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Two Awesome Hours: Science-Based Strategies to Harness Your Best Time and Get Your Most Important Work Done
Feeling overwhelmed with work and life demands? Rushing, multitasking, or relying on fancy devices and apps won't help. The answer is to create the conditions for two awesome hours of peak productivity per day.
Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience, Josh Davis, director of research at the NeuroLeadership Institute explains clearly that our brains and bodies operate according to complex biological needs that, when leveraged intelligently, can make us incredibly effective. From what and when we eat, to when we tackle tasks or disengage—how we plan our activities has a huge impact on performance. Davis shows us how we can create the conditions for two awesome hours of effective mental performance by:
Recognizing when to effective flip the switch on our automatic thinking; Scheduling tasks based on their “processing demand” and recovery time; Learning how to direct attention, rather than avoid distractions; Feeding and moving our bodies in ways that prep us for success; Identifying what matters in our environment to be at the top of our mental game.
We are capable of impressive feats of comprehension, motivation, thinking, and performance when our brain and biological systems are functioning optimally. Two Awesome Hours will show you how to be your most productive every day.
Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience, Josh Davis, director of research at the NeuroLeadership Institute explains clearly that our brains and bodies operate according to complex biological needs that, when leveraged intelligently, can make us incredibly effective. From what and when we eat, to when we tackle tasks or disengage—how we plan our activities has a huge impact on performance. Davis shows us how we can create the conditions for two awesome hours of effective mental performance by:
Recognizing when to effective flip the switch on our automatic thinking; Scheduling tasks based on their “processing demand” and recovery time; Learning how to direct attention, rather than avoid distractions; Feeding and moving our bodies in ways that prep us for success; Identifying what matters in our environment to be at the top of our mental game.
We are capable of impressive feats of comprehension, motivation, thinking, and performance when our brain and biological systems are functioning optimally. Two Awesome Hours will show you how to be your most productive every day.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2015
364 people are currently reading
1593 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
January 16, 2016
This is one of a genre of self-help books steeped in a culture of doing more, faster, better. It's dedication to the relentless optimization of every minute in the unexamined pursuit of commerce triggers my latent inner anarchist and predisposes me to dislike it.
But I'm glad I successfully suppressed my instinct to set the book on fire. Because despite the fact that it employs all the hackneyed tropes you've seen before in books of this kind, it's key insight is a bit of finger in the eye to its cousins in the genre.
That insight is this: that humans are not machines, and that effectiveness is not the same thing as efficiency. What we think of as our selves is a thin layer of consciousness embedded on a big bag of meat, infused with a witch's brew of bio- and psycho-active chemicals. Using your consciousness to achieve a goal you set for yourself requires understanding how your biology and neuropsychology works, and creating the optimum conditions for the goal you have in mind.
The title comes from the idea that you can't be optimally efficient all the time, but if you create the right conditions you can be highly effective at the right times. Davis boils it all down to five strategies: recognizing when you have an opportunity to make decisions and taking advantage of those opportunities to make the right decisions; managing your mental energy so it's at its peak when you most need it; working with the natural human propensity to be distracted so it has the least negative impact; using food and exercise in the right ways and at the right times to support your goals; and setting up your environment to influence your thought processes positively.
Davis makes reference to research to support his recommendations, amply endnoted, but this is not a research paper. If you're inclined to want detailed proof, you're probably better off going to the original sources.
But if you're looking for a grab bag of suggestions that might help you achieve the goals you set for yourself, and you're disillusioned with the host of similar books that promise to make you more efficient all the time, this is a good book to read.
But I'm glad I successfully suppressed my instinct to set the book on fire. Because despite the fact that it employs all the hackneyed tropes you've seen before in books of this kind, it's key insight is a bit of finger in the eye to its cousins in the genre.
That insight is this: that humans are not machines, and that effectiveness is not the same thing as efficiency. What we think of as our selves is a thin layer of consciousness embedded on a big bag of meat, infused with a witch's brew of bio- and psycho-active chemicals. Using your consciousness to achieve a goal you set for yourself requires understanding how your biology and neuropsychology works, and creating the optimum conditions for the goal you have in mind.
The title comes from the idea that you can't be optimally efficient all the time, but if you create the right conditions you can be highly effective at the right times. Davis boils it all down to five strategies: recognizing when you have an opportunity to make decisions and taking advantage of those opportunities to make the right decisions; managing your mental energy so it's at its peak when you most need it; working with the natural human propensity to be distracted so it has the least negative impact; using food and exercise in the right ways and at the right times to support your goals; and setting up your environment to influence your thought processes positively.
Davis makes reference to research to support his recommendations, amply endnoted, but this is not a research paper. If you're inclined to want detailed proof, you're probably better off going to the original sources.
But if you're looking for a grab bag of suggestions that might help you achieve the goals you set for yourself, and you're disillusioned with the host of similar books that promise to make you more efficient all the time, this is a good book to read.
May 28, 2016
Очень неплохая книга о том, как получить 2 часа максимальной работоспособности в день (если оно вам надо))).
Автор предлагает 5 стратегий повышения продуктивности и штук 30 практических рекомендаций. Рекомендации довольно простые, но основаны на последних научных исследованиях (в этом плане книга - настоящий дайджест заметок из научных журналов).
Книгу рекомендую. Моя рецензия и подробная интеллект-карта по книге в блоге: http://s-kalinin.blogspot.ru/2016/05/...
Автор предлагает 5 стратегий повышения продуктивности и штук 30 практических рекомендаций. Рекомендации довольно простые, но основаны на последних научных исследованиях (в этом плане книга - настоящий дайджест заметок из научных журналов).
Книгу рекомендую. Моя рецензия и подробная интеллект-карта по книге в блоге: http://s-kalinin.blogspot.ru/2016/05/...
September 9, 2018
Charlotte Mason educators need to read this book. There are many simiarities to Mason's writings on atmosphere and on the body-mind connections in education.
