#3 ORGANIZED
I can’t give you a sure-fire formula for success, But I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time- Herbert Bayward Swope
#3A Organize Your Life: Boost Your Productivity in Every Task
It's important to be strict with yourself and tolerant with others when it comes to making changes in your life. You have to be brutally honest with yourself and identify the things that are holding you back.
Create a plan with simple, actionable steps that you can take, and don't delay it for tomorrow, start now. Remember that even a long-term plan can begin with a small baby step that you can take immediately.
#3B Productivity through Organization: Staying on Track During Lazy Times
Telling your mind that you've slept enough and waking up promptly can set the tone for a productive day ahead. It helps you avoid hitting the snooze button repeatedly and wasting precious time in bed. Similarly, tackling small tasks that take only 2 minutes to complete can prevent them from piling up and becoming overwhelming later on.
So, take a cue from these golden rules and start implementing them in your daily life. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll see the positive impact on your productivity, motivation, and overall success. Embrace the power of taking small steps and starting now to achieve your goals and fulfill your potential.
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#3C Efficient Task Management: Harnessing the Power of Tools and Reminders for Productivity
My task management system is designed to keep me organized, focused, and motivated. It's a simple yet powerful approach that combines different tools and techniques to help me stay on top of my tasks and achieve my goals.
#3D Building Positive Habits with Habit Stacking: Unlocking Your Full Potential
Habit stacking involves linking one habit to another in a sequential manner.
For example, you could stack habits such as waking up, drinking warm water, brushing your teeth, and listening to a motivational video. During your commute, you could listen to audiobooks, and upon reaching home, you could wash your face and put things back in their place. By stacking these positive habits in a sequence, they become part of your daily discipline, helping you establish a routine that promotes productivity and well-being.
#4 HEALTHY BODY AND MIND
#4A Feeding the Body and Soul: The Importance of Nourishing Food and Uplifting Music
Consume easily digestible foods that improve both your brain and body for optimal health. Once, I had the opportunity to meet Balaji Viswanathan Ph.D. ,CEO and founder of Invento Robotics and a top Quora writer. When I asked him about the one thing he finds super important, his answer was simple: he ensures he eats brain foods for breakfast to provide enough energy for his brain throughout the day. It's crucial to maintain a healthy diet with fruits, dry fruits, and other foods known to be beneficial for the brain. In addition to nourishing your body, consider incorporating good music into your routine. Personally, I listen to instrumental music on loop while I work, as it elevates my mind and fuels me. Music has been one of my best sources of inspiration and motivation.
#4B Nourishing the Soul: The Power of Meditation and Prayer for Mindful Living
I have been listening to Krishnamurthy, and in my opinion, he is genuinely the best meditation guru I've come across on YouTube. One thing he emphasizes is that you don't need a specific posture, system, mantra, or ambiance to meditate. In fact, you don't have to struggle to focus during meditation. Yes, you heard it right. You don't have to struggle. According to Krishnamurthy, meditation is meant to end all struggles, and if you find yourself struggling to meditate, then there is no real point to it. Meditation is about experiencing, not struggling. Sooner or later, you will find yourself in a position where you are quiet, focused, and content, without any effort.
It's about being in the present moment and finding peace within yourself. Krishnamurthy's teachings have helped me understand that meditation is a natural state of being, and it can bring a sense of tranquility and happiness into our lives.
#4C Recharge and Reenergize: Strategies for Boosting Your Energy When You're Feeling Weak
It's crucial to prioritize recharging when you feel mentally or physically weak. Often, our minds play a significant role in controlling our state of being. To break free from this state, you can use quick starters to boost your mind. One effective approach is to listen to motivational videos that inspire and uplift you. Alternatively, you can try taking a refreshing 5-minute shower or going for a nature walk to reconnect with nature and clear your mind. The key here is to take action and create movement, as it can help you feel better and overcome the feeling of weakness. Taking proactive steps towards self-care and rejuvenation can lead to improved mental and physical well-being. Remember, self-care is essential in maintaining a healthy mindset and overall well-being.
#5 CREATIVITY
Creation is better means of self expression than possession; it is through creation, not possessing, that life is revealed – Vida D Scudder
#5A Carving Out Time for Creativity: Making Room for Creative Work in Your Busy Schedule
Taking some creative time aside every day for at least 20 minutes can have several benefits. It allows you to engage in activities that stimulate your creativity and self-expression, such as painting, writing, or composing poems. These creative outlets can be a form of personal expression, a way to unwind, and a means to explore new ideas and perspectives.
#5B Unleashing Creativity: Embracing New Experiments for Personal Growth
Engaging in creative activities, such as learning a new language, trying digital painting, or attempting astro photography, can have a profound impact on unlocking your full potential and gaining new perspectives.
These pursuits can go beyond just being hobbies or pastimes, and can actually lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth.
#6 IMPROVISATION
#6A Embracing an Improvement Mindset: Elevating Every Task, Big or Small
It's fascinating how small, incremental improvements can lead to significant progress over time. If you aim to get just one percent better each day for a year, by the end of that year, you'll be thirty-seven times better than when you started. This highlights the power of compound growth, where even the tiniest of improvements can add up and create a substantial impact
#6B The Power of Taking a Step Back: Improving Tasks with a Fresh Perspective
Absolutely! Taking a brief moment to pause and reflect on how you can improve a task that you've been doing regularly can be incredibly valuable. It allows you to approach the task with a fresh perspective and identify areas where you can make small but meaningful changes to enhance the outcome.
These are little snippets from the book I have written. I have detailed each item with actionable tasks. Its available in Amazon
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