Deadlines and Commitments

Productivity hacks

I embrace them as a productivity hack. Deadlines and commitments make us productive by forcing us to focus and shelve all the really interesting distractions that keep us from completing our appointed tasks. If you want to get more done, commit to something with a deadline and consequences to not finishing. The consequences can be embarrassment, humiliation, monetary loss, a law suit, or anything else that feels uncomfortable.

What you leave in and what you leave out. Deadlines can be really useful in pushing us to achieve our goals, if the commitment isn’t a bridge too far and is challenging but sensible and achievable. The required work needs to be in the sweet spot of challenging enough that we aren’t bored and easy enough that you don’t panic and stress.

Flow Channel

Flow state hackers call that Goldilocks state the flow channel, just the right amount of stress to be motivating and attention focusing. Make your commitments fit your flow channel.