One of the most important pieces of an effective productivity system.

IN THIS ISSUE 

6 min read

• 💹 If you don’t learn, you don’t grow

• 📄 The daily review

• 🔑 Key Takeaways

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GROWTH STEMS FROM MISTAKES

If you’ve ever made a single mistake in your life, you know that it hurts. It’s painful, and it makes us want to reverse time to change what we’ve done.

If you’ve grown up with a North American education, chances are that you know that it's crucial to reflect on our mistakes and ask questions about what went wrong.

Take, for example, throwing a football from outside into the house, breaking a window – that's a mistake. In such a situation, you might wonder, "How did that happen?" You'd try to understand why you made that choice and perhaps berate yourself for not thinking before acting.

If you’re anything like me, you really wouldn’t want to repeat the same mistake. It hurts internally when we make mistakes, and that’s totally fine.

The key here is that, for personal growth, it's essential to review and learn from our mistakes.

A mistake review typically follows this pattern: You start in a state of despair, acknowledging your error. Then, you delve into why it occurred and strategize steps to avoid it happening again.

The same thing goes for our everyday lives. When we do an action or make a decision, we shouldn’t just leave it there.

If you want to grow, you have to learn from your mistakes. If you want to grow, you have to pay attention.

Consider acing an exam: what's the approach? You study extremely hard, day and night. You work tirelessly, reviewing, and reviewing, brushing up on topics you’ve forgotten.

And what are you doing on an exam? You’re reaching to be 100% accurate answering your questions.

So, to work towards 100% accuracy on your life, what should you be doing?

That’s right, review, review, and learn.

THE DAILY REVIEW

Reviewing and learning does seem to be helpful, but this also ties in to productivity - because the most crucial piece of a successful productivity system is the Daily Review.

What is the “Daily Review”?

The “Daily Review” is simply a review of your accomplishments, a reflection on what went well and what didn't, and some planning for the next day.

This daily review is a critical part of staying organized, focused, and continuously improving your productivity.

It can be done on paper, digitally, in a second brain, on a calendar, and practically anywhere you can write or type.

Here's a simple template for a daily review:

Reflect on the day: Start by thinking about what you accomplished during the day. Make a mental note of your successes and the tasks you completed from your priority lists. This helps because it allows you to celebrate your achievements and build a sense of accomplishment.

Identify areas for improvement: Next, think about what didn't go as planned or where you could have been more productive. Did you get distracted by something? Did you procrastinate on a task? Identifying areas for improvement is essential for growth.

Plan for the next day: Create a rough plan for the next day by reviewing your 5-to-Thrive, 3-to-Thrive, and 2-to-Do lists (If you don’t know what this is, check my other week’s newsletter: here). Prioritize your tasks for the following day and schedule them on your calendar using time blocking. This ensures that you have a clear plan of action when you start your next workday.

Prepare for sleep: Prioritize getting a good night's sleep, as it's crucial for productivity and overall well-being. Try to avoid screens and bright lights before bedtime, practice relaxation techniques, and ensure your sleep environment is comfortable.

Set intentions: Before going to bed, set intentions for the next day. Visualize yourself completing tasks and staying focused. This helps create a positive mindset and sets the stage for a productive day ahead.

The daily review serves as a feedback loop that allows you to make continuous improvements in your productivity system. It helps you stay accountable for your goals and ensures that you’re making progress towards your goals (for instance, financial freedom).

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Conduct a daily review to learn from mistakes and to set up for the next day.

  • Reflect (Areas for improvement, success, etc.)

  • Plan for the next day

  • Set intentions

THOUGHTS ON TODAY’S ISSUE?