5 Keys To Becoming Efficient And Advancing Our Important Projects

I have accumulated over 2580 days with Duolingo without making much progress.

Nothing to do with the tool but rather with my efficiency.

I (often) look for the easy way out.

And we all find ourselves in these situations from time to time.

• Answering my emails, rather than working on analyzing the quarter’s results
• Fine-tune my web page, rather than prospecting for new customers
• Playing chess, rather than studying a game

It’s easier, but not more efficient.

5 keys to becoming efficient and advancing our important projects

1/ Efficiency and intentionality

If I decide to put my German into maintenance phase, then hunting 10 XP ( Duolingo points 😀 ) is in line with my expectations. (And even then, not sure?)

The problem is when I’m not aligned.

I want to improve my German, win new customers, or be promoted at work, but I’m in maintenance mode.

In what areas could you revise your expectations or align your actions with your goals?

2/ Efficiency and time

To succeed, you have to give yourself time.

But lasting is difficult. When :

• I go to bed later, struggling to get up for my 90 minutes of German.
• I’m studying a complex grammar subject, which doesn’t encourage me to start my session.
• I lose track of a book in German and don’t feel like continuing.

Boredom, difficulty, and morale all influence our ability to last.

3/ Efficiency and variation

To overcome this threat, I use variation.

I intend to study German for 90 minutes a day throughout 2024.

The aim is to move from B1.1 to C1.

On the other hand, I allow myself, even force myself, to vary my 90 minutes.

As soon as I feel boredom lurking I :

• Change the order of the exercises,
• From sitting to standing
• Choose another location
• Use a new resource…

I’m staying consistent by keeping a deliberate practice but creating plenty of options for myself to last.

Flexible in the way, firm on the duration.

What could you do on your major projects to keep them going over the long term?

4/ Efficiency despite difficulties

I recently heard Tim Ferriss with Noah Kagan in a very long podcast (If I didn’t run, I wouldn’t have stood a chance 😀 ) talking about his fondest memories.

He cites the difficulties, the efforts, and the audacity he had in the beginning to get to where he is today.

There are no exciting projects without difficulties, so let’s make the most of the ones we’re experiencing.

My tools for overcoming difficulties

• My thinking is entirely different after a good night’s sleep, a walk in the fresh air, a workout, a few good breaths…
• When things get too difficult, I open my diary and take notes, which takes me away from the situation emotionally.

What tools can you use to overcome or even appreciate your difficulties?

5/ Staying efficient despite the pitfalls

The trap of locking yourself in:

3 years ago, when I did my last acceleration in German, I used an Italki online service. I found very good teachers and loved the experience. This year, when I took up German seriously again, I almost locked myself into my comfort zone and continued only with Italki.

It would have meant missing out on the Lingoda experience. An online school with more structured courses. A passage I need right now.

Both services are interesting. They just respond to different phases of my learning process. And to return to my point 3. They make me more robust by increasing my options. When I get bored with one, I can switch to the other while maintaining the most important…Persevere

The trap of trying too hard:

I discovered an excellent free service called Nicos Weg (If you’re interested in German, I recommend it.). Under the influence of enthusiasm, I started to do too much on top of all my other activities. The best way to get disgusted and give up.

• What do I want to do?
• What happened last week?
• What will I commit to doing this week to correct the situation?

Reflecting on our experience helps us avoid the pitfalls that come our way.

How can you incorporate time for reflection to better decide on important projects?

Conclusion

“It’s less easy but more efficient to choose a deliberate practice.”

Every time I succeed in being intentional and aligned, my business and personal projects accelerate.

Every time I’m passive and inconsistent, I get frustrated and give up…

And you, in what part of your life could you progress faster by creating a more intentional practice?

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