Pragmatism is the American way.
We, or at least many of us in this part of the world, don’t like to do things that don’t have a payoff.
This morning, I heard a guy being interviewed making the claim that if you want to know whether something works or not, you need to measure it.
I can dig it.
That’s what I am doing with these four simple Daily Planning Methods: The Rule of Three, Ivy Lee, 333, and 135.
Essentially, I am testing the 135 Method because intuitively it seemed to fit best with my current life situation and commitments.
How is the 135 Method working so far?
Pretty good.
So far this week, I have completed all my 1, 3, and 5 tasks each day.
That’s great.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I tend to let some of my five (5) tasks take longer than I have planned for them.
For example, I am decluttering all my November pictures and videos on my phone.
I don’t think there has been a day when I haven’t spent at least 15 minutes on this.
I like to batch five days of these together if I can.
Pictures are easy. Videos take longer.
I tend to shoot fewer videos these days because of this practice. LOL
Also, I was planning a trip back to the PNW in December.
I could have stopped after 5–10 minutes and continued today.
Instead, I pushed myself to collect all the information I needed to make a good decision, made the decision, and booked the trip.
It probably took an hour, perhaps more, and I have a follow-up action to close the loop on this little mini-project.
Overall, the 135 Method seems to keep me grounded and focused pretty well.
It feels like I am pushing myself some, but also allowing things to happen more naturally and spontaneously.
That said, I am still considering it against the 333 Method.
Today I want to discuss the last numbers in each.
What do the last three (3) and the five (5) stand for in the two systems?
In the 333 Method, these last three are called maintenance tasks.
They are meant to help you keep your work and personal life on track.
They are also supposed to be done when your mental energy is lower.
They don’t require the same amount of focus and willpower as the three hours of deep work or the three timely and/or emotionally resistant tasks.
Evidently, these can be things like cleaning out your email inbox, exercising, or planning your next day or week.
Hmm.
If all I did were three maintenance tasks per day, I would probably end up on the street.
That said, I get it.
You’re prioritizing three of these in the method.
The five tasks in the 135 Method are meant to help you build or maintain momentum on important goals or projects.
They are also intended to be quick wins, taking five to twenty minutes each.
Yeah, that makes sense to me.
Five minutes is tough,
but, most of the five items I’ve been prioritizing fall into the 30-minutes-or-less category.
I also like the idea of setting a minimum acceptable target for each.
For example, as long as I do five minutes of cleaning or decluttering, I have met the daily goal.
Sure, I prefer to finish what I start.
However, some days are more hectic than others.
Therefore, I am still leaning toward the 135 Method over the other three methods.
The 333 Method could work if I moved my three longer walks to the last three (i.e., consider them maintenance tasks).
Instead of five, I would then only prioritize three timely/urgent and procrastination-prone items.
What would the three be?
Guitar practice fits there.
Planning my trip to the PNW is the type of thing I will procrastinate on, too, so it would fit.
Rehearsing my songs?
No, I enjoy doing that.
However, I feel it is important enough to keep track of how often I do it so I don’t lose steam.
Thus, it is a better momentum-type task, like the five in the 135 Method.
Well, there you have it. I am going to stick with the 135 Method for now.
I’ll keep making notes on how it is working and report back any insights.
In the meantime, I am wanting to start putting some time into other questions.
For example, I keep coming back to wanting to explore the question of why there is so much focus on careers and the elevation of entrepreneurship to a level of almost worship in our society.
As I was out walking yesterday, I was thinking about how much money and stuff one really needs to be happy and have a fulfilling life.
I got on the career treadmill because that is what one does.
Or at least, I thought that was what I needed to do, and a part of me wanted to I suppose.
But if money, security, stability, predictability, status, and values such as these had not been so critical, what would I have done differently in my life?
Yes, this is why I think Your Money or Your Life and, later, the Early Retirement Extreme blog resonated with me so much.
However, neither one of these sources really helps answer the “what now” questions for someone who has reached FIRE.
When you have “enough,” what does a well-lived life look like?
One that you can have without pursuing the traditional ideas of filling your time up with side hustles, volunteering, entrepreneurship, and such?
How do you not fall for the same old advice and find your own heartfelt path?
Part of me is thinking that this is what this blog is about.
It’s a mystery tour out on a Highway to Yeah.