August 18, 2015
I picked up this book at the suggestion of a colleague. I begrudgingly gave it 3 stars. Here's why: Josh Davis is on to something in the first 1/2 of the book when he encourages you, dear gentle reader, to be intentional about your to-do list. He coaches you on the gazillion different seconds you have throughout your day to make better choices about what gets done vs. not instead of just reacting and ping ponging your way, unfettered and un-purposeful-- through the day. Great advice. For this reason, I give 3 stars.
However, the second half of this book turns away from coaching you on how to get things done--the most important stuff in two hours--to lecture, lecture, lecture, citing study after study to justify his great idea. The manuscript felt forced like he had to deliberately expand his material into a book length manuscript, thus inserting unnecessary scientific or psychological study after study to support his idea when really the notion of getting things done in two awesome hours could have been a fantastic magazine article.
In the end, I'd rate this book as 2 1/2 stars, but I don't think that's an option.
However, the second half of this book turns away from coaching you on how to get things done--the most important stuff in two hours--to lecture, lecture, lecture, citing study after study to justify his great idea. The manuscript felt forced like he had to deliberately expand his material into a book length manuscript, thus inserting unnecessary scientific or psychological study after study to support his idea when really the notion of getting things done in two awesome hours could have been a fantastic magazine article.
In the end, I'd rate this book as 2 1/2 stars, but I don't think that's an option.
March 19, 2016
Nothing revolutionary but Josh Davis from the NeuroLeadership Institute has caused me to do something that tons of other self-help books haven't and that is to make a conscious change.
The first 69 pages made a strong enough impression that I've now posted a note so I am always reminded of the principles of decision points:
" *Savor each decision point.
*Plan your decision points in advance.
*Don't start a new task without consciously deciding it's the right one."
Good stuff!
The first 69 pages made a strong enough impression that I've now posted a note so I am always reminded of the principles of decision points:
" *Savor each decision point.
*Plan your decision points in advance.
*Don't start a new task without consciously deciding it's the right one."
Good stuff!
August 17, 2015
You can harness at least two awesome hours of effectiveness every day by following five simple strategies: recognize your decision points; manage your mental energy; stop fighting distractions; leverage your mind–body connection; and make your workspace work for you. This way, you’ll provide yourself with the psychological and biological conditions you need for top performance.
April 16, 2019
If concentration and decision-making are limited resources, then planning the ideal, productive workday is like managing an intellectual budget (argh, budgeting is my kryptonite!).
This is the treasure in Josh Davis' general book.
This is a good case for taking mass transit or ride-sharing in order to leave more brain juice for the workday. Daily commuters squander brainpower driving themselves to and from work. Driving in traffic is mentally exhausting and leaves workers much less capable of giving work their best.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You could start here if you've never read anything else about productivity.
How it's different from other productivity books:
* focus on just getting in two golden hours
* achieving solid, quality work in those two hours on a regular basis is better than trying (and failing) to be highly efficient all the time (like a "Start here" theme).
Who should read:
students, new to the workforce, new to working at home, anyone frustrated with work distractions
My Takeaways
* Just focus on getting two very productive hours out of every day.
* Sometimes your mind needs to wander to get clear and more creative afterward
* High-protein and smaller meals or moderate coffee intake with regular cream (for the fat) make the brain concentrate better, longer than a high-carb meal (it's not just me!)
* Declutter work area to remove items causing niggling stressors at the edges of our attention.
* Put a few necessary items on farther edges of the desk to encourage open, expansive gestures that increase risk-taking and confidence.
* Get up and move around often.
* Noise (like inside coffee shops) is only helpful to extroverts and those with excellent short-term memory. Everybody tends to work much better in silence.
* Recognize when you’re spending limited brainpower on daily decisions.
* Prepare for decision-making points ahead of time by having light or heavy concentration tasks ready to go, for smoother transitions, making the most of brain wow.
This is a good case for taking mass transit or ride-sharing in order to leave more brain juice for the workday. Daily commuters squander brainpower driving themselves to and from work. Driving in traffic is mentally exhausting and leaves workers much less capable of giving work their best.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You could start here if you've never read anything else about productivity.
How it's different from other productivity books:
* focus on just getting in two golden hours
* achieving solid, quality work in those two hours on a regular basis is better than trying (and failing) to be highly efficient all the time (like a "Start here" theme).
Who should read:
students, new to the workforce, new to working at home, anyone frustrated with work distractions
My Takeaways
* Just focus on getting two very productive hours out of every day.
* Sometimes your mind needs to wander to get clear and more creative afterward
* High-protein and smaller meals or moderate coffee intake with regular cream (for the fat) make the brain concentrate better, longer than a high-carb meal (it's not just me!)
* Declutter work area to remove items causing niggling stressors at the edges of our attention.
* Put a few necessary items on farther edges of the desk to encourage open, expansive gestures that increase risk-taking and confidence.
* Get up and move around often.
* Noise (like inside coffee shops) is only helpful to extroverts and those with excellent short-term memory. Everybody tends to work much better in silence.
* Recognize when you’re spending limited brainpower on daily decisions.
* Prepare for decision-making points ahead of time by having light or heavy concentration tasks ready to go, for smoother transitions, making the most of brain wow.
December 15, 2020
Đây không phải là sách về kỹ năng sắp xếp thời gian hay quản lý công việc như nhiều sách khác thường đưa ra một công thức chung nào đó (dựa vào kinh nghiệm cá nhân là chính) để khi áp dụng có người phù hợp, có người không.
"Mỗi ngày hai giờ hiệu quả" giúp ta hiểu về cơ thể người và bộ não (cùng các hoạt động chức năng) hoạt động theo nhu cầu sinh học thế nào, điều gì ảnh hưởng tích cực hay tiêu cực ra sao để từ đó ta biết cách tận dụng thời gian, ưu tiên công việc, lựa chọn tối ưu các hoạt động thể dục, ăn và uống, thay đổi môi trường làm việc: âm thanh, ánh sáng, nơi làm việc... để công việc đạt hiệu quả cao.
