Personal Productivity Made Simple

How to Build Your Booklet

This simple booklet is the backbone of the entire system you're about to learn. It couldn't be much simpler—just the book, 3x5 cards, a clip, and a pen.

UPDATE: I reference Shinola Notebooks because I like the size, shape, and feel of them, but one of my students let me know that they're now difficult to find. Any notebook will work just fine, so long as it's larger than the 3 x 5 cards it contains.

Part 2 Objectives:

1. Understand each component of the booklet and why they're important

2. Discover what each portion of the booklet represents

3. Learn what components you'll need to purchase

How to Clear and Calm Your Mind

There's a simple explanation for the anxiety and distractions that keep us from being at ease and getting more done—our brain thinks it needs to hold onto everything. But if we can get all of those things out of our head and capture them in a safe place, we'll experience immediate clarity and calmness.

Part 3 Objectives:

1. Learn a simple, fast way to clear and calm your mind

2. Review my narrative-based annual review process

3. Discover the process you can use to figure out what to include in this system

How to Tease Out Projects and Tasks

There's a simple explanation for the anxiety and distractions that keep us from being at ease and getting more done—our brain thinks it needs to hold onto everything. But if we can get all of those things out of our head and capture them in a safe place, we'll experience immediate clarity and calmness.

Part 4 Objectives:

1. Discover the critical difference between projects and tasks and why it's so important not to confuse them.

2. Learn why your brain will thank you for teasing out projects and tasks

3. Gain insights into why analog (pen and paper) systems preserve our focus, while digital systems threaten our focus

How to Capture ALL of Your Projects and Tasks

In order for your brain to relax and trust that you've captured all of your projects and tasks, you need a tool that can rival its ability to store and recall information. You need to not only capture everything that your brain would normally hold, you need to be able to access it when you need it.

Part 5 Objectives:

1. Learn how to integrate the analog and digital tools in this system

2. Discover what software will sync best with this system

3. Learn the three things you must do when you enter your projects and tasks into your software

How to Enter Projects and Tasks into Your Booklet

You now have a second brain. Your software is holding all of your projects and tasks so that your brain doesn't have to.

Part 6 Objectives:

1. Design your booklet and cards to capture the tasks and projects you need to do today and this week

2. Discover why to-do lists make getting things done harder, not easier

3. Learn how to budget time the time you put toward projects

How to Closeout This Week and Plan for Next Week

I love Friday afternoons! Each week I protect about 30 minutes to closeout one week, plan my weekend, and lay out my projects and tasks for the following week. I'll walk you through the four steps I follow in my weekly reviews and explain how you can begin putting them into practice immediately.

Part 7 Objectives:

1. Uncover the power of "+ items"

2. Discover a weekly ritual that will put closure on this week and prime you for next week

3. Take the steps you need to have a relaxing and productive weekend

How to Set Your Path and Track Your Progress

You've learned the system! You now have a system and set of tools that will take your productivity to the next level. But how can you track your progress throughout the year? I'll explain how you can make sure you stay on track and adjust your course when you get off track.

Part 8 Objectives:

1. Learn the simple habits you can put into place to make sure you stay on track

2. Discover why planning for 6-months is more practical than planning a year out

3. Recognize when you're off course and be able to get back on track