Learn how to work like a machine to crush your goals but also free up more time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
This mindset isn’t just for work; you can apply it to all aspects of your life, helping you:
- Support your loved ones more effectively
- Shed pounds and build muscles with ease
- Earn money faster and smarter
- Breeze through your errands
Don’t worry; the aim isn’t to become a cold, emotionless robot. Instead, it’s all about maximizing your potential within those precious 24 hours we get each day. After all, humans are inching ever closer to merging with technology, so why not get a head start and sharpen your mental prowess today?
#1 Embrace structure in your daily life
Think of structure as a roadmap for your day-to-day activities. With a solid plan in place, you’ll always know what to do from the moment your feet hit the floor. It’s just like programming a machine to perform tasks X, Y, and Z. Press ‘start,’ and off it goes!
For me, the day begins with my alarm clock sounding at 5:00 AM, followed by an intense workout session. It doesn’t matter if I’m exhausted, sore, or preoccupied; exercise is a non-negotiable part of my daily routine, just like brushing my teeth before bed.
What to do to work like a machine
To work like a machine, draft a list of must-do activities and build your schedule around them. For instance, your daily agenda might look like this:
- 1 hour of exercise
- 4 hours of studying
- 8 hours of engineering design work
- 1 hour of brainstorming future ideas and businesses
- 30 minutes of meal prep for the next day
From Monday to Friday, these tasks become the pillars of your daily routine, giving you clear direction from the moment you wake up to the second your head hits the pillow.
#2 Master stress management
I don’t know if it’s in my genes, but I hardly ever stress out. When problems pop up in my life, I refuse to dwell on them, no matter how big or small. Instead, I assess the situation and swiftly search for solutions. Let me share an example.
One holiday season, I was slapped with a $20,000 bill for a rental property I own. As if that wasn’t enough, I had to put up some unhappy tenants in a hotel while I called in contractors to fix the issue. The whole ordeal was a chaotic mess, completely beyond my control.
But once I did everything in my power to tackle the problem, I shoved it to the back of my mind. I realized that stressing over it wouldn’t make things any better – in fact, it could hurt my other ventures.
So, here’s the takeaway: don’t beat yourself up over things you can’t control. As I see it, there’s no sense in adding insult to injury. Much like a machine, you’ve got to keep chugging along, unfazed by earthquakes or fires.
What to do to work like a machine
To work like a machine, adopt a rational perspective on problems. Realize that self-sabotaging through stress will only hold you back.
Equally important, face challenges head-on, using every tool at your disposal. Aim to extinguish fires as quickly as possible, and don’t let emotions stand in your way. I get it, it’s not a walk in the park, but with practice, this mindset will become second nature.
#3 Create to-do lists
Juggling multiple responsibilities can make even the sharpest of us a bit forgetful. After all, our brains can only handle so much info. And since you probably don’t have a personal assistant shadowing your every move, to-do lists are your next best ally.
I religiously create daily, weekly, and long-term to-do lists, either on my phone or good old-fashioned paper. Plus, I update them in real-time to capture fleeting thoughts.
Think of it like a programmer instructing a machine to complete tasks. Without a program, the machine idles away, doing nothing. Likewise, your to-do lists act as your self-programmed assignments.
What to do to work like a machine
Each day, jot down everything you need to tackle the next day, making this a daily ritual. Also, draft a monthly and yearly long-term to-do or goal list, too. Your daily tasks then serve as stepping stones toward achieving your grand ambitions.
#4 Eliminate distractions
I use this strategy when I need to zero in. I eliminate all distractions to skyrocket my productivity. The aim is to become completely absorbed in your work, like athletes who enter the zone.
In the zone, you’re laser-focused on ticking off tasks from your to-do lists while maintaining top-notch work quality. The best part? No Adderall needed. To make it happen, try these tips:
- Put your phone away or face it screen-down.
- Avoid people and distractions.
- Find a quiet place to work.
- Stop daydreaming.
- Don’t overeat.
- Avoid opening extra browser tabs with unrelated subjects.
This no-bullshit approach turns you into a productivity machine. It reminds me of the first Terminator movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The terminator’s sole mission was to find Sarah Connor, and it kept going even with half its face blown off.
In short, don’t let outside noise get to you, even when:
- Friends and family are at a theme park on a sunny day.
- Your favorite sports team is playing.
- A new video game awaits you at home.
What to do to work like a machine
Jot down your top distractions and tackle them one at a time when you work. For instance, leave your phone in the car or switch it off. This helps train your mind to focus on the task at hand.
Eventually, you’ll be able to work with your phone nearby, just like pro athletes performing their best in front of roaring crowds. Until then, practice mental discipline by denying distractions.
#5 Keep social interactions in check while working
To maintain peak productivity, you need to eliminate major time sinks—activities that consume time without yielding positive results.
For many folks, unplanned chats with friends and family are classic time sinks. A seemingly quick conversation can spiral into a heated two-hour debate, wasting precious time. And sometimes, you’ll need another hour or two just to unwind.
