Productivity HACK: The LEGO Technique

Productivity HACK: The LEGO Technique

 

A couple of weeks back, something felt off.

I have a routine that I follow to run the ArmaniTalks business.

Normally, I execute my moves with grace.

 

But as of late, there was some resistance to one of the activities:

  • Reading.

 

I read for 2 hours a day.

  • 1 hour of fiction.
  • 1 hour of nonfiction.

 

I execute this block around 4-6 pm every day.

 

As a person who runs a business based on communication skills, it’s important to read.

Not for pleasure, but for practice.

 

Despite it being a must for the ArmaniTalks business, I normally have pleasure in reading.

It doesn’t feel like a chore.

 

But as of late, that changed.

I began to dread it.

 

I exhaust so much of my mental faculties throughout the day, that the reading block gave me the ick.

Eventually, when the reading block began, I entered it with a negative attitude.

 

I said:

‘If this author uses any fancy words, then I’m not going to read the book.’

 

The block begins.

 

2 minutes in, I stop and say:

‘I spotted a fancy word! I’m done for today.’

 

Have you ever had a moment like that?

Where you suddenly built a distaste for an important task?

 

Before, you were executing the task fine and dandy.

But as of late, it became a chore.

 

We all have moments like that.

Let me tell you what I ended up doing after my dilemma…

 

The Cure for My Reading Flu

 

A lot of authors say:

‘When you are not consistent in your reading practice, your writing will suffer.’

 

I began to feel the effects firsthand.

The words did not flow out of me.

It felt forced out.

 

Realizing I needed to do something about my reading flu, I got an idea.

 

‘Armani, you’re currently activating the reading block around 4-6 pm. Aka: Later in the day. Why not activate the block earlier in the day?’

 

So, I bumped up the reading block 2 slots earlier.

Right after the gym, I would read.

  • 8am – 10am.

 

I’ve been doing this strategy for a couple of weeks now.

The results are in….

 

This has been a game-changer.

 

What I Learned From this Experience

 

Even though I ended my day doing the same activities, simply tinkering with when I executed the blocks gave me a new-found spirit.

After making the change, I also was able to do my other blocks in a focused way, rather than in a half-assed way.

 

(Block = A time allotted for a productive task).

 

When there is a block that sparks dread as reading did for me…

We think about the dread block a lot, making our execution in the other blocks sloppy.

 

The most important lesson I learned from this whole ordeal was how important reading your emotions was for sustained productivity.

Not the productivity that is active every now and then.

I’m talking about sustained greatness!

 

Despite intellectually knowing we need to be working, our body is not complying.

There is a tremendous lag.

 

The lag can happen out of the blue moon!

One day, you don’t mind doing a certain activity.

And the next day, you can’t stand it.

 

Rather than blowing up all your systems and starting over, I have a simpler solution:

  • Toggle the times.

 

Applying the Lego Technique to Your Life

 

I’m about to give you 2 steps.

But don’t bother looking at the 2 steps if you are perfectly satisfied with your routines.

If you feel unsatisfied with 1 or more blocks, then read on.

 

The Lego Technique:

  1. Identify blocks.
  2. Rearrange blocks.

Bonus tip: Put the block that you dread the most in the earlier portion of your day.

 

Let’s say you’re an athlete.

A few sample blocks include:

  • Lift weights
  • Play practice games
  • Work on agility/stretching
  • Watch film

 

Let’s say you hate watching film the most.

You’re an active fellow and watching film requires you to sit on your butt.

 

As of late, you’ve been neglecting the film.

Unfortunately, this is making your on-field performance sloppy.

 

So….

Rather than executing the ‘watching film block’ as the last segment in your day.

Do it first or second!

 

Before:

  1. Lift weights
  2. Play practice games
  3. Work on agility/stretching
  4. Watch film

After:

  1. Watch film
  2. Lift weights
  3. Play practice games
  4. Work on agility/stretching

 

Once that block is executed, you’ll feel a rush of dopamine for getting that activity done.

Play around.

 

Side note: I was lucky to have gotten it right the first time by switching my reading block.

You may not be as lucky.

It may require some tinkering from your end to find out which block alignment works for you.

.

But you know it’s right when it feels like the clicking of a puzzle.

 

There will be a CLICK in the heart region when you get your blocks right.

The dread will melt away.

And a powerful spirit will take its place!

 

Adding Life to Your Routines

 

No matter how disciplined a person is, productivity can get boring.

Even if you consider yourself a creature of habits.

 

At times, we must blow everything up and start over.

But other times, the solution is less drastic.

 

We have the prefect Legos.

Aka: our activity blocks.

 

We simply need to realign those blocks.

 

At times, the blocks you enjoyed before now spark dread.

Other times, the blocks you dreaded now spark joy.

 

Whenever emotions abrupty change, tinker with realligning the blocks.

 

A lot of self-improvement advice is always so logic centered.

But if the emotions are not in alignment, then it feels like we’re swimming against a tsunami.

 

Quit swimming against a tsunami and swim alongside it.

Use your body as a compass and showcase what sustained greatness looks like!

 

For more tips on productivity, be sure to check out:

  • Level Up Mentality: A Guide to Re-Engineer your Mindset for Confidence

 

In this book, you will learn more about:

  • Using your emotions as a compass.
  • Creating manageable systems.
  • Executing discipline through clarity.
  • Tracking your progress.

Plus, a bonus chapter on life laws & productivity cheatcodes.

 

GET HERE:

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Paperback/Kindle
Audiobook

– ArmaniTalks 🎙️🔥

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