"Đồng điệu với cơ chế sinh học của bản thân - thiết lập các điều kiện để có vài giờ hiệu suất cao nhất - cho phép chúng ta không chỉ tập trung vào những việc quan trọng nhất đối với mình mà còn khôi phục sự tỉnh táo và cân bằng lại cuộc sống của bản thân." - Josh Davis
Sách có nhiều góc nhìn mới kèm theo các dẫn chứng, thí nghiệm khoa học chứng minh..., tuy dẫn dắt ban đầu hơi dài dòng nhưng giúp người đọc hiểu rõ các vấn đề sách đưa ra, từ đó có những lựa chọn phù hợp cho mỗi cá nhân.
"Mỗi ngày hai giờ hiệu quả" giúp ta hiểu về cơ thể người và bộ não (cùng các hoạt động chức năng) hoạt động theo nhu cầu sinh học thế nào, điều gì ảnh hưởng tích cực hay tiêu cực ra sao để từ đó ta biết cách tận dụng thời gian, ưu tiên công việc, lựa chọn tối ưu các hoạt động thể dục, ăn và uống, thay đổi môi trường làm việc: âm thanh, ánh sáng, nơi làm việc... để công việc đạt hiệu quả cao.
"Đồng điệu với cơ chế sinh học của bản thân - thiết lập các điều kiện để có vài giờ hiệu suất cao nhất - cho phép chúng ta không chỉ tập trung vào những việc quan trọng nhất đối với mình mà còn khôi phục sự tỉnh táo và cân bằng lại cuộc sống của bản thân." - Josh Davis
Sách có nhiều góc nhìn mới kèm theo các dẫn chứng, thí nghiệm khoa học chứng minh..., tuy dẫn dắt ban đầu hơi dài dòng nhưng giúp người đọc hiểu rõ các vấn đề sách đưa ra, từ đó có những lựa chọn phù hợp cho mỗi cá nhân.
June 21, 2015
Pretty good book with solid ideas for improving productivity.
September 21, 2020
The concept of this book is simple. The author advises you to be stop being bothered about being productive for 10-12 hours every day but narrow down your focus to have two awesome productive hours of effective work.
A big disclaimer here, the author recommendation will large be applicable for white-collared workers. It does not have a universal appeal among working people. However, there are enough gems of information in the book for everyone to follow in their day to day life.
Basically, the author talks about 5 strategies to follow to have an awesome productivity day i.e two great hours of effective work.
Strategy 1 - Recognize your decision points
Strategy II -Manage your mental energy
Strategy III - Learn to direct your attention
Strategy IV - Leverage mind-body connection
Strategy V - Make your workspace work for you
A big disclaimer here, the author recommendation will large be applicable for white-collared workers. It does not have a universal appeal among working people. However, there are enough gems of information in the book for everyone to follow in their day to day life.
Basically, the author talks about 5 strategies to follow to have an awesome productivity day i.e two great hours of effective work.
Strategy 1 - Recognize your decision points
Strategy II -Manage your mental energy
Strategy III - Learn to direct your attention
Strategy IV - Leverage mind-body connection
Strategy V - Make your workspace work for you
November 25, 2018
Five strategies presented in this book seem to be simple but they are quite powerful. We only need two awesome hours to be at most productive time and then we can get a lot of important things done. Strongly recommended.
July 12, 2021
I read this through the Kindle Unlimited programme. I found the book had a lot of good tips and was really useful. I liked what it said about decision points and using the best hours of your day to correspond to what you need to do. I've definitely started applying it and will continue to do so. I'd recommend it to others that want to feel more organised over their day and get things done that they want to do.
March 16, 2024
“Two Awesome Hours” by Josh Davis offers a refreshing take on managing our time and energy efficiently. Davis challenges the traditional work ethic of long hours and instead focuses on optimizing performance in short, highly effective bursts. He suggests that by maximizing two hours of focused work each day, we can achieve more than by grinding all day long. The book provides advice on enhancing focus, reducing stress, and rejuvenating energy, making it an essential read for those looking to improve their productivity without feeling overwhelmed.
January 24, 2021
This took me more than two hours to get through (counting stops and starts) and for me it was not, alas, “awesome”.
Back to the wonders and joys of literary fiction I go ....
Back to the wonders and joys of literary fiction I go ....
August 3, 2018
Mình đọc bản Tiếng Việt. Thật thì hơi khó hiểu, mình nghĩ do cách dịch ý. Một số điều tự rút ra cho bản thân.
1. Điểm quyết định
Khoảng cách 3-5 phút để quyết định tiếp theo nên làm gì là cực kỳ cần thiết.
2. Quản lý năng lượng tinh thần
Hai giờ không cố định đâu mà do nltt của bạn quyết định đấy.
Tức giận, lo lắng, buồn và cả những cảm xúc thoải mái có thể giúp bạn làm việc hiệu quả.
Không nên làm việc quan trọng sau khi não đã đưa ra quá nhiều quyết định ( Não làm việc nhiều).
3. Làm thế nào với các phiền nhiễu đây?
Haizzz. Tớ là kẻ không thể nào tập trung cao độ được vì não tớ hay đi lang thang lắm. Trước đây tớ hay trách mình sao cứ để bản thân đi lang thang mãi như thế, vì không tập trung thì sẽ không tiếp thu hay làm được việc gì hiệu quả cả. Uhm. Nhưng mà có một sự thật rằng, Não bạn sinh ra là để đi lang thang với những phiền nhiễu ấy. Nếu bạn không tập trung và hay bị các tác nhân bên ngoài làm sao nhãng thì không sao cả, điều đó chứng tỏ là bạn còn bình thường. Việc tốt nên làm là hãy để những tác nhân phiền nhiễu tránh xa bạn ra nếu bạn không muốn não lại đi đâu đó với chúng.
Thiền định giúp cải thiện sự tập trung.
