Transcripts
1. Introduction: Hey, there. Welcome to this productivity
course designed to help you work smarter, stay focused, and
create without stress. My name is Mario, and I'm a photographer, videographer,
YouTuber, editor. I do courses online
and many more things. I really have a lot of
things in my table, and this is why I decided
to create this course. It was like a year ago that
I was filming a course for my wife because she's
also a teacher online. So she told me, I cannot believe how can you be working
on my courses, your courses, videos, and photography, YouTube, et cetera. And I don't see you
stressed at all. You should teach that. When I started to think
about this course, and I realized also that
without thinking or planning, I created habits and a way of organization that really
helps me to be productive, and that is why I'm
here today to show you a way of staying
focused without stress. That is what I
call productivity. If you ever felt overwhelmed by deadlines, struggled
with procrastination, or wish you had more time and energy to bring
your ideas to life, you are in the right place. As creators, our
biggest challenge isn't just coming up
with great ideas. It's making consistent progress while balancing everything
else life throws at us. This is what I
call productivity. Creativity is not just to
create and being productive, is doing it without stress. That's exactly what
this course is about. I'll be sharing the
same strategies and systems that I use
to maximize my time, boost my focus, and get things
done without burning out. Here's what you
learn insight how to structure your day for maximum
creativity and efficiency. The best time
management techniques, especially for creators. To beat procrastination
and stay motivated, the tools and systems that will keep you organized
and in control. And most importantly,
how to balance productivity and creativity so that you can keep
doing what you love. This course is going
to be very practical. So by the time you
finish the course, you will be able to create your own productivity
schedule, your own system.
2. Class Project: Et's talk about
the class project. During the course,
I will be asking you to do some little things. But for the class project, I want something different. I would like you to share with
me in the project section a final project or whatever
you are working on. If you're a YouTuber,
for example, you can share with me a link to your video if you are a painter, maybe a picture of your paint
or maybe just sketches. If you are a blogger, you can also share the
link of your blog. So like this, I can
check it out and all the students in this course will be able to check it out. I guess you get my
point. Would be amazing to see other
people's creations. And also, this will be an inspiration for you to
start sharing content, even if it's not finished. But, okay, now it's time to start. See you in
the next lesson.
3. The Creator's Mindset And Productivity Myths: Before we dive into time management hacks and
powerful workflow systems, we need to address
something crucial, your mindset. Because
here's the truth. Productivity isn't
just about doing more. It's about creating
better with less stress. And that starts with how you think about work,
creativity, and time. Many creators struggle
with productivity because they believe it's all
about grinding harder, working long hours, and
constantly pushing themselves. But that is actually a trap. If you really want to be
productive as a creator, you need to focus on these
three key mindset shifts. First, focus on progress,
not perfection. Perfection is the
enemy of productivity. Many creators spend hours tweaking tiny details that
won't make a difference. Don't misunderstand me. We always have to try to do our best to make a good
final product. We just have to give priority to have it done than
to make it perfect. Remember this. Done is
always better than perfect. In concussion, your
first mind shift will be instead of
aiming for perfection, aiming for consistent progress. Now, the second mind shift energy management,
time management. You don't need more
hours in the day. You need to manage
your energy better. Not all hours are equal. You have peak creative
hours and low energy slums. That is normal, and it is
not the same for everybody. For example, for me, I'm
not a morning person. I mean, I wake up early
every day to work. I know myself and I know
that my brain works at its best in the
afternoon. So it is simple. When I do my to do list, I put the most creative
and demanding tasks for the afternoon and the easiest
tasks in the morning. Like this, I don't stop, but I'm more productive. The key is working when you are at your best and
resting when needed. So then, remember,
your second mind shift will be prioritize
high energy work first and structure
your day around your creative rhythms.
The third mindshift. Systems beat
willpower every time. Will power isn't reliable. If you rely on motivation alone, you'll struggle to
stay productive. So what you have to do
is to create a system, a schedule, routines to make
productivity effortless. It doesn't have to be hard. You will see during
the course what I do and what helps me
to be productive. It is actually very easy. Think of productivity
like a gym routine. You don't wait to feel like it. You just show up
and do the work. So then your third mindshift
will be build habits and systems that make productivity automatic instead of
depending on motivation. Now that we change our mindset, we can talk about three
of the most popular myths related to productivity. The first myth, I need to work more hours to be
more productive. The truth is that more hours doesn't mean that we
will have more results. The best creators don't
work 15 hours a day. They work efficiently. Instead of working longer, focus on working
smarter by eliminating distractions and using
deep work techniques. The myth number
two, multitasking makes me more productive. That is not true at all. Multitasking kills focus. Every time you switch tasks, your brain loses
time refocusing. Instead, batch similar tasks together and use
focus work sessions. Myth number three, I have to wait for inspiration
to be productive. Professionals don't
wait for inspiration. They create systems that
sparks creativity every day. I will show you how
to in another lesson. It is actually very easy. Set a schedule for
creativity and show up even when you
don't feel like it. Alright, so here's your
takeaway from this lesson. Productivity is not
about working harder. It's about working smarter, and that starts with
the right mindset.
4. Defining Your Creative goals & Priorities: Okay, now that we build the right mindset
for productivity, it's time to get clear on
what you are actually working toward because being busy is not the same as
being productive. You can spend hours working, but if you're not focusing
on the right things, you won't make real progress. Don't worry. You just have to find your creative
or productive time. We all have ever happened to you that
one day you managed to get a lot of work done in just a few hours? For
sure, it happened to you. Well, that means that
that day you work during your productivity and creative hours and you didn't even know. You have to think about it and try to discover your hours. Everybody has those
hours during the day. Just imagine if you know
which ones they are, and then every day, you work
harder during those hours. Just imagine how much work
you will be able to get done. But first, we have to define your creative goals
and priorities. So you know exactly
what to focus on and what to eliminate. As a creator, you're
full of ideas, but ideas without
direction can lead to overwhelmed procrastination
and unfinished projects. We have to be careful
on the meaning of procrastination because
in the dictionary, it says that it is the action of delaying or
postponing something. But let me tell you that
procrastination is not just to sit down doing nothing
and delay the work. It is also when you are
about to start a project, and on the way you start to find something else,
answering emails, then maybe cleaning the office, maybe answering messages, maybe installing a software
that you will need later. Even though all of
these actions are actually work and
they are important, it may seem that you're being productive,
but you are not. That is procrastination.
