Are you having a hard time finishing your tasks and finding motivation to stay productive? Jay Shetty has an alternative method that might work for you. Jay Shetty, a former monk and now life coach, shared that most successful people do not utilize to-do lists, instead they schedule their tasks to maintain productivity. This method is known to be called “timeboxing” where your tasks are organized in a calendar format with designated times for them.
Here is how timeboxing can be set up. You can set up your calendar weekly or even monthly, depending how far in advance you have knowledge of your routines. Visualize all the tasks you need to complete for the next week. Estimate the amount of time each task will take, and start scheduling it in your calendar. Say you want to clean your living space next week and you estimate it will take about two hours, designate two hours of cleaning in your schedule for next week. Since there is an allotted time for each task, you might not be able to complete the task and that is okay. In fact, that is the key to being productive. If you dedicate time to work on a task every day, you will have no problem meeting deadlines and will have a less stressful experience than completing it in one sitting. This also allows you to step away if the task at hand is stressful and can help you get back to it another day with a more clear mind. The habit to be less hard on yourself will also start forming, as finding motivation will not be a problem. If you find that the time limit you set for a task is not enough, learn to expand and adjust your schedule as you see fit. The more you practice your schedule, the more accurate your time estimations will be. Additionally, contrary to typical to-do lists, timeboxing does not feel overwhelming. To-do lists tend to feel like a never ending list of tasks that have to be completed with little to no organization. This is why we suggest timeboxing as an alternative, since it creates structure and stability.
If, however, seeing the tasks checked off of the to-do list provides a sense of satisfaction that timeboxing does not recreate, consider having a “done list”. Alongside your schedule, you can have a separate section that lists every task you were able to complete as a way to reward your accomplishments. This is a form of cognitive reappraisal, a way to reframe a situation in a more positive perspective. Therefore, utilizing a “done list” and timeboxing together is highly recommended!
Reference:
Piñon, Natasha. “Former Monk Jay Shetty Says 'Most Successful, Productive People Don't Use to-Do Lists'-What He Does Instead.” CNBC, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2023, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/03/former-monk-jay-shetty-why-timeboxing-works-better-than-to-do-lists.html.