Systemizing has large up-front costs for diminished repeated costs
Not everything needs systemization: maybe you like your inefficient process, or the costs are too infrequent to bother.
Systemization-opportunities:
Common routines: waking up, meals, work routines, computer, social
Familiar spaces: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, vehicle, workspace, backpack
Shoulds/Obligations: Physical health, finances, intellectual growth, close relationship, career, emotional well-being, community
Framing: instead of trying to “do everything”, focus on “freeing up attention”
Systems as “personal assistants”
Consider having several smaller systems instead of one overarching framework
Motivating Perspectives:
Increasing Marginal Returns: attention is a prerequisite for flow, deep connection, and non-default actions
The returns are increasing since removing the first distraction is not worth much in a sea of distractions, but the last is
TAP-interactions: Instead of changing responses, improve the triggers
Qualities of good attention-saving systems: Effortless, reliable (otherwise it’s not attention-freeing), invisible (the triggers should be specific, and not always be visible)
Advice for getting started:
Pay attention to friction (e.g., by collecting them for a week)
Set external reminders
Establish a routine
Shape other’s expectations regarding communication
Summary
Systemizing has large up-front costs for diminished repeated costs
Not everything needs systemization: maybe you like your inefficient process, or the costs are too infrequent to bother.
Systemization-opportunities:
Common routines: waking up, meals, work routines, computer, social
Familiar spaces: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, vehicle, workspace, backpack
Shoulds/Obligations: Physical health, finances, intellectual growth, close relationship, career, emotional well-being, community
Framing: instead of trying to “do everything”, focus on “freeing up attention”
Systems as “personal assistants”
Consider having several smaller systems instead of one overarching framework
Motivating Perspectives:
Increasing Marginal Returns: attention is a prerequisite for flow, deep connection, and non-default actions
The returns are increasing since removing the first distraction is not worth much in a sea of distractions, but the last is
TAP-interactions: Instead of changing responses, improve the triggers
Qualities of good attention-saving systems: Effortless, reliable (otherwise it’s not attention-freeing), invisible (the triggers should be specific, and not always be visible)
Advice for getting started:
Pay attention to friction (e.g., by collecting them for a week)
Set external reminders
Establish a routine
Shape other’s expectations regarding communication
Eliminate unneeded communication, e.g., email newsletters
Use checklists (e.g. for travel or income tax)
Outsource routines (housekeeping) or routine building (e.g., personal trainer)
Use inboxes
Triage (can a task also not be done?)
Meta-systems
Systems don’t work from the start, and also not forever. Solution:
Systemize the implementation/adaptation of your systems. Options:
Regular (e.g., weekly) time
Irregular, based on a running list of system-problems
Immediately when problems arise
Systemizing Algorithm:
Choose an aspect to be systemized (e.g., costs attention, is effortful, and can be improved)
Think of attention sinks and ideas to address them (maybe: aversion-factoring, understanding the cause of the distraction)
Reality check (with Myrphyjitsu, effort assessment, common sense objections)
Make a plan (set up TAPs, changes in the environment, buy things)
Put the plan into action (start right now or create the next action; have a review system in place)