18 minutes a day, that will change your life for the better
Productivity Books / / December 19, 2019
The book "18 minutes. Concentrate, do not be distracted and do something that's really important "among the ten best business books of the year according to the New York Post and Publishers Weekly. She talks about how to deal with daily routine and focus on the key points in our lives. The whole strategy fit into the daily 18 minutes.
What is this book?
Peter Bregman book "18 Minutes" about how to live, "then to not be excruciatingly painful for the wasted years." Specifically - how to learn to prioritize, by managing time, which is never enough. For information on how to set your goals and focus on them, not being distracted by minor things. The bottom line is that with a simple 18-minute plan for every day carry the really important things, which, for various valid (and not) the reasons we are constantly postponed.
How is this book different from other books on time management?
Most books on time management devoted to rational planning: how to organize the day so as to catch as much as possible. Bregman swung at a global challenge: not just a plan of the day, and planning of life in general. Although it really starts with one day. Then one year. And then you learn not just all in time, but also have time to understand what you are doing.
While the author notes, the only thing that can not be returned. Our lives are finite, and only depends on us than her fill. But a lot of people engaged in a seemingly very important things, working without looking up and experiencing a constant lack of time, however, spend it in vain.
The book teaches concentration, but not limited to daily tasks. First of all people should understand what it is really worth doing, to live a meaningful and harmonious life.
What does the book to harmonize life?
Peter Bregman has divided the book into four parts. In the first, he talks about how to create a basis for further action. In everything there is a hidden opportunity, we must be able to see them. Then come up with a daily plan and follow it. And to deal with the fact that detracts from this plan.
The second part tells the reader how to organize life around what makes a person happy. It makes no sense to do what is rejection, however beneficial in terms of career and material that may be.
The third part of the teaching structure time using the 18-minute plan for each day. And the fourth - to deal with distractions and do not throw thing halfway.
The first - to create a ground for action. What does it mean?
Peter Bregman notes that a person is not limited to his work. He talks about the epidemic of suicides in large companies during their reorganization, when life is reduced to scores, even those employees who are not fired - one only expectations of this event. For them, work and life was, they did not see themselves abroad. Yes, it is terrible to remain without a livelihood, but do not forget about their other guises - a family member, a person who has a hobbies. Maybe it's just time to re-evaluate their potential and do something completely different.
Bregman tells about young people, recent graduates of colleges that change several professions in search of himself for a couple of years. The main thing - do not get too carried away, as too prevent a wide range to make a clear life plan.
Bregman advises in such cases at least for a moment forget where to go, and focus on who you are and what you really need. Perhaps, then I do not want to leave with the next job, and there can create a basis for action and organize their lives properly.
The second - how to organize life around what makes you happy. How to do it?
The author offers "to see the world from a bird's eye" that is, to assess the full picture. People spend a lot of time simply by inertia - on unnecessary disputes, unhappy marriages, unprofitable investments.
Rather than stop in time, they go too far, it's too late to retreat. To stop moving by inertia, you can choose two strategies: either slow start. By the way, most of the books on time management does not consider pausing or slowing down the pace of life as a way of time management.
But is a pause or slowdown is not a waste of time?
Sometimes both are needed. Performance inherent in human nature, we tend to react immediately, especially aggression. In this case, a pause is required in order to have time to take emotions under control. Before you react violently - to respond to the cry cry, for example - Bregman advises to take a breath and relax for about 5 seconds. Then, your next move will be wiser and less impulsive.
There is a chain of "event - reaction - the result." The result should not be the side effect reaction. You must first focus on the result ( "I want to get"), pause and then consciously respond.
It is necessary to spend time and to rest: stop, think about priorities, not to do everything at once. Multi-tasking, so beloved time management, Bregman does not welcome.
What is bad multitasking?
Bregman compares multitasking buffet, where so many dishes that taste of each still forgotten. We must take less food and perform less work, but perform well. Choose your five things that most strongly influence the life, and concentrate on them.
You should not squander time and energy - you need to set goals and have the talent to reach them.
To do this, the author proposes to master the four elements of success. The first - the maximum use of their strengths. The second - to accept weaknesses and be able to use them too. The third element - to state their individual characteristics. And the fourth - to understand what you really want to find your favorite cause.
With the strengths of all clear. But how can you turn your weakness into strength?
Bregman cites the example of David and Goliath. David did not fight the giant Goliath in the melee, which certainly would have lost. He used a sling - According to Bregman, "and chose to impose a war and won it." Many famous and successful people become so because of the huge self-doubt: they are constantly required to prove his abilities.
Why declare the individual characteristics?
Peter Bregman teaches to be yourself and do not adjust to the other. As an example, he cites Susan Boyle (Susan Boyle), unemployed and nondescript resident of the Scottish countryside, whose voice conquered the world. Whether in its place a standard beauty, maybe this would not have happened.
The fourth element of success - to find a favorite thing. And if it does not coincide with the profession?
The author says that you can achieve anything.
To do this:
- want to achieve;
- I believe that this is possible;
- refers to unsuccessful attempts as a rewarding experience.
Man suffering one defeat after another, before succeeds. The main thing - do not leave attempts. Favorite thing, according to Bregman, then you can devote a year and do not quit.
What exactly full 18 minutes, which help to improve concentration?
Everything is simple. Five minutes in the morning you need to set aside for planning the day. One minute every hour to carry out re-focus on tasks. You can program a beep on your smartphone as a reminder that we need to assess whether the hour has passed productively. In the evening, spend 5 more minutes and assess how was your day. What has been achieved to overcome that? What it is planned to do tomorrow? Who needs to communicate? In a nutshell - you need to consciously choose what to focus on during the day, and regularly remind ourselves of this.
Helping to save time and usually three days. If the list of urgent matters for some of them are more than three days, you need to:
- do it immediately;
- to plan exactly when it will be done;
- let go (do not do it now);
- add to the list "someday", "maybe".
As the author proposes to deal with distractions?
Everyone has their own distractions. Bregman gives the example of a man who believed that his colleagues are constantly weave intrigues against him, but the authorities underestimated. This fantasy has become a distraction, interfering as it should work. As a result, when he was summoned to the boss, to praise for good work, he began to accuse her of imaginary sins, and as a result was dismissed. Therefore Bregman advised to come up with a fantasy that works for you, not against you.
Another distraction - uninvited visitors in the midst of work. Rid of them uncomfortable, in the end time is spent in vain. But the only way to not be distracted by unnecessary conversations - to learn say a firm "no" anyone who's stopping you.
Another factor - the excessive perfectionism, interfering in time to finish the job. Bregman believes that "not rewarded excellence and productivity." So no need to wallow in the details, and to look ahead.
What is the practical benefit of this book? Are the author's recommendations to our realities?
The book is accessible and understandable teaching plan time and do it with pleasure, without getting bogged down in complex calculations and details. These recommendations apply to any conditions and realities, even the most extreme, as have all the time.
The main thing - to be able to properly dispose of them, and what says Peter Bregman.
The book contains many examples and stories from the life of the author, the historical parallels, funny stories and parables.
However, people familiar with the literature on time management and have to choose for themselves a different model may not see in this book is nothing special.
Author bit verbose, sometimes superficial, but in general, the book is easy to read and enjoyable and well worth reading. Whether to consider it a guide to action, to address the reader.
"18 minutes. How to improve concentration, to stop distractions and make the really important things, "Peter Bregman
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