Remember that you were going to start a project
and you got distracted. It doesn't matter with what. We have to focus in our goal. When you define your goals, you are not just
saying what you want. You are creating a roadmap
to make it happen. And remember this, the
more specific your goals, the easier they are to achieve. There is a popular method called SMRT that could help us to
create our goals properly. And SMART stands for S specific. This is exactly what
you want to achieve. M, measurable. You have to be able to
track the progress. A, achievable. It has to be
a realistic goal, of course. Something you can do relevant. It has to align with your
bigger creative vision. T, time bound, set up a time where the goal is
going to be completed. Now, I will give you an
example on how to use SMART you are setting your
goal for your YouTube channel. A big and useless goal will be I want to grow
my YouTube channel. This is really very general, and even though it's a goal, it's not easy to
follow and complete. Now, let's do the smart goal. I want to grow my YouTube
channel, and for that, I will publish one
video per week for three months to reach
5,000 subscribers. That is more specific and
not difficult to follow. Of course, you need to
create a schedule and plan with tasks to reach your goal like
scripts and filming. But now you know where to
start and what is your goal. Now, let's pause for a second. I want you to write down one SMAT goal for
your creative work. From all our tasks, we have to see what is
that matters the most. Not all tasks are equal. 20% of your actions create
80% of your results. You have to ask
yourself two things. Which tasks lead to real progress and which
tasks are just distraction. Talking about growing our
YouTube channel, for example, high impact will be
writing the script, filming, editing,
marketing your video. Low impact could be
checking social media, over researching, plan
the day of posting. Now, I want you to
pause again and write three creative tasks
that will bring you the biggest results for
the goal that you already. So to make your
creative focus plan, you need to do three things. Define your smart goal. What's the big result you want? Identify your three
high impact tasks. What actions will get you there? Eliminate or limit
low impact work. Define which tasks
are not priority. As you can see, your creative
focus plan is simple, goals, priorities, and action. Alright. Now that you've got a clear goal and a focus plan, this is your foundation
for productivity. Keep your goal and your
three high impact tasks somewhere visible. That
is very important.
5. Building a Productivity System That Works For You: Now that you have clear
goals and priorities, it's time to answer
the big question. How do you actually stay consistent and get
things done? The secret? You don't rely on motivation. You rely on a system. In this lesson, I'll
walk you through how to create a productivity system
that keeps you focused, organized, and on track
without feeling overwhelmed. Let's be real. Many creators
struggle with productivity, and that is because they
rely on motivation, but motivation is unreliable. It comes and goes. That is why top creators
don't wait for inspiration. They use systems to make
productivity automatic. A productivity system
helps you to focus on the right tasks at the right
time with less effort. A strong productivity system
has three key elements. Capture. You have to organize
your ideas and tasks. Crectivity is messy. Ideas pop up at random times. You need a system
to capture them. There are many apps and software that can help you like notion, Tre, Google Notes, et cetera. But for me, the best and
the one that I always use is a simple love to write ideas. I use the notebooks for ideas, to do, and projects. Number two, plan. You have to structure your work for
maximum efficiency. If you don't plan your work, destruction will take over. Use time blocking, which is to dedicate time slots
for creative work, admin work, and rest. Also badge similar tasks together to avoid
switching focus too often. Number three is execute. Work smarter, not harder. You have to eliminate
distractions, turn off notifications,
set boundaries. One thing that works
for me is to track my progress and review weekly to see what
is working better. You don't need to work
hard to reach your goals. You have to work smart. Try to use the 80 20 rule. We're going to talk
about it later, but try to focus in
high impact tasks, 20% of effort to
reach 80% of results. Now that you know the
three key elements, I want you to capture. Choose one tool to capture
and organize your tasks. Plan, create a simple daily
plan with focused time block. Execute, identify your
biggest distractions and set a plan to minimize them. Now that we understand
how to create our system, let's put the three key elements in practice in a real scenario. Capture, plan, and execute. We start our system with ideas. We have to capture
them. I always write everything that
comes to my head. That's my way because
I think there is something on
writing on paper. It's a feeling. I don't
know how to call it, but it's a feeling,
and I love it. I have a small notebook
in my nightstand because many times happens that you are about to fall asleep
and then boom. An idea came to your head. Ideas can come at any time, and you have to be ready. I also have a
notebook on my desk. It's actually here.
It's like a legal pad. But if you don't have it, you can also type in your phone. You always have your
phone with you, but always have
something to save ideas. Now, let's plan the
system, the schedule. For me, my creative and more
productive hours are 2-6. I know that those 4 hours, I can do work that needs
10 hours to be made. I am very productive
in that time. I will organize my day
with that in mind. I will put easy tasks
in the morning, maybe tasks that could distract me from the
most creative ones. Don't misunderstand
me. Those could be very important tasks that don't require my full brain attention. I will put those
ones in the morning. Even exercise could be. My day, I will make
a list of tasks that are possible to do and
a little bit more. I will push myself because
every time you push yourself, every time you do
something and you finish and you check in the list
that you did the tasks, dopamine, a hormone that makes
us feel good is released, and it will give you
energy to go on. This sense of achievement will keep you motivated
to keep going. No, don't forget
your breaks because your body needs to rest
also to be more productive. For example, in my
case, I work from home and I love to cook,
and I cook very fast. So I have always a
break at 11:30 A.M. I cook my lunch. For me,
that is so relaxing. I put a funny TV show and cook and eat my lunch is so nice. Remember that I have to be
good rested for the afternoon. The most productive part of
my day is in the afternoon. Execute is the last
part of the system. I took my ideas, I made a plan, and now it's time to execute. I have to follow my
plan as much as I can, try my best to make it happen. Especially in the afternoon, I will turn off all
my notifications, all my distractions. Come on. For 4 hours a day in
the afternoon without messages and notifications,
I will survive. Now, when the day is over,
before I turn off my computer, always, always, I'll write down the
plan for the next day. Everything needed adjusting
depending on the day, but I always make
a list of tasks for the next day and
leave them on my desk. Makes my life much easier. I just wake up and start
working, following the plan. As you can see, it's not difficult to create
a plan, a system. Now, I want you
to have it clear. Don't forget to take care
of yourself as well, and that should be
part of your plan, part of your schedule. For me, for example, I like
to work out in the afternoon. It is not just my brain who works better in the
afternoon but also my body. Of course, not always, I
have time in the afternoon. Then I will put some
exercise in the morning. I don't like it, but
I have to do it. As I mentioned before, we don't
do things for motivation, but because we have to do them, that is why you have
to put it in the plan, in your system,
in your schedule. Exercise could be also
going for a walk or taking your dog for a
walk or going for a run. It doesn't need to be
intensive workouts, but do it consistently. You will see the difference. Now, you have the foundation of a productivity system
that works for you. Your next step is to start
small and be consistent. The goal isn't to create
the perfect system, but to find a rhythm that helps you create more
with less stress. You will find a
perfect system for you with time. That is for sure. Now, I want you to write your system and try
it for the next week. Of course, also adjust it as needed because things can
change during the week.
