We’ve all felt like we’re in a never-ending rat race. It could seem as though there are not enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done given the job, family responsibilities, and social engagements. Because of this, many people neglect the things that are genuinely essential to them, such as following a passion, spending time with loved ones, or simply pausing to breathe and refuel.
Because of this, it’s more crucial than ever to find a method to give the things that make us happy and fulfilled top priority, despite the chaos of daily life. Connor has provided productivity training to numerous businesses, including Google, YouTube, L’Oréal, and Klarna. He also runs Forgewell, an education firm that aids businesses in changing their cultures and enhancing performance, engagement, and well-being among their workforce, along with his wife Claire.
Concentrate on One Thing
Being attentive and productive might be difficult because we are frequently sidetracked and multitasking by default. Setting aside an hour or so per day for serious focus on ONE subject that is truly essential to you is what you should do. This could include both personal and professional objectives, such as pursuing a new career path or position or organizing a family vacation or book. Whatever it is, the key is to give it your full attention and energy, regardless of what else in our day goes wrong. In your daily schedule, it’s essentially one big thing that you prioritize and guard.
By doing this, you switch your attention from being efficient (completing many small tasks) to being effective (advancing an issue that is important to you). You’ll have a sense of accomplishment and success knowing that you’ve made progress towards a goal that is significant to you.
But I think focus yourself and having the intention and the purpose of one thing is amazing, because at the end of the day, if everything else goes to sh*t, if you do have that thing that you really invested your energy and attention into, it feels really good. — Connor Swenson
Follow your gut When Setting Priorities
Put the tasks that are urgent, satisfying, or enjoyable in order of importance. Each day, pay attention to what your body is asking you to do. What one thing could you do right now to lessen the urgency of everything else?
I have this time blocked every day in my calendar. But I’m not choosing my one thing weeks or months in advance, I’m usually choosing it the morning of after I go for a morning walk. I sit down, I might close my eyes, I might even journal a little bit and I might just think, “what’s that thing that’s calling for my attention?” And if I just stop and I just listen, that thing usually arises because sometimes it’s something that feels like really exciting and there’s a creative energy and it’s like, OOH, that’s a thing that I really want to dive into today. Sometimes there is something that is quite urgent. — Connor Swenson
Prioritization, in Connor’s opinion, is a process that you go through in your life as you discover what works best for you.
Establish Limits
You can efficiently manage your time and attention by setting boundaries. You can prioritize your duties and better manage your time when you have clearly defined boundaries. If you don’t establish clear boundaries, it’s simple to become distracted by distractions or commitments that conflict with your priorities and ambitions.
When you’re working on a project or going to an event, you can sit down and say, all right, what are the rules of the road? How do we communicate? When people don’t do that, it’s a mistake because then it becomes just this jumble and it’s very overwhelming. Instead of saying, “all right, let’s agree,” let’s think about and also just to share boundaries. — Connor Swenson
To do this, you must discuss with others what you consider to be acceptable and objectionable. For instance, some people would not mind being phoned on the weekends, whilst others might like to maintain a strict 9 to 5 routine. You may prevent misunderstandings and achieve a better work-life balance by having these conversations and setting clear boundaries.
Although establishing boundaries can be challenging, the time and effort spent on it will be well worth it in the end.
Final Reflections
Setting limits and prioritizing tasks based on one’s own intuition and a balance of urgency, pleasure, and joy is necessary to make time for the things that are important in one’s life. It’s critical to follow your gut and choose the one thing that demands your full focus.
You may reduce stress and increase your sense of fulfillment in both your personal and professional life by setting priorities wisely. Watch the complete conversation here to learn more about Connor’s experiences and incredible productivity ideas.