4. Tâm trí lang thang liệu có tốt?
Cũng tốt đấy. Giải quyết một vấn đề. Xong. Để tâm trí lang thang đâu đó một chút. Nhào vào tiếp tục giải quyết vấn đề. Bạn sáng tạo.
Đôi khi tâm trí lang thang là để tính chuyện tương lai. Những kế hoạch và mục đích. Cũng tốt mà. Quan sát bản thân nhiều hơn nhé. Để xem liệu có thật vậy không?
Tâm trí trôi dạt thì hãy để chúng trôi dạt vì não bộ được sinh ra là để tìm kiếm các phiền nhiễu mà. Việc của bạn là khoan dung với chính mình, xem việc lang thang của não bộ là điều hiển nhiên, hãy để suy nghĩ đến rồi đi một cách tự nhiên và nhẹ nhàng nhất.
5. Bạn làm việc hiệu quả hay không còn chịu sự tác động của các yếu tố khác như:
Tập thể dục
Chế độ ăn uống:
Ăn gì: Cacbohydrat, protein, chất béo,
Ăn bao nhiêu một lần, Ăn bao nhiêu lần trong ngày,...: Vừa phải thôi và nên chia ra ăn nhiều lần trong ngày nhé.
Tiếp đầy đủ nước Vì khi mất nước sẽ cảm thấy mệt mỏi, dễ tức giận và khó tập trung hơn???
6. Môi trường làm việc ảnh hưởng rất nhiều đến hiệu suất công việc của chúng ta.
Liệu một môi trường ồn ào có tạo được sự sáng tạo???. Có đấy nhưng chỉ trong môi trường ồn ào trung bình với mức độ liên tục. Cơ mà tớ thì là người hướng nội nên tớ tạp trung cao nhất là khi không gian yên tĩnh.
Đến ánh sáng nhé, ánh sáng mạnh, ánh sáng trắng xanh giúp tốt cho sự tập trung và tỉnh táo. Ánh sáng mờ ảo tốt cho sự sáng tạo.
Sự lộn xộn thật sự chẳng tốt lành gì cả.
Để làm việc trong môi trường hiệu quả, hãy chú ý đến: Âm thanh, ánh sáng và cách sắp xếp không gian làm việc.
1. Điểm quyết định
Khoảng cách 3-5 phút để quyết định tiếp theo nên làm gì là cực kỳ cần thiết.
2. Quản lý năng lượng tinh thần
Hai giờ không cố định đâu mà do nltt của bạn quyết định đấy.
Tức giận, lo lắng, buồn và cả những cảm xúc thoải mái có thể giúp bạn làm việc hiệu quả.
Không nên làm việc quan trọng sau khi não đã đưa ra quá nhiều quyết định ( Não làm việc nhiều).
3. Làm thế nào với các phiền nhiễu đây?
Haizzz. Tớ là kẻ không thể nào tập trung cao độ được vì não tớ hay đi lang thang lắm. Trước đây tớ hay trách mình sao cứ để bản thân đi lang thang mãi như thế, vì không tập trung thì sẽ không tiếp thu hay làm được việc gì hiệu quả cả. Uhm. Nhưng mà có một sự thật rằng, Não bạn sinh ra là để đi lang thang với những phiền nhiễu ấy. Nếu bạn không tập trung và hay bị các tác nhân bên ngoài làm sao nhãng thì không sao cả, điều đó chứng tỏ là bạn còn bình thường. Việc tốt nên làm là hãy để những tác nhân phiền nhiễu tránh xa bạn ra nếu bạn không muốn não lại đi đâu đó với chúng.
Thiền định giúp cải thiện sự tập trung.
4. Tâm trí lang thang liệu có tốt?
Cũng tốt đấy. Giải quyết một vấn đề. Xong. Để tâm trí lang thang đâu đó một chút. Nhào vào tiếp tục giải quyết vấn đề. Bạn sáng tạo.
Đôi khi tâm trí lang thang là để tính chuyện tương lai. Những kế hoạch và mục đích. Cũng tốt mà. Quan sát bản thân nhiều hơn nhé. Để xem liệu có thật vậy không?
Tâm trí trôi dạt thì hãy để chúng trôi dạt vì não bộ được sinh ra là để tìm kiếm các phiền nhiễu mà. Việc của bạn là khoan dung với chính mình, xem việc lang thang của não bộ là điều hiển nhiên, hãy để suy nghĩ đến rồi đi một cách tự nhiên và nhẹ nhàng nhất.
5. Bạn làm việc hiệu quả hay không còn chịu sự tác động của các yếu tố khác như:
Tập thể dục
Chế độ ăn uống:
Ăn gì: Cacbohydrat, protein, chất béo,
Ăn bao nhiêu một lần, Ăn bao nhiêu lần trong ngày,...: Vừa phải thôi và nên chia ra ăn nhiều lần trong ngày nhé.
Tiếp đầy đủ nước Vì khi mất nước sẽ cảm thấy mệt mỏi, dễ tức giận và khó tập trung hơn???
6. Môi trường làm việc ảnh hưởng rất nhiều đến hiệu suất công việc của chúng ta.
Liệu một môi trường ồn ào có tạo được sự sáng tạo???. Có đấy nhưng chỉ trong môi trường ồn ào trung bình với mức độ liên tục. Cơ mà tớ thì là người hướng nội nên tớ tạp trung cao nhất là khi không gian yên tĩnh.
Đến ánh sáng nhé, ánh sáng mạnh, ánh sáng trắng xanh giúp tốt cho sự tập trung và tỉnh táo. Ánh sáng mờ ảo tốt cho sự sáng tạo.
Sự lộn xộn thật sự chẳng tốt lành gì cả.
Để làm việc trong môi trường hiệu quả, hãy chú ý đến: Âm thanh, ánh sáng và cách sắp xếp không gian làm việc.
September 17, 2020
I. Decision Point:
People tend to get carried away on auto pilot mode when handling familiar tasks. The moment when one task ends is a decision point, since we have to think about what to do next. Use those moments to choose important tasks.