6. Time Blocking and Task Batching - Maximizing Creative Flow: Now we have a productivity
system in place, so it's time to level
up your efficiency with two powerful techniques time
blocking and task patching. If you ever felt like your day disappears with no
much work done, or you constantly jump between tasks without
real progress, we're going to fix
that in this lesson. Here we'll learn how to
structure your day for maximum creative flow and
minimum distractions. Like this, you can get
more done in less time. Most creators try to
multitask editing video, while answering
emails, brainstorming, while scrolling social media. I am a perfect example for that. I have different businesses, and even though I try always
my best to follow my system, sometimes I have to solve a problem or answer
an important email, and that takes me to more
and more distraction. This constant switching kills
focus and drains energy, so you have to
always come back to your system because those things are going to happen often, but we have to always come back to our system.
Our schedule. Solution is simple. We have
to work in focus blocks. Instead of reacting to
tasks as they come, you schedule dedicated time for deep work and another
for creative tasks. For example, while I'm
writing this script, the script for this course, you have no idea
how many messages and emails I'm getting. I have to be focused, so I know that I still
have one more hour focused for this script before I take my break to
answer those messages. I made a block of 2 hours
today for this script. To remember this,
multitasking is a myth. Real productivity comes from structure focused work sessions. So what is time blocking? Time blocking is the practice of setting specific time slots for different types of work instead of working randomly
throughout the day. First, you have to assign blocks of time for
deep creative work, admin tasks,
learning, and breaks. Never forget the breaks. Then while planning, consider 60 to 90 minutes focus sessions, followed by short breaks. Of course, if you reach
your 90 minutes already, but you're still
very into the zone, you are still in the task. Just keep going.
It's not easy to get in the flow, so
take advantage of that. It doesn't need to be
exactly 60 to 90 minutes, but that works for most. The last thing to do
is to use a calendar. Could be digital or
however you want, maybe an app to schedule
blocks in advance. I use the Google
calendar and Trello, for example, but even
your notebook will work. I will give you an example
of my blog today for today. 9-11, deep work, but not
the brain demanding. Answering emails,
scheduling meetings for the next and two meetings that
I have scheduled already. 11-1130, break, coffee, refresh. I know that I mentioned before
that normally at 11:30, I'm cooking, and it's true. I love to do it. But as I said, also, we have to be flexible. Today is an important day. I have certain things that I
have to do in those times, and that's why I
changed a little bit my schedule for today. So 1130-1, I have an
important meeting at 11:30. But then I want to also leave everything ready in the studio, so I have to arrange the
lights, charge them. I need the camera at tripod. Microphones have to be charged, the teleprompter,
connected to the camera. Like I said, leave
everything ready to record. 1-2, I have lunch break. And then 2-330, I want to record my YouTube
video and also a short. Most of the time,
I do it in 1 hour, but sometimes it make
mistakes, you know? So I put 1 hour and a
half just to be safe. 330-530, script for the
productivity course. 530-6, I have a break 6-7, answering messages, emails, and make the plan for tomorrow. As you can see,
it's not difficult. You can make the time
blocking for the week, but always every end of the day, you will have to adjust it
because things can happen. You have to be
flexible, as well. I would like you to create a rough time block schedule
for your ideal workday. Task batching means
grouping similar tasks together instead of switching between different
types of work all day. Switching between
different types of tasks like writing, editing, email, social media, et
cetera, wastes mental energy. Your brain has to
reset every time you switch tasks,
reducing efficiency. So how can you do Task batching? I will give you an example
of my YouTube channel. First, I will try to film multiple videos in one session
instead of one per day. You saw my example
of time blocking, I am filming a YouTube
video and also a short. Next week, I have planned to film three videos in one day. Of course, you have to do the things that
you're able to do. Second, I'll write
all my content ideas for the week in one session. Let me tell you it's not difficult because
remember that I have my notes and the ideas
that came up during the week. So I just have to sit down
and make the final list. Also reply your emails at once instead of
checking them all day. As you saw in my time blocking, I make one block for emails and messages in the morning and another block in the afternoon. So just two blocks for
emails and messages. Now that we understand
task batching, I would like you to identify
at least one area of your workflow where
you can batch tasks instead of doing them
randomly throughout the week. Okay, time blocking
and task batching. You have two powerful techniques
to completely transform your workflow instead of feeling scattered
or overwhelmed. You'll be working
smarter, not harder.
7. The Power Of Routines - Mornings And Evenings Habits For Success: We've covered
productivity systems, time blocking, and
task batching. But now, let's talk about the foundation that
holds it all together, your daily routines.
