Productivity (1): Reframing
We've been talking about self-improvement last series. Here's a quick catch-up. For those who are just joining us, welcome aboard the struggle bus! 🚌 Subscribe to pay a ticket
Aaron
This week, we're going to focus on productivity, in particular on what productivity actually means in my opinion. Let's dive in.
以下大部分中文翻译由机器完成，为了保持原汁原味，建议全英文食用😋
Why Hustling Like a Hamster on a Wheel isn't the Key to Productivity？
Imagine productivity as a buffet in a five-star hotel – the goal is to get your money's worth without making yourself sick. Sounds easy, right? But it's easier said than done, especially when you're trying to balance between stuffing your plate and not wasting food. So, why not change the goal towards minimizing waste? After all, it's not just about how much you can shovel down, but enjoying each bite to its fullest.
仓鼠困境
想象一下，生产力就像五星级酒店的自助餐——目标是物有所值，同时又不让自己吃撑。听起来简单对吧？但事实上，这比说起来要难得多，尤其是当你试图在不浪费食物的同时装满自己的盘子。那么，为什么不把目标转向尽量减少浪费呢？毕竟，重要的不仅仅是你能吃多少，而是要充分享受每一口。
Quality over Quantity
Ever stood before a buffet table, plate in hand, eyes bigger than your stomach, overwhelmed by the choices? That's the morning routine for me, a solopreneur whose to-do list is more like endless buffet choices. The strategy? Prioritize like you're eyeing the prime rib and lobster section – focus on what matters most (Right now, there's something bigger than churning out blog posts, hence the late publication – my apologies). I've learned, sometimes the hard way, that finishing one dish (task) of a grander feast (project) at a time keeps you from feeling overwhelmed. It's about giving your full attention on one mouthful (task) at a time, savoring the progress bite by bite, ensuring you don't end up with a plate (or schedule) that's way too full to enjoy.
质量胜于数量
曾经站在自助餐桌前，手里拿着盘子，眼睛比肚子还大，被眼前的选择压得喘不过气来吗？这就是我这个独立创业者的日常，我的待办事项清单就像无尽的自助餐选择一样。策略是？像你盯着最好的肋骨和龙虾区那样优先考虑——专注于最重要的事情（现在，有比写博客更大的事情，因此发布晚了——我很抱歉）。我学到了，有时候是通过硬的方式，一次完成一个宏伟项目（盛宴）中的一道菜（任务），可以防止你在自助餐结束前感到不知所措。这就是关于一次专注于一个任务（一口），一点一点地品尝进步，确保你的盘子（或日程）不会太满而无法享受。
Rocks over Sand
Ever heard about the big rocks, pebbles and sand story? Not yet, no worries, I've got you covered. Picture your day as a glass jar – first, you fill it with big rocks (your major tasks), then pebbles (smaller, yet significant tasks) fill in the gaps, and finally, sand (the minutiae of daily life) tops it off. If you start with sand, you'll never fit the big rocks in. It's a classic lesson in prioritizing: tackle the big, juicy tasks first, the ones that really move the needle, and you'll find there's room for everything else. This is the golden rule of productivity. So, let's dive into those big rocks and leave the sand for the beach.
大石头优先
听说过大石头、小石子和沙子的故事吗？还没有？没关系，我来给你讲解。想象你的一天是一个玻璃瓶——首先，你用大石头（你的主要任务）填满它，然后用小石子（较小但同样重要的任务）填补空隙，最后，沙子（日常生活的细节）覆盖顶部。如果你先放沙子，你就永远放不下大石头。这是优先事项的经典教训：首先处理那些真正推动针头的大而多汁的任务，你会发现其他一切都有空间。这是生产力的黄金规则。所以，让我们深入到那些大石头中，把沙子留给海滩。
The Law of Diminishing Returns
Here's a fun fact: Eating your favorite bun feels fantastic the first time. The second? Still good, but the magic starts to wane. By the third, it's like, "Was this bun always this salty?" This is the law of diminishing returns playing out, not just in snacks but in our efforts too. Ever crammed for an exam only to find your brain out of order before you turn to next chapter? That's because, after a certain point, each additional hour of work or study brings less and less return on investment. The key? Bite-sized efforts, consistently over time, beat a feast of productivity that leaves you too full to function.
收益递减法则
这里有一个有趣的事实：第一次吃你最喜欢的面包感觉棒极了。第二次？还不错，但魔力开始减弱。到了第三次，就像，“这个面包一直这么咸吗？”这就是收益递减法则在发挥作用，不仅仅在零食上，在我们的努力上也是如此。曾经为了考试而临时抱佛脚，结果发现大脑在你翻到下一章之前就已经罢工了吗？这是因为，过了某个点，每增加一个小时的工作或学习带来的回报越来越少。关键是？一次一点地持续努力，比让你吃撑的生产力盛宴更胜一筹。
Importance of Rest & Recovery
Humans aren't machines, despite what your coffee addiction tells you. We need a proper rest and a change of outlook, like a good night's sleep or a breath of fresh air in the nature. Skipping rest is like skipping leg day (no idea what happens without leg days? picture an inverted triangle body with chicken legs underneath) – everything else might look fine, but the foundation is shaky. Without proper breaks to reset and recharge, we're more likely to encounter negative emotions, the villain of productivity. So, remember, taking time off isn't lazy. It's a retreat for the greater good of efficiency.
休息与恢复的重要性
尽管你的咖啡成瘾告诉你人类不是机器，我们确实需要适当的休息和换个心情，比如一觉好睡或在大自然中呼吸新鲜空气。忽略休息就像忽略腿部训练日（不知道不练腿会发生什么？想象一个上身健壮但下身细如鸡腿的倒三角体形）——其他一切看起来可能都还不错，但基础却很不稳固。没有适当的休息来重置和充电，我们更容易遇到阻碍生产力的负面情绪。所以，记住，休息并不是懒惰。这是为了效率更高的大好事。
Strategic Outsourcing
Not everyone can be as multitalented as Da Vinci, excelling at everything from art to zoology. And that's okay. The trick is to play to your strengths (ONLY good at sleeping? Teach those who can't sleep well!). And for everything else, there's outsourcing. In the student world, it's the age-old tradition of "Can I peek at your homework?" In business, it means paying for services that bolster your own, like not building my own server for this website but hosting it on a reliable provider. Recognize where your genius lies and for everything else, find your squad.
策略性外包
并不是每个人都能像达芬奇那样多才多艺，擅长从艺术到动物学的一切。这没关系。诀窍是利用你的长处（只擅长睡觉？教那些睡不好的人！）。对于其他方面，就有外包的存在。在学生世界里，这是“我可以看看你的作业吗？”的老传统。在商业中，这意味着为增强自己的服务而付费，比如我不会为这个网站建立自己的服务器，但会在一个可靠的提供商那里托管。认识到你的天赋所在，对于其他一切，找到你的团队。
The road to productivity isn't paved with working harder, but mastering the art of working smarter. By focusing on quality of your work and the rocks in your professional and personal life, recognizing the point of diminishing returns, valuing rest, and smart outsourcing, you can turn productivity into some of your most enjoyable buffets, where you're savoring the best dishes without overstuffing. Cheers to that!
吃点好的
生产力之路不是靠努力工作铺就的，而是掌握更聪明地工作的艺术。通过专注于你的工作质量和你的专业及个人生活中的“大石头”，认识到收益递减点，重视休息，并智能外包，你可以将生产力变成你最享受的自助餐之一，享受最佳菜肴而不会吃得过饱。干杯！
