{"id":13920,"date":"2023-06-07T16:50:31","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T16:50:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/armanitalks.com\/?p=13920"},"modified":"2023-06-07T17:17:22","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T17:17:22","slug":"productivity-hack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/armanitalks.com\/productivity-hack\/","title":{"rendered":"Productivity HACK: The LEGO Technique"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
A couple of weeks back, something felt off.<\/p>\n
I have a routine that I follow to run the ArmaniTalks business.<\/p>\n
Normally, I execute my moves with grace.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But as of late, there was some resistance to one of the activities:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I read for 2 hours a day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I execute this block around 4-6 pm every day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
As a person who runs a business based on communication skills, it\u2019s important to read.<\/a><\/p>\n
Not for pleasure, but for practice.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Despite it being a must for the ArmaniTalks business, I normally have pleasure in reading.<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t feel like a chore.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But as of late, that changed.<\/p>\n
I began to dread it.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
I exhaust so much of my mental faculties throughout the day, that the reading block gave me the ick.<\/p>\n
Eventually, when the reading block began, I entered it with a negative attitude.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I said:<\/p>\n
\u2018If this author uses any fancy words, then I\u2019m not going to read the book.’<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The block begins.<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2 minutes in, I stop and say:<\/p>\n
\u2018I spotted a fancy word! I\u2019m done for today.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Have you ever had a moment like that?<\/p>\n
Where you suddenly built a distaste for an important task?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Before, you were executing the task fine and dandy.<\/p>\n
But as of late, it became a chore.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We all have moments like that.<\/p>\n
Let me tell you what I ended up doing after my dilemma\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Cure for My Reading Flu<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
A lot of authors say:<\/p>\n
\u2018When you are not consistent in your reading practice, your writing will suffer.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I began to feel the effects firsthand.<\/p>\n
The words did not flow out of me.<\/p>\n
It felt forced out.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Realizing I needed to do something about my reading flu, I got an idea.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2018Armani, you\u2019re currently activating the reading block around 4-6 pm. Aka: Later in the day. Why not activate the block earlier in the day?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So, I bumped up the reading block 2 slots earlier.<\/p>\n
Right after the gym, I would read.<\/p>\n
\n
- 8am – 10am.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been doing this strategy for a couple of weeks now.<\/p>\n
The results are in\u2026.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This has been a game-changer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
What I Learned From this Experience<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Even though I ended my day doing the same activities, simply tinkering with when<\/strong> I executed the blocks gave me a new-found spirit.<\/p>\n
After making the change, I also was able to do my other blocks in a focused way, rather than in a half-assed way.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Block = A time allotted for a productive task).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When there is a block that sparks dread as reading did for me\u2026<\/p>\n
We think about the dread block a lot, making our execution in the other blocks sloppy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The most important lesson I learned from this whole ordeal was how important reading your emotions<\/a> was for sustained productivity.<\/p>\n
Not the productivity that is active every now and then.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m talking about sustained greatness!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Despite intellectually knowing we need to be working, our body is not complying.<\/p>\n
There is a tremendous lag.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The lag can happen out of the blue moon!<\/p>\n
One day, you don\u2019t mind doing a certain activity.<\/p>\n
And the next day, you can\u2019t stand it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rather than blowing up all your systems and starting over, I have a simpler solution:<\/p>\n
\n
- Toggle the times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Applying the Lego Technique to Your Life<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
I\u2019m about to give you 2 steps.<\/p>\n
But don\u2019t bother looking at the 2 steps if you are perfectly satisfied with your routines.<\/p>\n
If you feel unsatisfied with 1 or more blocks, then read on.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Lego Technique:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n
- Identify blocks.<\/li>\n
- Rearrange blocks.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Bonus tip: Put the block that you dread the most in the earlier portion of your day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s say you\u2019re an athlete.<\/p>\n
A few sample blocks include:<\/p>\n
\n
- Lift weights<\/li>\n
- Play practice games<\/li>\n
- Work on agility\/stretching<\/li>\n
- Watch film<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s say you hate watching film the most.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re an active fellow and watching film requires you to sit on your butt.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As of late, you\u2019ve been neglecting the film.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, this is making your on-field performance sloppy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So\u2026.<\/p>\n
Rather than executing the \u2018watching film block\u2019 as the last segment in your day.<\/p>\n
Do it first or second!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Before:<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
- Lift weights<\/li>\n
- Play practice games<\/li>\n
- Work on agility\/stretching<\/li>\n
- Watch film<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
After:<\/span><\/p>\n
\n
- Watch film<\/li>\n
- Lift weights<\/li>\n
- Play practice games<\/li>\n
- Work on agility\/stretching<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/p>\n
Once that block is executed, you\u2019ll feel a rush of dopamine for getting that activity done.<\/p>\n
Play around.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Side note:<\/strong> I was lucky to have gotten it right the first time by switching my reading block.<\/p>\n
You may not be as lucky.<\/p>\n
It may require some tinkering from your end to find out which block alignment works for you.<\/p>\n
.<\/p>\n
But you know it\u2019s right when it feels like the clicking of a puzzle.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
There will be a CLICK in the heart region when you get your blocks right.<\/p>\n
The dread will melt away.<\/p>\n
And a powerful spirit will take its place!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Adding Life to Your Routines<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
No matter how disciplined<\/a> a person is, productivity can get boring.<\/p>\n
Even if you consider yourself a creature of habits.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At times, we must blow everything up and start over.<\/p>\n
But other times, the solution is less drastic.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We have the prefect Legos.<\/p>\n
Aka: our activity blocks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We simply need to realign those blocks.<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At times, the blocks you enjoyed before now spark dread.<\/p>\n
Other times, the blocks you dreaded now spark joy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Whenever emotions abrupty change, tinker with realligning the blocks.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/p>\n
A lot of self-improvement advice is always so logic centered.<\/p>\n
But if the emotions are not in alignment, then it feels like we’re swimming against a tsunami.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Quit swimming against a tsunami and swim alongside it.<\/p>\n
Use your body as a compass and showcase what sustained greatness looks like!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For more tips on productivity, be sure to check out:<\/p>\n
\n
- Level Up Mentality: A Guide to Re-Engineer your Mindset for Confidence<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
In this book, you will learn more about:<\/p>\n
\n
- Using your emotions as a compass.<\/li>\n
- Creating manageable systems.<\/li>\n
- Executing discipline through clarity.<\/li>\n
- Tracking your progress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Plus, a bonus chapter on life laws & productivity cheatcodes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
GET HERE:<\/h2>\n
Ebook<\/a>
\nPaperback\/Kindle<\/a>
\nAudiobook<\/a><\/h2>\n\u2013 ArmaniTalks\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13922,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Productivity HACK: The LEGO Technique - Armani Talks<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n