Because here's the thing. Your success isn't built
on one big productive day. It's built on small, consistent habits that set you up for the long term
creative success. So let's design a
powerful morning and evening routine
that keeps you focused, energized, and in control
of your creative work. Most creators start
their day randomly, scrolling social media,
feeling overwhelmed by tasks, and struggling to focus. At night, they don't
relax properly, leading to burnout and
inconsistent work. The solution is to create
intentional routines. When you have a solid
morning and evening routine, you are not just
reacting to the day. You are controlling
how it unfolds. Remember this, your morning
sets the tone for the day and your evening routine determines how well you
recover for tomorrow. A good morning routine will
give you energy and clarity. It eliminates distractions
and decision fatigue. It gets you into
creative flow faster. I will give you an example
for a good morning routine. First, wake up and
move, stretch, go for a walk, or do a quick workout to
wake your body up. Sometimes when you wake up, you don't want to do anything. Just stand up, walk, maybe to the kitchen
to make a coffee or stretch that helps
you to wake up. Second, dress up. And yes, even if you're
working from home, it helps a lot if you dress up like you're
going to work outside. I know a lot of creators are working from home and feel cozy. You want to dress with
shorts and pyjamas. But let me tell you something. Dress like you will go outside your home and make it a habit, your productivity
will be much better. Firth, no phone for
the first 30 minutes. I think this is the
most difficult one. Make it a habit, avoid distractions and social
media first thing. With at least 30 minutes, you will see the difference, but make it a habit.
Do it every day. Four, start doing,
start your tasks. Remember that you
already have a plan, so you can start already. Some YouTubers that talk
about productivity, some productivity gurus, they will tell you to start with the most important creative work first or the most
difficult task. Maybe that works for
them, maybe that works for you, so
you have to try it. But for me, it's different, and I think everybody
is different. As I mentioned before, my brain works much better
in the afternoon, and that is why I do
my plan differently, but you have to create yours. So you have to try
everything until you find your best
productive hours. So if somebody tells
you, you have to do the most difficult things in the morning,
everybody's different. Everybody's different.
You never know. Try your best to finish the tasks planned
for the morning. That will make your day
easier and motivated. Evening routine is
very important. Your brain needs a signal
that your workday is over, so it can recharge
properly for the next day. I will give you an example of a good and powerful
evening routine. First, reflect and
plan tomorrow. I mentioned already that I
love to write everything. I always write in a paper,
the plan for tomorrow. It is going to make
your life easier as you have already a guide to start
your day tomorrow morning. Use your time block and your task batching
technique to make it. And if you did the
full week plan, this is the time
for adjustments. This is the last thing you
do in your work hours. And remember, flexibility, you have to be able to
adjust the next day. It doesn't have to
be exactly how you did the weekly plan. Can change. You never know what
is going to happen tomorrow and the next day, so adjust it as necessary. Second, digital detox, reduce screen time 30 to
60 minutes before bed. I know it's difficult, but try it and little by little, make it a habit, a routine. Number three, relax
and recharge, read, stretch, or listen
to calming music. I like to shower
before I go to bed. It relaxes me, for example. That's me. Everybody
has their own thing. Also, listening
to music is good. Actually, if I
don't want to read, sometimes I put audiobooks. That relaxes me a
lot because I am just there with my eyes
closed, listening. Number four, consistent
sleep schedule, and 7-8 hours of sleep
to maintain creativity. Also, it is scientifically
proof that if you go to bed at the same time every day and wake up at the same
time every day, you will be much
more productive. I know at the beginning,
it's going to be difficult, but then you're going to
start to get used to it because you have to do it
not for one or two days. You have to make it a habit. Now that you have
the blueprint for a powerful daily routine that helps you create
more, stress less, and stay in control
of your productivity, I want you to create
a morning and evening routine and try it for the next three days
and see how it impacts your focus
and creativity.
8. Managing Distractions And Voiding Procrastination: Have you ever sat down to
work, ready to create, and then suddenly, 2 hours are gone and you've
done nothing. Maybe you got lost
scrolling social media, answering emails or watching
just one more video. Don't worry. You're not alone. Everybody passed through that. I actually keep doing it. Distractions and
procrastination are the biggest enemies of
creative productivity. And in this lesson,
we're going to fix that. The idea is to have clear
strategies to stay focused, eliminate distractions,
and beat procrastination. Like this, you will
finally get things done. Your brain creates quick
rewards, checking notifications, watching videos, or
doing easy tasks, feel good in the moment. But these distractions
kill momentum and make deep creative work
almost impossible. There are two types
of distraction external distractions
like notification, social media, email, people interrupting
messages, et cetera. Internal distractions
like overthinking, self doubt, lack of
motivation, et cetera. Distractions aren't
just annoying. They completely derail
your creative flow. So how to protect your focus
from outside interruptions. First, control your
digital environment. Turn off notifications
while you're working. You already know your time
blocks, so that makes it easy. You already know the
time where you will be able to check
messages or emails. You can use the Do not disturb mode on your
phone or computer. There are also website
blockers like freedom, Cold Turkey, stay
focused, et cetera. This will help you to
limit distractions. Second, create a
distraction free workspace. Have a clean and organized workspace with minimal clutter. I always try to keep my
desk clean and organized, especially when you
finish your day so that the next day you can
start ultra focused. Also, avoid noises. Use noise canceling
headphones if necessary. Also let people around you know when you are in focus mode. Let's do something.
Pick one distraction to eliminate right
now, for example, turning off notifications, blocking a distracting website, or whatever you think it is distraction and take
it off for an hour. You'll survive, I promise. One of the reasons you
procrastinate could be because you feel overwhelmed or
unsure where to start. That is why it
helps a lot to have a to do list already
done when you wake up. Another reason could be that you fear that the work
won't be good enough, or maybe you think you need to be in the right mood to start. Whatever the reason is, there are ways to beat
procrastination. One, the five minute rule, tell yourself you'll work on
a task for just 5 minutes. Once you start,
momentum kicks in. Number two, the just
one step strategy. Instead of thinking
about the whole project, focus on just the
first tiny step, and then you'll see how
you will just keep going. Number three, set a
visible deadline. Self imposed deadlines, create urgency and stop
endless perfectionism. Before, make it public, announce your deadline to someone
else for accountability. Those are four simple
steps that work. You can also combine them
with what you already know like time blocking or batching
similar tasks together. Also, there is something
that works a lot. Set small rewards for completing deep work sessions could be an ice cream and
even video games. Rewards help a lot. I want you to choose
a task you've been procrastinating on and
apply the five minute rule. You'll see how strong
that technique is.
