The Daily Growth Blog #28/365 | 5 Fall-back tasks for productivity
Don’t we all go through that phase in a day when we’ve just completed some pretty heavy tasks and are whiling away our time, thinking about what to do next? And don’t we, invariably, start scrolling on YouTube, Instagram or LinkedIn and suddenly we’ve lost an hour’s worth of good, productive brain-time?
I did this quite a lot, especially when I would be waiting for some other event to happen — the next metro, waiting at the boarding gate, waiting for my Uber etc. etc.
After a few cycles of deleting all the social media apps in my phone, I figured out that I needed to create a more productive way of killing those short spells of time without risking any future commitments. Hence, the concept of fall-back tasks came about.
Short tasks, that can be done without expending too much mental energy, very flexible in the time they’d need for completion and not ‘mindless’, in general, so you’re always aware of time & your surroundings. These tasks also help us move the needle forward in our overall growth, ever so slightly. Always good to do these little tasks than waste time doing something much less worthwhile with the limited time we have every waking day of our lives.
So here are the top five fall-back tasks that I’ve really enjoyed spending a little time on —
#1 — Duolingo
Learning a language is a life skill that I’d never really considered. But when the pandemic hit, and we were all forced into the ‘lockdown’, I started thinking of ways & means to ‘refresh’ after every few hours, without the availability of a cafeteria, a good watercooler chat or even a random team activity.
I downloaded Duolingo and started learning French. It made a whole lot of difference to how I spent my ‘free time’. I was learning a language and having fun. Learning a language engages a very different part of our brain (I think) and hence my logical & analytical brain got that well-earned period of rest.
I’m now on a 500+ day-streak on the app and I think I’ll also start learning an Indian language on it soon (Kannada or Telegu).
#2 — Masterclass
I’m ever so thankful to one of my mentors for getting me started with Masterclass. It’s so amazing to be able to learn from people who’ve made it BIG in their field of work. I’ve loved learning about advertising, fitness, leadership, sales, and even food.
I’ve now started downloading Masterclass episodes for watching them on flights (when I don’t want to read anything), listening during workouts (if I’m bored with podcasts and music) or just watching a lesson when I’m taking a break between work blocks.
#3 — Headspace
Ah yes, meditation is always a challenge, especially for an overthinking multitasker like me, but it’s great to give my mind that 5 or 10 minute focused break where I’m able to train it a bit and hone in its power. Headspace has some of the best content on mindfulness in the whole of the internet (yes, I’ve researched the entire internet. True story).
I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do independent meditations. Till then, moving the needle is all that matters. And guided meditations are a great way to be able to do that. Move the needle, create a healthier mindspace. :)
#4 — Casey Neistat Vlogs on YouTube (He’s a gem of a person)
Oh my, if there’s one person I whole heartedly look up to and admire, it is Casey. He’s one of the nicest human beings on the planet and thankfully, he’s also documented many years of his life in New York, on his YouTube channel.
I can watch his YouTube videos no matter where I am, or what state of mind I’m in. Funnily enough, his videos have an energising effect on me. No nonsense, just very well made cinematic Vlogs of his life and journey. I love it.
#5 — My own little workout circuit
Finally, being physically fit is a basic goal of my life that I can never let go off. I love going to the gym and lifting weights. I love working out, becoming stronger and building muscle. The issue? I lose track and take very long breaks after every few months. Yes I’m at a stage of life where my body is able to manage some of these short spells of non-working-out. It doesn’t lose all the gains within months. (Thankfully). But I do not want these breaks to happen unnecessarily.
Sometimes these breaks are of my own making because of a mismanaged daily or weekly or monthly schedule. And then there are times when there’s a nationwide lockdown because of which gyms are shut. To manage both cases, I created a 10 minute bodyweight workout circuit that targets some groups of muscles, my core (and abs) and general cardio. This helps get me sorted and I can choose to do one 10-minute set or multiple, depending on the time I have. Here it is —
a. Jumping Jacks or Spot Jog: 1min (45s ON + 15s rest)
b. Push Ups (Wide grip) or Plank : 1 min (45s ON + 15s rest)
c. Push Ups (Close grip) or Sit ups: 1 min (45s ON + 15s rest)
d. Russian Twists : 1 min (45s ON + 15s rest)
e. Side Plank: 1 min (25s each side + 10s rest)
f. Forward or Reverse Lunges: 1 min (25s each side + 10s rest)
g. Superman Hold or Superman Pulse: 1 min (45s ON + 15s rest)
h. Child’s Pose Stretch: 30s
i. Seated Straddle Stretch: 30s
k. Cat & Camel Stretch: 30s
l. Downward Dog: 30s
m. Standing Straddle: 1min
While we’ll have larger plans and goals for the bulk of our day, it won’t harm us if we have some small little plans for those little blocks of time where we are lost and unable to focus on anything ‘big’. All these little blocks slowly add up and help create something larger than ourselves. A little mental side hustle, if you may.
Cheers!