II. Mental Energy:
Mental energy is limited and can be drained when we need to make decisions, even trivial (like answering emails or deciding what to eat for lunch). Take note on time of day when your mental decision is at peak and delay energy draining activities until after you finish your important tasks of the day.
III. Distraction:
Distraction is natural and helpful to keep your mind creative. Before you work, try to eliminate as many sources of distraction as possible (smart devices, noises, etc.) If you get distracted during work, allow your mind to wander for a few minutes. It will get back to where you stopped by itself. Do not resist daydreaming or try to switch tasks when it happens.
IV. Exercise:
Moderate physical exercise can cure mentally sluggishness, calm anxiety, and recharge mental energy. 30 minutes of walking or 15 minutes of stair climbing is good enough. Always schedule to workout within a couple of hours before important tasks.
V. Nutrition:
Fats help improve concentration (Omega-3 preferred, avoid unhealthy fat). Carbs boosts short term concentration then follow with fatigue (after 1 hour). Dehydration always reduces productivity, so drink plenty of water. Same amount of nutrition in total, more smaller meals bring better performance than fewer big ones. Caffeine is still controversial and will take at least 30 minutes to kick in.
VI. Workplace:
Declutter. Bluish white lighting boosts energy.
Conclusion:
It is OK to be distracted and "unproductive", just find your 2 peak hours to handle important tasks everyday.
People tend to get carried away on auto pilot mode when handling familiar tasks. The moment when one task ends is a decision point, since we have to think about what to do next. Use those moments to choose important tasks.
II. Mental Energy:
Mental energy is limited and can be drained when we need to make decisions, even trivial (like answering emails or deciding what to eat for lunch). Take note on time of day when your mental decision is at peak and delay energy draining activities until after you finish your important tasks of the day.
III. Distraction:
Distraction is natural and helpful to keep your mind creative. Before you work, try to eliminate as many sources of distraction as possible (smart devices, noises, etc.) If you get distracted during work, allow your mind to wander for a few minutes. It will get back to where you stopped by itself. Do not resist daydreaming or try to switch tasks when it happens.
IV. Exercise:
Moderate physical exercise can cure mentally sluggishness, calm anxiety, and recharge mental energy. 30 minutes of walking or 15 minutes of stair climbing is good enough. Always schedule to workout within a couple of hours before important tasks.
V. Nutrition:
Fats help improve concentration (Omega-3 preferred, avoid unhealthy fat). Carbs boosts short term concentration then follow with fatigue (after 1 hour). Dehydration always reduces productivity, so drink plenty of water. Same amount of nutrition in total, more smaller meals bring better performance than fewer big ones. Caffeine is still controversial and will take at least 30 minutes to kick in.
VI. Workplace:
Declutter. Bluish white lighting boosts energy.
Conclusion:
It is OK to be distracted and "unproductive", just find your 2 peak hours to handle important tasks everyday.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2016
Some good ideas here about time management -- it's not as proscriptive as other books in this genre (you know, the ones that say "only check your email once a week"). Instead it describes how our understanding of human attention and effectiveness is changing, and how the principles of some research studies can be applied to our work life.
I've already tried some of the suggestions in the book, such as being aware of shifts in attention and decisions making, and also being more conscious about how the timing and amount of food/coffee we take in can affect our energy level and awareness. It does seem to be helping me deal with my mood/energy rollercoaster at work, but it's still a bit early to see if these are going to be long-term, helpful changes.
My only complaint with the book is that I feel like the author reads a little too much into some of the psychology studies he cites in the book.
I've already tried some of the suggestions in the book, such as being aware of shifts in attention and decisions making, and also being more conscious about how the timing and amount of food/coffee we take in can affect our energy level and awareness. It does seem to be helping me deal with my mood/energy rollercoaster at work, but it's still a bit early to see if these are going to be long-term, helpful changes.
My only complaint with the book is that I feel like the author reads a little too much into some of the psychology studies he cites in the book.
August 9, 2015
I read this for my work literary circle. Not much new here- basically the same idea of working on most important first- combined with the idea that you need to pick the right block of time to work on the most important so that you are at your best. Easier said than done with competing priorities.
October 10, 2015
策略1 在日常事務中，辨識每個決定點, 擺脫自動化模式，在做之前先思考。
策略2 管理你的心智能量，善用好情緒和壞情緒。憤怒有時候滿又用的。
策略3 調整對抗分心的方法，學會放自己一馬，真的專心不了，也無妨，就好好分心吧！
策略4 掌握運動和飲食的訣竅，你就能表現得更出色，想想牢獄中的曼德拉。
策略5 噪音、光線、雜物？自己動手打造最有益的工作環境，我該整理我的書桌了！
Read
March 11, 2017Strategies for peak productivity:
1. Recognise your decision points. Once you're in the middle of a task, it's hard to change course. Maximise the power of the moments in between tasks to choose the next thing that matters most.
2. Manage your mental energy. Tasks that need a lot of self-control or focused attention can be depleting, and tasks that make you highly emotional can throw you off your game. Schedule tasks based on their processing demand and recovery time.
3. Stop fighting distractions. Your attention systems are designed to wander and refresh, not to focus indefinitely. The goal is to get back on track quickly when you get distracted.
4. Leverage your mind-body connection. Move your body and eat in ways that set you up for success.
5. Make your workspace work for you. Learn how to adjust your environment in a way that benefits you - avoiding distractions and priming you for the required type of work.
Aim for a couple of hours of peak productivity and spend the rest of the day on more mundane tasks which don't require much creative or strategic thinking.
Decision points can be uncomfortable because there is conflict between possible decision alternatives, and also you have higher awareness at those points so you can be aware of other things on the to do list.
Being intentional about what you plan to do immediately after you finish a task makes a lot of difference in effectiveness.
There are only a few decision points in a day. To maximise the use of them:
- savour each decision point
- plan your decision points in advance
- don't start a new task without consciously deciding it's the right one.