9. Essential Productivity Tools For Creators: We've covered time
management focus strategies and how to structure
your workflow. But let's be honest,
sometimes you need the right tools to make
everything run smoother. As a creator, your
time is precious. The right productivity tools
can help you work faster, stay organized, and eliminate
unnecessary stress. In this lesson, I will show you the best productivity
tools for creators, whether you need help
with project management, content organization, time
tracking or automation. In this course, I'm not going
to give you tutorials on these tools because then
this course will never end. Can find a lot of amazing tutorials and
courses in this platform. But I will show you the ones that I use and why I use them. So let's dig into them. Just think about this.
You have 1 million ideas, tasks and projects, but they
are scattered everywhere. Then you waste time
searching for files, remembering deadlines or
switching between apps. You feel overwhelmed
because everything is in your head instead
of in a system. The solution is to
use the right tools. Productivity isn't
about working harder, it's about using
the right systems and tools to work smarter. Good tools isn't
just nice to have. It saves you hours and
keeps you in creative flow. I'm going to start with tools that help you stay organized. For productivity, organization
is extremely important. So let's start with number one, Project and task
management tools. In this category, I will recommend three apps
for you to check and choose notion that for
sure you already know Trello, which is actually
my favorite one, and Asana, which is great
for teams and collaboration. All of them have a free version, which is basically
enough for most of us. Notion was the first app
I used for productivity. It is actually the ultimate all in one tool for
content planning, tracking ideas and
managing projects. At the beginning,
you have to learn how to use it properly, and it is not that easy as
many YouTubers will tell you. You have to try it, and then you will
understand what I'm saying. I used it a lot, but for me, it started
to become like too much. Even though it has
everything you need, I was not using all of the features because
it was not my style. As I mentioned before, I
like to write things and have my notes on hand
in a certain way. So that is why I switched
to this next Trello. It is a simple visual
Cavan board that helps you organize tags
and deadlines as well. I like it better because how it looks because it looks simple. It is actually my style. It is much easier to
learn than notion, so you can also start to
use it almost right away. Notion has more
features, for sure, and maybe that is why it's
more famous than Trello. But Trello organized my ideas, notes, tasks, and time
blocks exactly how I like. It looks like a Blackboard
where you put your notes. Simple, much easier to follow. Then you have Asana,
similar to Trello, but if you are working with
teams or collaboration, it works better than
Trello and Notion. It has a wider integration
with other apps. Normally use these apps for my productivity and
my organization, so I don't work with teams. So for me, as I mentioned,
Trello is my app. I still will suggest
you to check comparations on YouTube
and install them. They all have mobile apps as well to stay connected
with your devices. And like I mentioned, they
all have a free version. Now let's talk about apps for
time management and focus. So in this category, I use
Google Calendar a lot, not just to put meetings
or appointments, but also for time block by deep work sessions
and deadlines. It is a really good app, and the best is that you
have it in the computer, you have it in the
phone, in the tablet, so you can track everything
wherever you are. Now, to focus, I don't use apps, but I found an app that is very funny and interesting and
it's called the Forest App. You can set up goals and use the stopwatch to control
your time blocks. The app can be connected
to your computer. It has a chrome extension
and also to your phone. So during your time block, it checks everything
you are doing. Like this, it can be sure that
you are focusing your job. Maybe it's not going
to work for everybody. I don't need it, but
it's interesting to try. Let's talk about content
and idea organization. This is to never lose an idea. There are many apps out there like Apple Notes, Google Keep, Samsung notes, ever Note, et cetera, all of
them to take notes. Personally, as I
mentioned before, I like to write my notes, and I always have a
legal pad next to me. Always. But let's be honest, sometimes you don't have
paper and pen on hand. Well, then you can take
the note using your phone. The apps that I
mentioned are good. I personally use
the Samsung notes because my phone is a
Samsung and has a pen, and like I mentioned,
I think 1,000 times, I like to write. All of these apps are very
similar and very easy to use. So just pick one and be happy. Anyway, they're
just to take notes. Okay, to build your custom
productivity tool kit, you have to consider
three things. First, don't overload
yourself with too many tools. Pick two, maybe three that
solve your biggest challenges. Second, test and tweak. It is okay to switch tools if something doesn't
fit your style. You saw that I used many
tools at the beginning, but at the end, I end up with, like, two or maybe three. Three, keep it simple. The best tool is the
one you actually use. Now you have a full toolkit of powerful productivity tools to help you stay organized,
focused, and efficient. I want you to pick
one new tool from this lesson and start
using it right away.
10. Automation & Delegation - Doing More With Less Effort: What if I told you
that you could get more done while
working less? Sounds too good to
be true, right? Well, it's not. It's all about
automation and delegation. The most productive creators don't do everything themselves. They automate repetitive tasks and delegate what doesn't
require their personal touch. In this lesson, I will show
you how to work smarter, not harder, so you can focus on what truly matters, creating. The problem is that
you are spending too much time on repetitive
or low value tasks. Your to do list keeps growing
and you are overwhelmed. You feel like you have to do everything yourself,
but you don't. The solution is simple. Leverage automation
and delegation. Instead of working longer hours, let's make technology
and people work for you. Your time is your most
valuable resource. Use it wisely. Let's
start with social media. Many creators need social
media as part of their job, and posting is a
repetitive task, isn't it? I saw recommendations of
apps like buffer and Later. But you know that Instagram
belongs to Facebook, and they are linked together. And if you go to
Facebook business page, you can actually
schedule posts and reels for the whole
month and for both, and the best for free. Makes your life so much better. And if you have
different accounts, you will be able
to see them here. Imagine how much time
you can save here. Also, you can see messages and notifications of all
your accounts from here. Now, let's talk about emails, and we all know that
emails take a lot of time. For example, in my case, I have a company where I recruit
people to work abroad, and I get a lot of
emails with resumes. I schedule interviews, I always
have to tell them that I will send them a
Google meet link just before the interview. That doesn't take long to write, but if you have to
make ten interviews, that means ten emails
with the same response. Still, it seems not
such a big deal, but if you have many
scenarios like this, it just keep piling up. The easy solution is to create templates for
different scenarios. I have one template
for this case, and I have another template in case I'm going to say
no to the candidate. Believe me, that is
going to save you a lot of time if you consider
different scenarios. You can use apps for that, but I think it's not necessary. I just Gmail and it's very
easy to create template. Just come here to settings, then see all settings, then here in advance, and then just enable templates. Then you can come to
compose an email, type the response you
want in your template, and then hearing more options, templates, save
draft as template. Save as new template
and put the name. Easy. You can also do it
with hotmail and others. Delegation is a game changer. It gives you more time to
focus in what it is important. You can delegate easy tasks
and eliminate low value work. Like this, you can focus on
high impact creative tasks. Sometimes when you're
starting or maybe you don't have the budget
to hire somebody else, it is understandable that
you don't want to delegate. But if you can do it, you have no idea how much
time you will save. Take advantage of
other people's skills, get things done
faster and better. When I opened my
recruitment company, I didn't want to delegate. I wanted to save
money, and I did tutorial so that I can
make my own website. It was horrible, and I
had it for two years. Then I decided to
delegate and ask somebody else to do
it for me to fix it. Now the website is amazing, and I have many more clients. Also delegating free
up mental space, which leads to less stress
and more creativity. Start delegating your
social media posts, for example, something easy, but it takes a lot of time. In video editing, for example, you can delegate
the cutting part when they have to
cut the mistakes, and then you can finish
with the creative part. I want you to make a
list of tasks you could delegate and identify one that
you can start outsourcing, even if you are not
planning to do it now. Okay, now you have the power
to do more with less effort, but automating repetitive tasks and delegating what
others can do, you free up time for what truly
matters, your creativity.
