How to increase productivity, cognitive function and gain more time without complicated systems or phone apps

Productivity call! Wake up! There is more work to do. More chores, more to do lists, more responsibilities. More, More, More! 

Don’t forget the commitments you took on because you didn’t have the heart to say no. Don’t forget to sacrifice the things you value to do more and more of the things you don’t want to do. The things you don’t even realize how they were added to your plate of an already full schedule. 

Or eliminate energy sucking, time sucking and soul sucking activities and live life on your own terms. 

In this article we will talk about how to be more productive, gain more cognitive function and live longer by making the main thing the main thing and Getting Time Back

Step-by-Step Instructions to More Freedom

We are overloaded with information and time sucking activities. Everyday is a war for who or what wins to get our attention. But, by eliminating as much as possible from our life we take charge and live life on our own terms. 

• Eliminate Before Refining
• Drive Flow with Mental and Physical Minimalism
• Activity: What Do You Value Most. Live Longer!
• Building a Stronger Mindset
• Creating a Flow Blueprint For Life
• Your No B*S Rules
• Daily Game Plan

Over the years I have read books and taken courses on productivity. I’m sharing some of the most useful steps I have come across that have given me more mental bandwidth, more time back and most importantly for me the feeling of fulfillment. 

Putting your foot down to say no to things that don’t bring you the life you want to live makes it easier to get the results, productivity and life you desire.

Eliminate Before Refining

Do an inventory of your life. What are the things in your life that you’re trying to fit into your calendar, that by eliminating them will free up cognitive load and time. 

Examples: 

• Unnecessary meeting that can be eliminated
• Give up alcohol instead of refining low value tasks to cure a hangover in the mornings
• Eliminate unused subscriptions that take away cognitive load, money and time. Just knowing that you are no longer paying for something you don’t use will bring a sense of relief. 

We live in a demanding fast-paced world with cognitive overload. Improve your cognitive load by the process of elimination and everything will seem possible. We can achieve everything only when we know what that really means to us.

Remember if it can be eliminated then do it instead of delegating and planning.

Drive Cognitive Flow with Mental and Physical Minimalism

Literally take inventory of everything around your home and decide if it’s positive or negative. 

Do you have too many TVs in your home, tablets and smart gadgets then eliminate most of them. This does not mean “kill fun”. If these things are more likely to distract you, maybe only keep your living room TV. Respect your environment and use it for what it’s meant to be used according to the life you want. 

• Get rid of extra clothes you no longer use
• Extra plates and cups you never use
• Get rid of random objects that only take up space

By optimizing your environment you are more likely to optimize your behavior. You will have gained more time for the activities you like, better clarity and more productivity just by eliminating time sucking items and behaviors. 

Activity to Live Longer: What Do you Value Most

Write Down Your Top Five “Activity Values” — Things you DO, that you value. 

For example: 

• quality time with family and friends (socializing)
• Learning
• health and exercise
• traveling 
• Working or Building a business

Now, everything outside of your top five activity values goes. 

No more!

• News 
• Social Media
• Alcohol 
• Watching TV and Movies
• Or any other tasks that consume time or other resources that are outside your values

Choose the top 5 low value activities and start with those. Eliminate them from your life for at least a week and see the difference of freedom in your life. 

By writing this down you become aware of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. 

Don’t spend valuable time on things you don’t care about. Live longer by gaining and spending time on being fulfilled. You gain more cognitive resources, and time to actually live life on your own terms. You become aware of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it 

Building a Stronger Mindset

By focusing on eliminating rather than trying to do it all, you gain more willpower, discipline and motivation. Your mindset shifts to a better version of you because now you are deciding where your time best deserves to be spent on. 

You Gain

• More flow
• More life
• More meaning
• More presence
• Less regret 
• More progress

You gain a stronger mindset by being in flow from eliminating unnecessary activities from your life.

You have to build the mental strength and discipline to say no. Even if it means saying no to friends and family when it comes to doing activities you know are of no value to the life you deserve. 

People only want the best version of you that serves them. Don’t let guilt or pressure derail you from your main values. If they really love you and care for you they will understand.

Creating a Flow Blueprint for Life

There are low value tasks that can’t be eliminated.

Then, you automate your life as much as possible. Discipline gives you the freedom to choose and do what you want. A person without discipline lives life in constant chaos.

Research suggests we make about 35,000 decisions a day. 

“And as your level of responsibility increases, so does the multitude of choices you have to make. It’s estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. Each decision, of course, carries certain consequences with it that are both good and bad.” – PBS

Would you rather be making decisions or winning the game?

You automate by creating your own no B*S Rules and your Daily Game Plan

Your No B*S Rules

Ex:

• What time will you wake up
• For how long will you work
• Have no weekday socializing 
• You will only take direct flights to save time and energy
• Have the same minimalist work set everytime
• A fixed workout time and day

Daily Game Plan

Deconstruct your day and map in detail what your day will look like.

Now, it’s easier and it will keep getting easier as you build momentum and discipline.

Key Considerations For Successfully Staying Consistent With Your Elimination Progress

The more you practice these steps the more clarity and flow you will gain in your daily life. Remember, it’s not about limiting yourself; it’s about eliminating what doesn’t serve you and going for what does. 

• Go for that vacation with your family
• Spend more time with your love ones
• Start that business you have been thinking about

This method of elimination has given me so much time back to do the things I enjoy. I have better clarity and cognitive function because I don’t have to keep track of so many low value things that take a mental toll on me. I also accomplish so much giving me a sense of freedom.

I hope this method helps even if it’s just a little. It’s not a one time thing. Keep analyzing and improving and the path to super performance will show up. 

Our lives are always changing, note that it will take time to really find out what to keep and what to eliminate. You will build discipline and clarity. Eventually it will become a habit and you will rip the fruits of your labor.