Your Brain Has RAM

As a content creator, I know that the to-do lists easily begin to feel infinite in size. There is always something new to make, always new ideas to write down, to film, or to edit. There will never ever be enough time in the day to get it all done. 

There have been countless times when I have felt overwhelmed thinking about all of the tasks that absolutely need to get done… or else. 

I usually tell myself the usual things: I just need to take it one thing at a time, I need to focus more, I need to work smarter, not harder. 

This doesn't usually work, and the more I curse myself out for not getting enough done, the less I get done. 

There are two Ideas I want to share that have done wonders in helping me stay within a reasonable range of productivity without burning out.

Your brain has RAM

Just like a computer, your brain has RAM. It can only process a certain amount of information at a time. If you throw too many tasks at it all at once it will slow down before it shuts down altogether. 

This is why I have found a daily to-do list system to be of great help. 

WHAT MOST FORGET. 

You can’t write down all the tasks that you have to do, big and small, otherwise, you will overwhelm yourself. 

You need to make this list as short as possible by writing down the 1-5 tasks (yes, your goal can be a single task)  that will make the day ahead a success in your eyes. If you get those things done, you can sleep that night with another win on the pile, irrespective of all the things that didn’t make the list that you didn’t get done. 

This is your win condition for the day. 

This means that those few things that do make the cut matter. Your brain can direct its attention to those tasks first. Once those are done, any other work you get done or time that you have is bonus time. It is during this bonus time that you can typically get the mini-tasks done. 

You also should not write your plans after your day has begun - Ideally the night before or first thing in the morning. Then the world and all of its pressures have not reached you yet. Once you have a plan for your day, you have a mental structure that will naturally keep you more focused than you would have been without it. 

Prioritize your energy

The second idea is about prioritizing your energy. This means making sure that on the days when you really aren’t feeling it; when your energy is down, and you're having trouble focusing even on the work that you typically enjoy. On these days it’s important that you take it easier on yourself. 

Take lots of breaks to walk and relax, so that in the long term you can maintain the enjoyment you have of that work. 

You make sure that you can keep doing your work because you want to, not because you have to. 

If you have been “forcing it” for the last couple of days, and the toll is building up, make sure to zoom out. Remember that if you push too hard, you will be useless for a long time, a lot longer than you would be if you took today off, and got back to it tomorrow. 

Whenever I am doing work, or planning on doing work, I always make sure to do an internal energy check-in. 

If my energy is lower than my baseline -> I adjust my plan accordingly. 

If my energy is higher than the baseline -> I add an optional extra task to my list to do if I finish my plan with energy to spare. 

That is all for this week's edition. 

I hope you have a good week and take care of yourselves.

Sincerely, 

The Creator Club