11. Beating Burnout & Sustaining Creative Energy: Have you ever felt
completely drained? Like your creativity
just disappeared. You sit down to work,
but nothing flows, and instead of feeling
inspired, you feel exhausted. If that sounds familiar, you might be
experiencing burnout, something that affects
so many creators. In this lesson, we're going
to talk about how to beat burnout and keep your
creative energy high. I'll show you
practical strategies to protect your passion, maintain balance, and keep creating without
feeling overwhelmed. You feel mentally and
physically exhausted. You're not enjoying the
work you once loved. You feel stuck and motivated or even resentful
towards your projects. Why does burnout happen? There are four main things
that brings burnout. Owing and hassle culture. This is when you feel like
you always have to be on. We're all humans, and we have to understand that we
all have our limits. Number two is lack of
rest and recovery, not giving yourself
permission to pause. Breaks are very important. And if you remember in every
strategy and technique that we've done during this course,
Always include breaks. Number three is
perfectionism and pressure. This is when you set unrealistic expectations
for yourself. That pressure is unnecessary. As I mentioned before,
give yourself goals, the ones that you can do and a little bit more maybe
to push yourself. But just a little bit more. Don't exaggerate, because then you will never
finish your goals, and that is going to stress you. Also, stop trying to
make everything perfect. Remember, done is always
better than perfect. Instead of aiming
for perfection, aim for consistent progress. Number four, too many
projects at once. Again, the same as before. Don't exaggerate. Be
realistic and use time blocking and task
batching for your projects. Burnout isn't just
about working too much. It's about balancing work with
rest, play, and recovery. We have to learn to recognize burnout
before it is too late. There are a few things
to be aware of. You feel tired even after
a full night's sleep. Work that used to excite
you now feels like a chore. You are easily frustrated
or overwhelmed. You procrastinate more,
even on things you enjoy. You feel guilty when
you're not working. I want to pause for a moment. Ask yourself, do any of
these signs sound familiar? If so, it's time
to make a change. I will give you
four things to do. The first thing to do
is to set boundaries, protect your creative energy. You can start by
defining work hours. Treat your creative work like a job with clear
start and stop times. Then you have to limit your
social media overload, take breaks from constantly consuming other
people's content. Finally, you have
to learn to say no, not every opportunity
worth your energy. Second thing to do,
prioritize rest and recovery. Creative needs space. You have to understand
that sleep matters, and for seven to 8
hours per night. Your brain does its best
creative work when well rested. You have to schedule
breaks at them on your system and in
between time blocks. You can even take a
creative rest day. Also, step away from
screens from time to time. Spend time outside, read a book, or do something non digital.
It would really help you. In my case, I like
to play soccer, tennis, maybe I go for a
run or even a nice walk. The thing is to
reignite your passion, find joy in creating again. You have to reconnect
with why you started. Go back to the reason you became a creator in
the first place. Also, create just for fun, work on something
with no deadline, no pressure, no expectations. Change your environment. A new space can spark
new inspiration. I work from home for
many years already. Sometimes I change the way
my office looked like. I moved the desk to one place, the computer in another angle. Last time I did a full made
cover, and I loved it. It makes me feel
like a new start. Try it, because that's
going to help a lot. You can also see my
YouTube channel, different videos,
different studios. It's actually the same studio. I'm just moving
everything around. Now, the fourth thing you
have to do is to take care of your body and
mind, move your body. Exercise isn't just for fitness. It improves focus
and creativity. And you know, I'm not
just saying that. It is scientifically proof. Fill your body with
good nutrition. Avoid energy crashes from
too much caffeine or sugar. Also, during work in
your lunch break, don't eat too much because then you feel tired all afternoon. Now, I know that
there is a lot of information and a
lot of things to do. Let's start little by little. I want you to add one small
health habit this week. A short walk, wo, run, drink more water,
whatever you choose. But do it all week.
Make it a habit. I know you can do it. It's not
difficult. Just one thing. The formula for long
term creative energy is work smarter, not harder. Focus on high impact work, not just being busy. Listen to your body.
When you feel drained, step back and recharge. Celebrate small wins. Progress matters more
than perfection. Burnout isn't a badge of honor. It's a sign that something
needs to change. You're creative thries when
you take care of yourself.
