I lived like Elon for 1 year...

TL;DR

The author decided to live like Elon Musk and time block their day into five-minute intervals for a year, learning valuable lessons about productivity and prioritization.

Transcript

Elon Musk no matter what your opinion is of the guy you can't deny that he is a very productive man in fact many people see him as the Pinnacle of human efficiency and I decided to live like him for a whole year for those of you that are new I'm Dr Justin sung a former medical doctor and now full-time learning coach back in 2015 I was living in ano... Read More

Key Insights

• 😅 Time blocking is a popular time management technique that divides the day into discrete blocks and assigns tasks to each block, with Elon Musk reportedly using five-minute blocks. ⏰ Time blocking helps increase awareness of wasted time and distinguishes between intentional and unintentional time investment, leading to increased productivity and intentionality in how time is spent.
• 🔁 Chaining tasks together based on the state of mind can improve efficiency throughout the day, taking advantage of different mental states for different tasks.
• ⚡️ Adjusting and micromanaging schedules on the fly builds adaptability and confidence in handling unexpected events or changes in plans, ensuring productivity is not derailed by disruptions.
• 😓 Extreme time blocking into five-minute intervals can lead to chronic stress, impatience, and an inability to relax, causing strain on mental and emotional well-being.
• 📝 Prioritizing tasks is more important than strictly managing time, as efficient task management allows for more productivity and progress toward goals, giving future you a better position and trajectory.
• 🤔 Recognizing which tasks have a leverage effect on others and prioritizing them can lead to increased efficiency and reduce the overall number of tasks, resulting in higher productivity.
• 🛠️ Employing a conscious and strict prioritization method, even in school, can lead to greater control over time and productivity, improving the ability to make intentional choices for each day.

Questions & Answers

Q: Did time blocking into five-minute intervals significantly increase the author's productivity?

While the author did achieve many goals and tasks during the year of time blocking, they argue that task prioritization is more crucial for productivity than time management techniques like extreme time blocking.

Q: How did time blocking into five-minute intervals affect the author's stress levels and overall well-being?

The author found that time blocking created constant stress and impatience, leading to a tense and restless state of mind. They often felt annoyed by anything that derailed their tightly scheduled day, and even socializing with friends became difficult.

Q: What were the benefits of time blocking at five-minute intervals according to the author?

The author found that time blocking helped them identify wasted time, chain tasks together more efficiently, and become skilled at adjusting their schedule on the fly. It also heightened their awareness of how they were spending their time.

Q: What is the author's current approach to time management and productivity?

The author now prioritizes tasks over strict time blocking and focuses on leveraging tasks that have a greater impact on their overall goals. They prioritize strict task prioritization over time management techniques and have seen increased productivity and a better work-life balance as a result.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author experimented with time blocking their day into five-minute intervals, inspired by Elon Musk's reported schedule.

• Benefits of time blocking included increased awareness of wasted time, the ability to chain tasks efficiently, and improved skills in adjusting schedules on the fly.

• However, the experience was also stressful, led to constant stress and impatience, and hindered the author's ability to prioritize tasks effectively.