HW 1 - Which do I struggle with most, the pilot, the plane, or the engineer? and in what specific ways?

I think I struggle most as an engineer. I generally have a strong sense of what must be done (pilot), and one way or another I get those things done (plane). But for the past few years, I’ve felt this sense that I’m capable of completing more meaningful tasks, but my current systems, while maybe it was enough college and immediate-post-college me, are not energy efficient for me now as an adult working full-time. I easily fall into psuedo-productive activities, like setting up my weekly planner, and generally thinking about myself doing the task instead of simply starting the task.

HW 2 - What am I avoiding with the phrase, “I don’t have time”? Optional action plan - time tracking exercise.

Right now I’m avoiding trying to read Japanese books. When I anticipate doing it, I inevitably think of all the time that will be consumed slowing down to check the dictionary. I want reading Japanese to be as smooth as it is to read English, and logically I know I have to put in the harder hours of relying on the dictionary before I reach the level when I can afford to skip the dictionary for a smoother reading experience. Additionally, on a more personal note, I’ve been avoiding dating for the longest time, using being busy/having no time as my go-to excuse. Aside from personal proclivities toward dating, I know that actually, if I really wanted to make time to get to know someone, I do in fact of the time to date.

HW 3 - What’s a goal I want to achieve? How can make the process more pleasurable? How can I increase my odds of hitting the goal by putting on money on the line? How can I make the outcomes more tangible and desirable?

As per a previous answer, I want to finish reading a Japanese book (prose, not comics). I could find an audio book version of the book and follow along with the actual visual book; this could double as listening practice, and an overall more immersive experience. I could bundle the act of finishing one chapter with a reward to play an hour video games afterward, guilt-free. I’d rather not put money on the line lol, but if I had to, I could imagine giving some money to my friend has collateral. If I finish the book by an agreed upon date, I could get my money back. As for making the outcome more tangible, seeing Youtubers speak in Japanese, or talk about reading books in Japanese can do wonders for me.

HW 4 - What was one situation when I was in the flow state? What circumstances lead to it? How can I manufacture these aspects to apply to other situations?

Recently in 2020, I started participating in an online art class that has (still is) vastly improving my technical drawing skills. Early on in the class, I willing, almost unconsciously, stayed up late, sitting up from my bed, to draw thumbnails of short comic. I remember nothing but lo-fi music in the background. I was fully focused on getting those ideas onto the page. I even watercolored them after! In the follow days I would actually open my sketchbook to that page and admire my own work lol! I was amazed to have done something so single-mindedly. This has got to qualify as a moment of flow, right?

Learning an exciting new approach to drawing that bridged my current knowledge with my future potential was one circumstance that lead to flow I think. That, plus the content of my comic thumbnails was something I really really enjoy (still do).

I’m usually not one to work in bed, but in this instance and in similar recent instances of reaching flowing while drawing, I was always in bed. Or otherwise in less than best posture lol. And I either had lo-fi music in the background, or has lower, calmer, ambient noise. I think was also drawing during times when friends usually don’t try to contact me. So either my phone was far away from me, or it was a blank slate I could use to check reference photos, and no notifications were coming through.

HW 5 - make a list of 3-4 long term tasks you want to do. what would you do if you had half the time to do them? What about if you had to do them in the next 24 hours?

set up 5 streams of passive income - With less time, I’d settle to set up a large body of work on at least 1 print-on-demand site. In 24 hours, I could prep files of work I already have and upload the files.
learn enough Tagalog to tell a family member anecdote - With less time, I could at least learn the Tagalog alphabet and focus identifying the most used Tagalog words, common phrases, and maybe find a drama or TV program where people do tell anecdotes. If I hear enough, the thought of doing it myself won’t feel so far-fetched. In the next 24 hours, I could focus on finding those most commonly used words and phrases.
public an art book - with less time, I could make a yearly zine of my best work. Make a limited run of physical copies, but definitely put up a digital version on Gumroad. In the next 24 hours, I can draw in my sketchbook. One page done. I can post something on Instagram, so my work is out there for discovery.