Planning the reactions we will have to our decision points before they happen allows us to maximise them. Research has shown that planning ahead for likely obstacles dramatically increases our chances of behaving how we would like to instead of just reacting. These plans are called "implementation intentions" - plans to implement a certain action if a relevant cue arises. But planning *not* to do something (like "I will not give into the urge") tends to fail. Instead, plan a new action which you'd prefer to take.
Mentally prepare yourself to deal with interruptions as decision points. You may not be doing the most effective thing at the time, so it's good to get an opportunity to reassess!
Anger is unusual amongst negative emotions in that it facilitates approach-oriented behaviour, ie actions that move us toward a person, object or idea.
Sadness makes us more thoughtful and critically thinking.
Anxiety can be reframed as being alert and ready to react - that's what it seems to be biologically.
Strategies to avoid getting mentally exhausted:
- don't look at the news
- complete most important work first thing in the morning
- label tasks on the to do list as "important decisions ", "creative", or "other", and push "other" tasks to the end of the day.
- limit email to an hour in the afternoon
- make a few decisions the night before a big day so you don't have to deal with them ON the big day as they might throw you off.
How to get refreshed:
- 3 minute meditation
- have a laugh
- 10 minute nap
Practise strategic incompetence, ie letting go of doing some things in order to allow yourself the time to focus on what's really effective.
The brain is wired to respond to distractions so it's futile to try to force it to focus on one thing. You need to remove distractions from the environment instead. However, meditation does help with sustained attention.
Mind wandering may have important benefits when it comes to creative problem solving and long term planning. Let your mind wander for some time as long as you aren't getting distracted with something else, and after a short while it should return to the original task.
A session of moderate exercise reduces negative emotions and increases positive emotions, and is good for self control.
1. Recognise your decision points. Once you're in the middle of a task, it's hard to change course. Maximise the power of the moments in between tasks to choose the next thing that matters most.
2. Manage your mental energy. Tasks that need a lot of self-control or focused attention can be depleting, and tasks that make you highly emotional can throw you off your game. Schedule tasks based on their processing demand and recovery time.
3. Stop fighting distractions. Your attention systems are designed to wander and refresh, not to focus indefinitely. The goal is to get back on track quickly when you get distracted.
4. Leverage your mind-body connection. Move your body and eat in ways that set you up for success.
5. Make your workspace work for you. Learn how to adjust your environment in a way that benefits you - avoiding distractions and priming you for the required type of work.
Aim for a couple of hours of peak productivity and spend the rest of the day on more mundane tasks which don't require much creative or strategic thinking.
Decision points can be uncomfortable because there is conflict between possible decision alternatives, and also you have higher awareness at those points so you can be aware of other things on the to do list.
Being intentional about what you plan to do immediately after you finish a task makes a lot of difference in effectiveness.
There are only a few decision points in a day. To maximise the use of them:
- savour each decision point
- plan your decision points in advance
- don't start a new task without consciously deciding it's the right one.
Planning the reactions we will have to our decision points before they happen allows us to maximise them. Research has shown that planning ahead for likely obstacles dramatically increases our chances of behaving how we would like to instead of just reacting. These plans are called "implementation intentions" - plans to implement a certain action if a relevant cue arises. But planning *not* to do something (like "I will not give into the urge") tends to fail. Instead, plan a new action which you'd prefer to take.
Mentally prepare yourself to deal with interruptions as decision points. You may not be doing the most effective thing at the time, so it's good to get an opportunity to reassess!
Anger is unusual amongst negative emotions in that it facilitates approach-oriented behaviour, ie actions that move us toward a person, object or idea.
Sadness makes us more thoughtful and critically thinking.
Anxiety can be reframed as being alert and ready to react - that's what it seems to be biologically.
Strategies to avoid getting mentally exhausted:
- don't look at the news
- complete most important work first thing in the morning
- label tasks on the to do list as "important decisions ", "creative", or "other", and push "other" tasks to the end of the day.
- limit email to an hour in the afternoon
- make a few decisions the night before a big day so you don't have to deal with them ON the big day as they might throw you off.
How to get refreshed:
- 3 minute meditation
- have a laugh
- 10 minute nap
Practise strategic incompetence, ie letting go of doing some things in order to allow yourself the time to focus on what's really effective.
The brain is wired to respond to distractions so it's futile to try to force it to focus on one thing. You need to remove distractions from the environment instead. However, meditation does help with sustained attention.
Mind wandering may have important benefits when it comes to creative problem solving and long term planning. Let your mind wander for some time as long as you aren't getting distracted with something else, and after a short while it should return to the original task.
A session of moderate exercise reduces negative emotions and increases positive emotions, and is good for self control.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2022
Surprisingly succinct and information rich, but ultimately nothing overly new in the world of productivity.
- The concept of Decision Points was a new one to me. The premise being that it's important to consciously opt for higher priority items over simply performing routine tasks on auto-pilot. Similarly, transition points in work or when you get distracted create a decision point, where you should carefully decide what to do next. In doing this you attract less distractions into your day.
- Manage 'mental energy'. It's important to structure your day in a way that limits: decision fatigue, task switching and networking if you want to preserve as much mental energy as possible.
- Stop fighting distractions. The author posits that's important to set up your environment as best as possible to avoid avoidable distractions. Turn off emails, phone notifications, block websites if you can't help but browse reddit etc. Physically find a quiet place away from other people (there's an excellent mention of research into the effects of people talking nearby and it's detrimental effect on productivity). However, after you've dealt with all of the low hanging fruit, make peace with the fact that sometimes, you're just going to get distracted by things outside of your control. In some cases, it can be beneficial to embrace distractions. Taking a break, by going for a walk, or working on a task that requires low cognitive engagement can help your brain work through a difficult problem, so if you feel you need it, take a break.
- Being healthy. Good health, and healthy routines can aid in increasing your productivity. Exercise, a fat rich breakfast and ensuring you stay hydrated can all give you a cognitive boost.