12. Deep Work & Focus Strategies For Creators: In a world full of
notifications, emails, and endless distractions, staying focused is
harder than ever. And as creators, we need more than just surface
level productivity. We need deep focused work to bring our best ideas to life. If you ever struggle
to concentrate, found yourself constantly
switching tasks or felt like you are working all day but not making progress, we will fix that now
because I will show you how to master deep work
so you can create faster, focus longer, and produce your best work
without distractions. You are constantly getting interrupted or distracted
while working, most of the time by yourself. It takes forever to get
into creative flow. You feel that you are
busy all the time, but you don't actually get
deep meaningful work done. You need deep work, undistracted time where you do your
best creative thinking. It's how writers finish books. Designers create
masterpieces and filmmakers produce
incredible content. The fewer distractions, the more progress you
make in less time. Creativity thrives when you have long periods of
interrupted focus. So how your brain works? It takes 15 to 20 minutes to
fully enter a focus state. Every time you get distracted, it takes an average of
23 minutes to refocus. The more you train your
brain for deep work, the easier focus becomes. Before starting deep work,
turn off notifications and set a timer for at least 30 to
60 minutes of focus work. There are four things you have to pay attention
to do deep work. Number one, is create
a deep work ritual. You have to have a dedicated
space for deep work. Send also on a specific time
each day for focus work. I actually set few
during the day. You can also use a pre work
routine like meditation, stretching, music, whatever relaxes you so
you can train your brain. Number two is to eliminate
distractions ruthlessly. First thing to do is to
turn off notifications, put your phone on
do not disturb. If there is too much noise, use noise canceling
headphones. That helps a lot. Some people like to
play focus music, which is fine, but personally,
music distract me. So as you can see,
everybody's different. Now, this may sound logical, but sometimes we don't do it. Tell people you are unavailable during deep work sessions. Just you to identify your
biggest distraction and eliminate it before your
next deep work session. You'll see a huge difference. Number three, use time
blocks for maximum focus. As I mentioned before, I do
feel deep works per day. There is a study that
says that your brain works best in 90
minutes focus sessions. But have in mind that
if you are really in the flow and having
productive time, that can be expanded to
2 hours or even more, take advantage of the flow. Sometimes I do a time
block of 90 minutes, and if I feel end up with 2
hours or more of deep work. So create your time block, but don't be afraid
to go with the flow. Remember to batch
similar tasks together, as I mentioned in
previous lessons. Number four, protect
your mental energy. Take meaningful
breaks, go outside, move, do something
for your mind. Relax. If you want to be able to do proper
deep work sessions, your brain has to be
clear and relaxed. Also, if you feel like it, start your day with
the time block with deep work before checking
emails or social media. The formula for
long term focus is to plan your deep work sessions. Put them in your calendar, like a meeting, if possible.
Track your focus time. You have to take it seriously. If necessary, use apps like
rescue time or Tuggle. Personally, I track them
myself with no apps, but feel free to try everything
until you find your way. But track your focus time. Reward yourself. Celebrate
deep work wings. For example, after
three focused hours, take a guilt free break.
I know you can do it. I want you to commit to at least one deep work session
per day for the next week. Destruction is the
enemy of creativity. The more you train your
brain for deep work, the more you'll accomplish in less time without
feeling overwhelmed.
13. Balancing Productivity and Creativity: Mm hmm. As creators, we are constantly walking a fine line between
productivity and creativity. We want to make progress, hit headlines, and
stay consistent. But at the same
time, we don't want our creative work to feel
forced, robotic, or uninspired. So how do we find
the right balance? How do we stay
productive without burning out or losing
our creative spark? This lesson I'm going to
show you how to balance structure with freedom,
discipline, with inspiration. So you can stay productive without losing your
passion for creating. When you're a creator,
it is very common to feel pressure to always
be producing content, but that is draining
your creativity. You try to stay productive, but some days inspiration
just isn't there. You either feel
stacking over planning or lost in chaotic creativity. The solution is to balance
structure and flow. When you put too
much in your table, then you feel restricted
and uninspired. And if you give yourself
too much creative freedom, then you struggle with
consistency and deadlines. The sweet spot for this is the system that
gives you focus, but also space to explore ideas. Productivity should serve your creativity, not suffocated. To balance productivity
and creativity, you need three things. First, a flexible routine, enough structure
to stay on track, but adaptable for creativity. Don't put too many things
in your plan because then you will have to
work hard to finish all, and there will be no
time to be creative. Number two is a
creative process. Find a way to generate and
develop ideas naturally. We already talked about
that in other lessons. Apply the techniques
that we've learned. Number three is
sustainable pace. You have to avoid burnout
while avoiding momentum. We also talk about this
in another lesson. You can see, we just
need to apply what we already know from other
lessons to keep the balance. Plan your creative work, but always leave room
for flexibility. We know already that we have to time block creative sessions. But what happened if you put 1 hour in this time block
and the hour is gone, but you're still in the
flow and you feel pumped. Keep going. You have
to be flexible. Take advantage of your
energy and your momentum. You have to match work
with energy levels. Do deep work when your mind is sharp and lighter tasks
when you feel drained. Have an idea parking lot. Set aside ideas that
are not immediate relevant to what you are doing in the moment, save
them for later. You have to find your
creative triggers. What gets you into flow? Music, a specific
workspace, a morning work, experiment with different
creative rituals, free writing,
sketching, voice memos. You have to experiment
to find what helps you remove pressure. Some of your best ideas come when you are not
trying to be creative. Pay attention to when and
where your best ideas come. Build a habit around
those moments. You have to avoid overworking. Remember that
creative needs rest. Stop working at Empty. Sometimes it's good to
leave a task and finish. So the next day, you start by
just continuing that task. And like this, you will already have momentum for tomorrow. Take creative
breaks, watch films, explore nature, do something unrelated to work I
do it all the time. Schedule time to create just for yourself
with no pressure. I want you to
schedule at least one creative recharge
session this week. Do something just for fun, with no deadlines
or expectations. Few more things before
we finish this lesson. Let's say you already
found your balance. You have to know that your
balance will change over time. You have to adapt, but don't worry because that
will come naturally. You don't have to choose between being productive
and being creative. The key is a rhythm
that works for you, one that keeps you
moving forward while still making
space for inspiration.
