Productivity is Different for Everyone

Illustrator: Yuxuan Wu

The plethora of productivity advice can be daunting because there are unique approaches to each component of productivity. When scheduling, for example, do you try to stuff your day with activities or do you reserve a few hours for important work? Should you use the Pomodoro technique or complete attention-demanding work in long blocks? I am convinced from my numerous experiences discussing productivity that there is no universally supreme productivity strategy. 

That’s because everyone has different responsibilities and habits to consider when constructing a productive routine. As a high school student, I had to manage my schoolwork in addition to extracurricular interests. Compare my circumstances to those of a working parent, and the difference is so significant that we cannot apply the same productivity tools. Productivity advice should, therefore, be applied according to the individual. 

Take, for instance, the ubiquitous Pomodoro technique. Some people may adore the Pomodoro technique’s rewarding break system, while others may loathe how its interspersed breaks can disrupt focus. It’s your responsibility to decide when to use the Pomodoro technique, and you have the freedom to calibrate its implementation. What I’m getting at is that instead of treating productivity strategies as prescriptions, treat them as troves of information to help improve your current strategy. 

Some ways to modify popular productivity strategies

Pomodoro technique:

You can modify the length of the study and break periods. I recommend experimenting with your focus duration and testing how long it takes a break to reinvigorate you. You can also skip the breaks when you find yourself entering a powerful workflow.

Time blocking:

Time blocking is an effective planning tool, but not everyone has complete control over their time. It could be fruitful to leave many time blocks vacant to adjust for any spontaneous disruptions. Maybe time blocking is stressful for you and you prefer less rigid planning systems. 

Goals:

Is focusing on goals sapping the enjoyment out of life? Try creating goals that are exclusively focused on internal factors (ones that you can control). Is there no motivation to achieve a goal? You can set a reward for yourself.