HW 6 - What 20% of my work is driving 80% of the useful output? What’s taking up 80% of my work but not contributing to 80% of my output?

For YouTube, my ability to think of video ideas is fueling 80% of my output, because there’s always something I could make, and even better, there’s very occasionally something I really really want to make a video out of. On the other hand, editing is taking up way too much energy. Partly since that’s the nature of editing, but I’m aware that I’m holding myself back by not taking the plunge to learn a proper editing software (I have my eyes on learning DaVinci Resolve!). Aside from hiring an editor, if I continue to do YouTube solo, I think the ratio would be recalibrated by spending the time upfront to learn software that’ll streamline my workflow in the long-run.
For art, honestly, it’s just finishing something everyday that leads to 80% of the result. Learning new drawing and painting techniques could speed up the process and make things more visually pleasing, but it’s all for naught if I don’t do the verb.

HW 7 - leave this class and do something!

HW 8 - What 3 things would boost my productivity if I made them a habit? how can I help make those habits stick?

1- automating my morning routine. There’s always time in the morning when I’m idle or just lay lazily on my bed lol. I could set up a habit stack of chores I do right after waking up in order to use all that idle time towards one of my goals.
2 - exercise - I always feel better and more energized with I exercise consistently, and I feel the opposite effects when I slack off for more than a week. I could enforce the 2-day rule. I could set my yoga mat out before I leave for work so when I come back, it serves as a cue to exercise. I already announced a goal to do 20 push ups with perfect form, so I’m socially accountable.
3 - not checking my phone - I could do the inverse of habit building. Throw my phone somewhere far away from me. I could change the wallpapers to something I don’t like looking at lol. I can delete social media apps whenever I’m not uploading something. I could set strict time limits on the apps I waste most of my time on. I could try setting it to grayscale. I could straight up turn it off whenever I want to get into the flow.

HW 9 - what are some chunks of the day in which i find myself wasting time in ways i’d rather not? what useful small things could I do with that time instead?

right after I wake up - while I get morning chores done, I also do a lot of lazing. Weekdays are no exception, and the amount of lazing I do on the weekend is exceptional! I could be using that time to squeeze even just a little bit of drawing time, get a little closer to finishing my drawing lessons.
I’d say after I finish eating dinner is a decisive fork in the road, when I could do dishes, then get straight to drawing lessons or learning more video editing etc., or I can slouch in my chair and waste time watching Youtube videos.
In either of these times, I could clean, I could tidy (identify things I no longer need nor spark joy for me, and pare down my possessions), or I can even meal prep, which falls under self care. Or even fit in a quick 2 minute stretching session.

HW 10 - what items on my bucket task list can I procrastinate my way to progress in? How so?

build an art portfolio for art licensing - I can squeeze in time to sketch ideas, or even devote single pages to draw something, which I can later scan and refine into something appealing for print on demand
strengthening Japanese kanji bank - I bring my phone everywhere. To prevent the flashcard pile up, I can whip out my phone whenever I have idle time and get my daily required cards out of the way
Youtube motions - motions as in, prep work for the main action of filming. I have my notion and notes app on my phone, so I can spend idle time (after I finish my Anki drills) brainstorming video ideas or refining scripts

HW 11 - what do i have to do in my days that i’m currently not enjoying? If I had to, how would i make this stuff more fun?

meal prepping - I could play a podcast I like while cutting ingredients. I could play upbeat music. I could ask a friend to come over an help, with a promise of a meal together afterward hehe
making lessons - I could play non-intrusive background music (piano, lo-fi) while I type and think of lessons

Thank you for the great overview of principles of productivity! This homework was great in helping me become aware of my habits and current approach to productivity. Time to take action!

Strea

Artist

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