- Control your environment. Choosing the right lighting can help boost your productivity. White-blue lights help increase focus. Ensuring your workspace is both clean and free from other people trying to get your attention or making noise are also great ways of setting yourself up for a productive day.
- The concept of Decision Points was a new one to me. The premise being that it's important to consciously opt for higher priority items over simply performing routine tasks on auto-pilot. Similarly, transition points in work or when you get distracted create a decision point, where you should carefully decide what to do next. In doing this you attract less distractions into your day.
- Manage 'mental energy'. It's important to structure your day in a way that limits: decision fatigue, task switching and networking if you want to preserve as much mental energy as possible.
- Stop fighting distractions. The author posits that's important to set up your environment as best as possible to avoid avoidable distractions. Turn off emails, phone notifications, block websites if you can't help but browse reddit etc. Physically find a quiet place away from other people (there's an excellent mention of research into the effects of people talking nearby and it's detrimental effect on productivity). However, after you've dealt with all of the low hanging fruit, make peace with the fact that sometimes, you're just going to get distracted by things outside of your control. In some cases, it can be beneficial to embrace distractions. Taking a break, by going for a walk, or working on a task that requires low cognitive engagement can help your brain work through a difficult problem, so if you feel you need it, take a break.
- Being healthy. Good health, and healthy routines can aid in increasing your productivity. Exercise, a fat rich breakfast and ensuring you stay hydrated can all give you a cognitive boost.
- Control your environment. Choosing the right lighting can help boost your productivity. White-blue lights help increase focus. Ensuring your workspace is both clean and free from other people trying to get your attention or making noise are also great ways of setting yourself up for a productive day.
April 26, 2021
This book contained a number of useful and interesting bits of advice. Some of the more intriguing material was related to the short-term biological effects of exercise and things humans typically consume by mouth (e.g. caffeine, sugar, fats and proteins, et cetera), a subject rarely addressed in any books I've seen. Another very useful and interesting topic is that of maintaining focus, and the tendency of attention to wander. The book addresses how our intuitions about these things tend to be backward. Everyone should be exposed to this information, and in particular managers: they could ensure their employees are informed about how to manage focus and (perhaps more importantly) stop imposing unreasonable, productivity-damaging expectations on employees if they knew this information.
One interesting point about the book (in a negative way) is how it addresses characteristics of some tasks being very draining or contributing to difficulty staying on-task, and stresses the point that lengthy reading rapidly saps attention. That's interesting because the writing in this book belabors some points so much, in such a long-winded and repetitive fashion, that it threatens to lose even the most attentive readers. Despite this, the book is overall an easy read, but it often uses far too many words to make a point, and its loquaciousness seems at times to go to great pains to use passive-voice and other quirks of writing that reduce easy readability in subtle ways (by making the point of a sentence arrive by an indirect route rather than clearly, directly, succinctly stating the point).
Overall, it is a good book to read, and not too long, with useful information and advice in it that I've seen nowhere else. It could definitely have been better written, though.
One interesting point about the book (in a negative way) is how it addresses characteristics of some tasks being very draining or contributing to difficulty staying on-task, and stresses the point that lengthy reading rapidly saps attention. That's interesting because the writing in this book belabors some points so much, in such a long-winded and repetitive fashion, that it threatens to lose even the most attentive readers. Despite this, the book is overall an easy read, but it often uses far too many words to make a point, and its loquaciousness seems at times to go to great pains to use passive-voice and other quirks of writing that reduce easy readability in subtle ways (by making the point of a sentence arrive by an indirect route rather than clearly, directly, succinctly stating the point).
Overall, it is a good book to read, and not too long, with useful information and advice in it that I've seen nowhere else. It could definitely have been better written, though.
April 13, 2020
Blinkist!
Routines get in the way of productivity
Recognize decision points
After completion or interruption you can choose what’s next
Managing your mental energy will bring you one step closer to being awesomely effective.
If finishing an important report is the task that matters most that day, then don’t begin your day by responding to emails, like you usually do. Instead, start with the report immediately.
you have to stop fighting distractions.
That’s why turning off their distracting features, such as notification sounds and pop-up windows, is a great place to start.
how can you let your mind go without letting it drift off altogether?
You can actively enable mind wandering by engaging in an unrelated and cognitively easy task – like tidying your desk or making lunch – after having focused on a difficult problem for a certain amount of time. You can also allow passive mind wandering, by letting yourself drift off, becoming aware that you’re distracted and returning to the task that needs your attention. Both approaches offer your brain the break that it needs to solve problems effectivel
After doing physical exercise, participants demonstrated an enhanced ability to focus and to ignore distractions.
Therefore, it might be a good idea to reserve some time to work on your important projects just after you’re back from the gym.
Carbs vs fats
Silence office chatter
Brighten your office
Move about or have a stroll.
Routines get in the way of productivity
Recognize decision points
After completion or interruption you can choose what’s next
Managing your mental energy will bring you one step closer to being awesomely effective.
If finishing an important report is the task that matters most that day, then don’t begin your day by responding to emails, like you usually do. Instead, start with the report immediately.
you have to stop fighting distractions.
That’s why turning off their distracting features, such as notification sounds and pop-up windows, is a great place to start.
how can you let your mind go without letting it drift off altogether?
You can actively enable mind wandering by engaging in an unrelated and cognitively easy task – like tidying your desk or making lunch – after having focused on a difficult problem for a certain amount of time. You can also allow passive mind wandering, by letting yourself drift off, becoming aware that you’re distracted and returning to the task that needs your attention. Both approaches offer your brain the break that it needs to solve problems effectivel
After doing physical exercise, participants demonstrated an enhanced ability to focus and to ignore distractions.
Therefore, it might be a good idea to reserve some time to work on your important projects just after you’re back from the gym.
Carbs vs fats
Silence office chatter
Brighten your office
Move about or have a stroll.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2018
Despite the fact that I was a little bit excited reading this book, I honestly didn't find earth shattering ideas or thought provoking concepts.