Now, I’m not suggesting you become a reclusive hermit for life. Far from it! But when you’re working, the goal is to make every minute count. And let’s face it, machines don’t chitchat with their neighbors.
What to do to work like a machine
- Opt for text messages over phone calls. A call for a quick question can turn into an hour of rambling.
- Skip the small talk when speaking to people. Be polite, but don’t prolong conversations on unrelated topics.
- Inform others about your goals and work schedule. Not only will they respect your time more, they might even follow your example.
#6 Keep your eyes on the prize
Zero in on what you want to achieve, then picture where you want to be and what you want to do in X years. This sparks a fire within, driving you to move mountains to reach your goals.
I like to think of it as driving from point A to point B. When you know your destination, you’ll always arrive. But without clear goals, you’ll just wander aimlessly, wondering where the time went.
That’s why programmed machines are so successful – they have a singular goal and know what must be done, no questions asked.
What to do to work like a machine
Outline your specific goals and the steps to achieve them, including the small milestones along the way.
I know, at first, the path to your goals may be murky. But that’s why you write down the steps, so you can adjust them as needed.
#7 Increase your efficiency
Nearly everything in life can be optimized, saving you time and reducing headaches.
For me, bodybuilding taught me a lot about working efficiently. In college, I’d blend tuna and diet Dr. Pepper together and gulp it down. Yeah, it sounds disgusting, but this concoction saved me time and money.
Back then, I had to meet daily calorie and protein targets while tackling demanding engineering courses. So, this blended drink became my hack. I’d whip it up in 20 seconds and down it in 5. Done!
Curious? The diet Dr. Pepper actually masked the tuna taste quite well, helping me scarf down a can in mere seconds.
What to do to work like a machine
- Eat the same meal on workdays to eliminate decision-making. I’ve had the same lunch for years, and it never fails.
- Wear the same type of clothes daily. There’s a reason Mark Zuckerberg sports the same shirt every day: it cuts down on unimportant daily choices.
- Pay for services to automate essential tasks. If software can save you an hour a day, use it. Don’t waste time wrestling with Excel while tearing your hair out. Often, $30 a month is worth the time saved.
#8 Put yourself on the line
Declare your ambitious goals to the world – a brilliant tactic often employed by Elon Musk via Twitter. It’s not only free marketing for his companies, but it also fires up his employees. It reminds me of this quote:
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
I believe Elon maintains his motivation through this technique too. By putting yourself out there, you add pressure to deliver and avoid looking unreliable. As a result, you’re driven to achieve the goals you’ve set.
What to do to work like a machine
Establish firm deadlines and post them on your wall, phone, or anywhere you’ll see them regularly.
Having clear goals to work towards every day is crucial. To level up, share your goals with others. Once you make them public, they’re ingrained in the collective consciousness, making it harder to back down.
#9 Harness the power of fear
Fear can be an incredible motivator. If a lunatic with a blade were chasing you, I bet you’d run faster than ever before. The trick is to channel that fear into your work life. I think about how short and fragile life is, which instantly drives me to work more efficiently.
Instead of letting an 8-hour task stretch to 40 hours, I make the most of my time, either advancing my work or spending it with loved ones.
I also envision my future. I know that someday, I may face adversity or need to care for someone close to me. I want to be prepared and avoid regrets down the road. I don’t want to look back and think:
“Why didn’t you work just a little harder to become financially stable?”
It’s crucial to live in the present while keeping one foot in the future.
What to do to work like a machine
Visualize your future and imagine how you’d feel if you reached a certain age without attaining your goals, or worse, without even trying. Keep pondering these thoughts until the fear of failure kicks in. Embrace this mental battle and let fear fuel your motivation.
#10 Discover your passion
When you’re truly passionate about your work, everything just clicks. You’ll be eager to jump out of bed at 5:00 AM, making alarm clocks practically obsolete!
If you’re fortunate enough to find your life’s passion, embrace it wholeheartedly – it’s a gift few people ever experience. For all the NBA fans out there, the late, great Kobe Bryant is a prime example of passion personified. Kobe would play one-on-one games up to 100 points after high school practices.
And in the NBA, he’d show up for 7:00 AM practices at 5:00 AM, already drenched in sweat before any other player even set foot in the practice facility. It’s this intensity and unwavering passion that sets the truly great apart from the merely good.
What to do to work like a machine
Reflect on your interests and identify what truly excites you and makes you want to rise early.
Once you’ve found your passion, make the most of it. Even if you’re working a 9 to 5 job, pursue your passion on the side. A passionate mind operates effortlessly, much like a well-tuned machine.
Mastery of working like a machine
Don’t be afraid to transform yourself into a half-human, half-machine powerhouse. It’s an effective way to maximize your potential and boost productivity. What’s more, other areas of your life will also improve.
This is why many business owners prefer machines over human workers – machines consistently perform at high levels without missing a beat. It’s like putting work and life on easy mode.
How do you work like a machine in your everyday life? What works best for you, to increase your work output?
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