In my opinion, the Life Productivity Handbook is a reference book consisting of many different tools to help you work and study more efficiently. Maybe you have heard some concepts or words, such as "10,000 hours of practice can become a master", "21 days to develop a habit", "deliberate practice", "tomato work method", "target management SMART rule" and many more. We don't care about "whether 10,000 hours of practice can become a master" or "whether 21 days can really form a habit", when reading this book, we read more about how the author uses these tools to help her effectively Work. Below are a few of what I have learned.

001 The Seven Characters Method - For setting goals in life

I don't know if you have ever wondered what kind of person you want to become? Even if I want to have someone else's life, I don't know how to work hard? What if there is no direction and no goal? Or, even if I wake up early, I don't know what to do? Author Zhang Meng's self-created "Seven Character Method" can help you set goals in life and let you know what hard skills you want to practice (their core competencies, such as time management, English speaking, writing, etc.).

1.1 Method

Start by writing down the name of your first role model. This person is who you want to be, not your idol.

Then write down the names of the six role models (high, medium, low)

- Tall: may never reach their heights for the rest of their lives

(I wrote the young Bill Gates myself, probably my whole life is useless...Q_Q)

- Medium: They are the people we can surpass in five to ten years (overtaking him now)

- Low: They are people you can surpass in a year, here are people you can write about

1.2 Goals for this year

After writing them down, you can list their three hard skills, and you will end up with 21 hard skills.

There will probably be repetitions in these 21. We can list the three hard skills with the most repetitions as this year's goals and become your "what do you want to do in the morning?" The direction of learning.

002 Time Management

Have you ever tried to plan things to do in a day with a small notebook, only to find that it is always difficult to follow? Not doing everything you wrote down? According to the book "Effective Managers", it is mentioned that managing your time is divided into three steps: recording time, managing time, and unifying time. In the area of time management, the author's suggested "single-point breakthrough method" also includes these three points. Next, I want to write down and share my thoughts.

2.1 Breakthrough method: plan-implement-summary-evaluate

The Breakthrough Method is a closed-loop structure: plan, implement, summarize, evaluate, and plan again.

2.1.1 Planning

In the whole book, the author actually doesn't give much advice on planning. The most impressive thing for me is: don't schedule too much when planning, and reserve 30 minutes between the first and second things. Buffer time, used to deal with emergencies, etc.

2.1.1.2 Implementation (including record time)

It is very important to learn to record time, to know where you actually spend your time, in order to make summaries and evaluations.

The author's method of recording time is: record time in WeChat. She pulled several of her WeChat accounts into the group, and after completing one thing, she would say something in the group, such as: "I have left the venue", "The speech is over", etc. In this way, the real time can be recorded immediately.

2.1.1.3 Summary-Assessment

Finally, do the comparison work. Compare the schedule with the recorded time. Ask yourself: Are your plans consistent with your implementation? To summarize the reasons why it was not done. Is it because of lack of ability? Are there still emergencies? Finding out why and then reflecting on it can help you plan better for tomorrow.

003 Improve efficiency

3.1 The Tomato Technique

The author recommends using the Pomodoro Technique to improve efficiency. After listing the tasks, set the Pomodoro Clock for 25 minutes, and perform your tasks without distractions.

3.2 Use the goal SMART rule

Only knowing what you are going to do and how to do it will not let your efforts go to waste.

"S: Specific, specific.

M: Mesurable, measurable. - (A measurable one! Remember that any goal is measurable, and a goal that cannot be measured means no goal.)

A: Attainable, achievable goals. - (Prepare future achievable goals, complete them, and then set a short-term achievable goal.)

R: Relevant, Relevant—(In English, every small action in the goal division should be related to the main goal)

T: Time-Bound, time-limited.

004 Summary

One of the things this book reminded me of is that one of the biggest differences between humans and other animals is: "Humans make & use tools". In this book, you'll read about the author's own original "Efficiency Handbook" product. Also read how she manages herself using different methods/tools. I recommend this book to people who are confused. Maybe after you read it, you will have a clear and workable direction.