Personally I believe nothing new was contributed to the self-help domain from this book that I already was not aware of. However "Two Awesome Hours" is an great start for entry level fellow humans who are curious about time and energy management.
I will keep one outstanding observation though that the author shares with us regarding human performance.
Since we are not machines capable of carrying out complex processes infinitely, efficiency is not a metric for human performance. The right metric for human performance and productivity is effectiveness instead.
The book, per se, is not bad as it teaches you under what environmental stimuli you can reach peak performance but certain general add-on features like eating properly or exercising regularly are already well known habits that promote alertness and mental clarity.
Personally I believe nothing new was contributed to the self-help domain from this book that I already was not aware of. However "Two Awesome Hours" is an great start for entry level fellow humans who are curious about time and energy management.
I will keep one outstanding observation though that the author shares with us regarding human performance.
Since we are not machines capable of carrying out complex processes infinitely, efficiency is not a metric for human performance. The right metric for human performance and productivity is effectiveness instead.
The book, per se, is not bad as it teaches you under what environmental stimuli you can reach peak performance but certain general add-on features like eating properly or exercising regularly are already well known habits that promote alertness and mental clarity.
January 12, 2020
Ok, first I would like to say you’re welcome. I read this book so you don’t have to. This book has been on my TBR for over a year. I figured this was a way to start the year “right”. No more procrastinating!
The title explains it all. I am not sure what I was thinking when I bought this book. Maybe it was on sale. I go crazy at used bookstores. I am not sure what was going on in my life at the time of this purchase. I'm currently judging the old me.
The book recommends giving into brief distractions. It has some decent information on that. However, most of the “strategies” are common sense. For instance, put your phone away. Yep. Or try to find a quiet place. My favorite, avoid pasta or large consumptions of carbs if you want to stay awake. Not kidding.
Again you’re welcome!
The title explains it all. I am not sure what I was thinking when I bought this book. Maybe it was on sale. I go crazy at used bookstores. I am not sure what was going on in my life at the time of this purchase. I'm currently judging the old me.
The book recommends giving into brief distractions. It has some decent information on that. However, most of the “strategies” are common sense. For instance, put your phone away. Yep. Or try to find a quiet place. My favorite, avoid pasta or large consumptions of carbs if you want to stay awake. Not kidding.
Again you’re welcome!
April 17, 2019
Quick and easy read that provided me with some practical tips on getting to what's most important. I have already implemented decision points which allows me to choose what to do next once a task is complete rather than just automatically going to the next shiny thing! I discovered that our brains are wired to do most of what we do automatically. No more autopilot for me. I have found that I feel better about what I am completing and that I'm getting to focus on what's important to me not what's urgent but not important. I've also gotten better about when I schedule my important work based on my mental and physical energy.
April 24, 2021
These books are increasingly harder for me to rate, as I'm coming into them from a heavily researched vantage point. It's rare that a productivity approach or strategy is new to me at this point.
There's some Fairly Obvious Stuff in here, but it did give me a few things to consider. Namely, be mindful of not stacking mentally exhausting tasks back-to-back and to be more strategic about how to arrange your tasks in a way that leaves you less drained and better able to get through what you have planned.
The idea that we really only have two hours of peak mental performance a day should have been addressed more. This is something a lot of people don't realize, and wildly overestimate.
There's some Fairly Obvious Stuff in here, but it did give me a few things to consider. Namely, be mindful of not stacking mentally exhausting tasks back-to-back and to be more strategic about how to arrange your tasks in a way that leaves you less drained and better able to get through what you have planned.
The idea that we really only have two hours of peak mental performance a day should have been addressed more. This is something a lot of people don't realize, and wildly overestimate.
January 3, 2018
Following is the summary of key learning points
Decision Points -- Figure out your decision points, recognize them and make decisions during those times
Manage your Mental Energy - Figure out the right times to do the right tasks
Stop Fighting Distractions -- Figure out when to let the mind wander and how to bring back focus
Mind-Body Connection --- When and how much to exercise, eat and drink and schedule it around the right tasks
Make your workplace work for you -- Do the right things in the workplace to make it work for you
Decision Points -- Figure out your decision points, recognize them and make decisions during those times
Manage your Mental Energy - Figure out the right times to do the right tasks
Stop Fighting Distractions -- Figure out when to let the mind wander and how to bring back focus
Mind-Body Connection --- When and how much to exercise, eat and drink and schedule it around the right tasks
Make your workplace work for you -- Do the right things in the workplace to make it work for you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2018
The book's overarching advice is to be more aware of our mental and physical states and leverage them for better productivity. More specifically, the author elaborates on 5 key to-dos: recognize your decision points; manage your mental energy; stop fighting distractions; leverage your mind–body connection; and make your workspace work for you. However, I get the feeling that the entire book could have been slimmed down into a feature-length article without losing much substance. That being said, the underlying ideas are solid, and the advice are practical and worth trying.
August 31, 2022
I listened to the audiobook.
The book gave great tips on how to be more productive and the psychology of concentration.
I learnt a few things but the information wasn’t presented in an entertaining way in my opinion. Either way, I learnt something new which is the most important.
key takeaways:
Introduction: Be Awesomely Effective
Strategy 1: Recognize Your Decision Points
Strategy 2: Manage Your Mental Energy
Strategy 3: Stop Fighting Distractions
Strategy 4: Leverage Your Mind-Body Connection
Strategy 5: Make Your Workspace Work for You
The book gave great tips on how to be more productive and the psychology of concentration.
I learnt a few things but the information wasn’t presented in an entertaining way in my opinion. Either way, I learnt something new which is the most important.
key takeaways:
Introduction: Be Awesomely Effective
Strategy 1: Recognize Your Decision Points
Strategy 2: Manage Your Mental Energy
Strategy 3: Stop Fighting Distractions
Strategy 4: Leverage Your Mind-Body Connection
Strategy 5: Make Your Workspace Work for You
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews