Iāve read hundreds of productivity books, and almost all of them agree with this statement:
We need to separateĀ planningĀ fromĀ doing.
They need different skills and mental toolboxes. Trying toĀ planĀ andĀ doĀ at the same time leads to distraction and procrastination.
For a few years now, my mental model for separating the two things has beenĀ The PilotĀ and the Plane. (Shoutout to my brother Taimur for coming up with the analogy lol – btw, check out our podcastĀ Not Overthinking).
First thing in the morning, IāmĀ The Pilot.Ā I grab my morning coffee, take a step back, and figure out what I want to get done that day. Then I take a break and switch into beingĀ The Plane. At this point, and for the rest of the day, my job is just to execute orders thatĀ The PilotāsĀ already given. Crucially, I donāt need to worry about planning, or think too hard about what IĀ couldĀ be doing with my time.
(I usually do this in the morning, but you could also do it just before bed).
šÆĀ Step 1: Set a Daily Highlight
I choose just one thing that Iām going to do today, and fully commit to it. Maybe call my grandma, script a video, or go for a run. The point is, I choose just one thing as my priority for the day, and commit to getting it done. Sounds simple, but how many times have you sat down in the evening and thought āI didnāt get aĀ single useful thingĀ done todayā?
Setting a Daily Highlight helps us do stuff that actually matters. If we did our highlight every day for a year, thatād be 365 goals achieved – which sounds pretty good.
Some tips on setting your Daily Highlight:
Start with a verb.Ā Try to start your Daily Highlight with a verb. Clarity wins every time.Ā Write Sundayās newsletterĀ gives the Plane a better direction than just ānewsletterā.
Lower the bar.Ā If youāve been procrastinating on a particular project, set your sights lower: maybe a 10 minute, very low-effort run around the block instead of a 2-hour gym session. This makes it way easier to get started.
Be specific.Ā Try to make your Daily Highlight something you could do in a single sitting. Donāt let some take up the whole day and leave you drained.
Especially when youāre just getting started, choosing Daily Highlights that areĀ clearĀ andĀ easyĀ will fuel your motivation-fire over time. š„
š Ā Step 2: Stick it in the calendar.
Once Iāve set my Daily Highlight, I time-block it in my calendar, and protect that time from any meetings or distractions that pop up during the day.
This gives my future self (The Plane) the clearest possible directions, and plenty of time to do what The Plane does best: knuckle down andĀ get stuff done.
You canāt call something a distraction unless you know what it is distracting you from. –Ā Nir Eyalā
š¤Ā Step 3: Make a Might-Do List.
The final (and most optional) step is to make a might-do list.Ā UnlikeĀ a list of stuff IĀ haveĀ to do, itās a brain dump of tasks IĀ might doĀ if I feel like it. I try to capture 100% of the possible tasks for that day. This clears my brain of internal clutter and helps The Pilot confirm that the Daily Highlight is the highest-priority thing for the day.
If we find ourselves in Plane mode wondering āisnāt there something more important I should be doingā, we can remember ourselves that The Pilot has everything under control – and get back to work.
Even if you just spend 10 seconds setting your Daily Highlight in the morning, I guarantee youāll be more productive and intentional with your time.
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
Ali xx
PSĀ Hereās how my Daily Highlight and Might-Do List looks using the essentialiĀ Daily Planning Sheets. Ngl, writing on my own stationery feels pretty good. ā¤ļø
š¹ Part-Time YouTuber Academy is back! š
We are officially launchingĀ Cohort 5 of theĀ Part-Time YouTuber AcademyĀ (PTYA), my online course on how to start and grow your YouTube channel from 0 to 100,000 subscribers.
So far, weāve helped more than 2,000 students to kick-start their channel, and several of them have moved past the 100,000 subs mark by now. Weāve had loads of heart-warmingĀ testimonialsĀ andĀ case studies. ā¤ļø
Me and my team have spent the last 3 months perfecting the course and incorporating lessons from our last four cohorts. All toĀ create a course that brings amazing results no matter ifĀ youāre a complete beginner looking to get started, or a pro and wanting to supercharge your channel.
If youād like to hear more aboutĀ what weāre planning and my latest tips for growing on YouTube, opt in by clicking the button below: Learn more about How To Grow on YouTube
š³ The Drop Conference 2022
On the 17th February Iām giving the keynote speech atĀ The Drop, a one-day virtual creator conferenceā. šŗ Iāll chat about how to be a part-time creatorpreneur and other fun stuff.
A bunch of other YouTubers will be there (linguamarina, Joma Tech, Nate OāBrien). Itās being co-run byĀ Luba, a PTYA student who youĀ might rememberĀ from the newsletter. HereāsĀ a link to The DropĀ if youāre interested.
ā„ļø My Favourite Things
š¬Ā YouTube Video –Ā The Problems with NFTsĀ by Folding Ideas. This is the first video in a while that Iāve watched at x1 speed. A super-eloquent, 2-hour long takedown of NFTs and crypto-bro culture thatās gone viral over the last 10 days (almost 4.2M views š¤Æ).
šBook –Ā The Pathless PathĀ by Paul Millerd. Been highlighting this like crazy, halfway through at the moment. It talks about what to do if you feel youāre wandering down the wrong path in life, and how to figure out what you really want. Itās got me feeling more OK with myĀ decision to quit medicine.
š¦Tweet Thread –Ā realskindoctor.eth. My medic friend Usama went viral with this tweet thread, dropping some absolute truth bombs about skincare. Might do a cheeky video on this š
š As a dermatologist, I think 95% of the truly scientific skincare tips that you should know can fit into one Tweet thread. All Instagram/YouTube/TikTok skincare education videos just repackage a few core principles with different dances/ brand names. Let me prove it… š§µ 1/
š¬ YouTube VideoĀ –Ā These Healthy Weeknight Meals are changing my lifeĀ by Ethan Chlebowski. Does what it says on the tin. Iām a big fan of Ethanās videos: home-style cooking with plenty of scientific detail. Heās also an oldĀ PTYA studentĀ whoās absolutely crushing it on YouTube – love it. š«
āļø Quote of the Week
Trying to solve a problem before being taught the solution leads to better learning, even when errors are made in the attempt.