14. The 80/20 Rule - Prioritizing High-Impact Work : What if I told you that 80% of your results come from
just 20% of your effort? As creators, we often feel
like we have to do everything, posting on every platform, saying yes to every opportunity, working on endless projects. But the truth is, not all
tasks are created equal. Some things move the needle while others just keep us busy. In this lesson, I
will show you how to apply the 80 20 rule to your creative work so you can get bigger results
with less effort. The 80 20 principle, also called Pareto's Law
or Pareto's principle, come from the Italian economist Wilfredo Pareto more
than 100 years ago. He observed that 80% of land in Italy was owned by 20%
of the population. He also saw that in his garden, 80% of the fruit came
from 20% of his plants. So he came up with a mathematic
description of this. Let's make it easier
to understand. 80% of your results come
from 20% of your efforts. 80% of your revenue comes
from 20% of your clients. 80% of your engagement comes
from 20% of your content. Not all work is equal. Focus on the tasks that
have the biggest impact. First, let's see the problem. You're spending too much
time in low value tasks. You feel overwhelmed,
working hard, but not seeing results. You don't know which activities are truly worth your time. Now, how to identify your
20% high impact work? First, look at past wins. What tasks or projects have given you the
biggest results? Then check your data. What content performs best, which clients bring
the most revenue. And finally, ask yourself, if I could only work
2 hours per day, what would I focus on? Now to understand this better, I want you to make a
list of your work tasks and circle the ones that are going to give you
the most results. We have to start
with the premise that not everything
deserves your time. Automate. Use scheduling
tools for content, email, templates, et cetera. This is the easiest because
you are using apps, but you are still in control, delegate, hire a
virtual assistant, editor, or social media manager. Now, this is a little bit
harder because creators normally want to do everything by themselves, and I know it. I know it because I'm like this. But as soon as you
start delegating, you will see the difference
in productivity. So have in mind that
you're still in control. Now, delete, say no to projects that don't
align with your goals. Now, this is hard.
Most creators want to do everything and say yes
to every opportunity. But we're learning to
delegate and automate. So for now, we have to
learn how to say no. Start making these changes. Sometimes it's going to be hard, but you will see
the difference in a positive way. I promise. Let's see how we as
creators can apply this. Let's start with
content creators. Focus on high engagement
content, not every platform. In my case, YouTube is what
gives me the most engagement. Then I use the Meta
Business Sweet platform to post on Instagram and
Facebook at the same time. I automate all of that. I just upload the
post once a month, and the platform post
everything during the month, and I am actually about
to delegate that already. I don't use TikTok. I know it's a very popular app, but for me and my
kind of content, it doesn't give me what I want. It was hard, but I said
no to that platform. Let's say you are a
filmmaker or an editor. Spend more time on storytelling, less on minor tweaks. You can delegate the cutting of the footages and the cutting
mistakes to another person. Then when that is
done, you can focus on the storytelling
part of the editing. Identify your top performing creative work and
double down on it. The 80 20 rule is
a game changer. When you start focusing
on what really matters, you'll get more done in
less time without burnout.
15. Shipping Fast - Overcoming Perfectionism: Okay, you have an idea, a project, a piece of work
that you know could be great. But instead of publishing
it, you twik it. Then you tweak it again, and then you tweak it again. Days, weeks, maybe
even months go by, and it's still not perfect, so it never gets released. Sounds familiar. This is
the perfectionism trap, and for creators is one of the biggest barriers to success. You delay publishing
because it's not ready yet. You over edit, overthink and overwork small details
that don't matter. You're afraid of criticism, so you keep your work hidden. Perfectionism doesn't
make you work better. It just keep it from
seeing the light of day. The best creators are not the
ones who make perfect work. They are the ones who show up, create consistently, and put
their work into the world. To fix this problem,
we have to change our mindset and understand
three main things. One, Perfection doesn't exist. Even the best artists and creators see flaws
in their work. Perfection is subjective. What seems unfinished to you
may be amazing to others. Number two, done is
better than perfect. Shipping a good project beats never finishing a perfect one. The best companies launch fast, then improved based
on real feedback. Number three, improve over time. You can refine your work
after it's out there. The goal isn't to
release bad work. It's to release work that is ready enough to create impact. Every great creator
improves over time. The more you release,
the better you get. Your audience
prefers consistent, authentic work over perfect
work that never arrives. What is the biggest
difference between successful creators and
those who stay stuck? They ship their work.
16. Sustaining Long-Term Productivity As a Creator: We are in the last
lesson. You made it. You've learned how to build
a productivity system, master your time,
overcome distractions, and stay creatively inspired. But now comes the
real challenge. How do we keep this
up for a long run? How do you stay productive
and creative for years, not just weeks
without burning out? Let's talk about sustainable
productivity because being a successful creator isn't about the short bursts of work. It's about creating
consistently for the long haul. Short bursts of intense
work will get you started, but long term success comes from finding a
sustainable rhythm. The problem is when
you start strong, but after a few weeks,
you lose momentum, or you push yourself
too hard and burn out, or you feel guilty when you
are not always working 100%. You have to make a
change, a shift. Instead of working in
springs, think in seasons. Also accept that some
weeks will be more productive than others,
and that is okay. Create a work rhythm that
allows for rest and recovery. If you don't check
in with yourself, you won't know what is working
or what is draining you. Let's do a monthly check
in with these three steps. Number one is review
what went well? What felt overwhelming. Number two is adjust what needs to change in your
schedule or habits. And number three is plan. What's your focus
for the next month? We have to do this every month and adjust every time needed. Remember that flexibility in our plans and systems
is very important. I have a monthly creator's
check in on my calendar. I use it to reflect and
recalibrate my workflow. It really works. Success in the creative world isn't
about one viral moment. It's about showing up
consistently for years. These are three principles that every creator should have. Number one is play
the long game, keep creating, even when
the results are an instant. Number two is detach
from perfection. Focus on progress,
not flawless work. And number three
is stay flexible. Productivity strategies
should evolve with you. Productivity isn't
about working harder. It's about working smarter sustainably and in alignment
with your creative vision.
17. Conclusion: Thank you so much for
choosing this course. Please don't forget to give me a review as it doesn't just help me but help other creators like you to find this course. Remember that you are a creator. Your work matters. The world needs what
you have to share. Stay consistent, keep
learning, keep growing. And most importantly,
keep creating. Again, thank you so much for
being part of this journey. Don't forget about the review, and now go make
something amazing.
Mario Guimarey, Photo | Video | Youtube | Editing
