"Let's Talk Productivity!"

It's day 153 of documenting 2025.

Oof 😢

Hurts. A lot.

To try something out and watch it fall flat on its face.

That's what happened with the poll I posted on my WhatsApp channel.

That was on Friday.

No single response....and I have 21 followers.

Same with the survey for this blog.

No responses. Yet.

I guess not many people read each post in a day.

And my followers on the channel are probably busy with more pending matters in their lives.

For the record, my friend...

I'm not sad. 

I don't cry about it either.

Because it's a lesson in itself.

What I learned? 

Position yourself at the right time.

The responses will flow...just like that.

Apply that to life, if you wish 😉

Anyhoo...

It's Monday.

And it's test week at the school where I teach.

We'll probably close early today.

Good for me 😄

Last night, as I was drawing up my schedule...I had a convo with ChatGPT.

Topic? Productivity.

Very interesting one, I assure you...because I learned something new as well.

Here's how it went.

Me: How can I use the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to figure out what's important and what's not?

ChatGPT: You use it by asking two key questions for every task: 

Is it urgent? Is it important? 

Urgent means it needs attention now. Important means it moves your life or goals forward. 

If a task is both, you do it. If it's important but not urgent, you schedule it. 

The rest? You either delegate or delete. It's how you stop being busy and start being effective.

Me: Wow...that's a rather effective explanation.

How can I pair this method with the Pomodoro technique?

ChatGPT: Glad you liked it, Duon. Here’s how to pair them:  

Use the Eisenhower Matrix to choose what truly matters; then apply the Pomodoro to focus on doing it. 

Each 25-minute Pomodoro becomes a focused block for a high-priority task. 

You're not just working; you’re working smart and in rhythm. It’s clarity + focus = momentum.

Me: Now, what productivity booster do you recommend for a high school teacher who's also a content writer?

ChatGPT: Build theme days. 

Assign specific days for teaching prep, grading, writing, and rest. 

That way, your mind knows what to expect and doesn’t juggle everything at once. It protects your energy, sharpens your focus, and keeps burnout at bay.

Me: Yeah...I was kinda thinking the same thing 🤔

I can't do everything...it just completely overwhelms me when I try to do that.

ChatGPT: Exactly, Duon. 

When you try to do everything, your brain ends up doing nothing well. Focus isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing what matters with full presence. 

Give each thing its space, and you’ll feel more in control, not just busy.

Me: How can I avoid or remove my tendency to start scrolling on social media....maybe after I've completed a high priority task?

And what type of psychological trigger is that?

ChatGPT: That’s a dopamine-driven reward loop; your brain craves a hit after effort, and scrolling gives fast, easy pleasure.  

To break it, replace the scroll with a real reward: a stretch, music, a walk, or a short journal entry. Something that feels good but doesn’t hijack your focus.  

The trick is to train your brain to associate rest with recovery, not escape.

Me: Oh! I get it now!

Recovery...not escape.

ChatGPT: Exactly, Duon. 

Recovery restores you—escape delays you. One feeds your growth, the other numbs your momentum. Choose recovery, and you stay in charge.

Me: Well said 😌

Can you give a summary of what we've discussed on productivity...as well as a befitting conclusion?

ChatGPT: Sure, Duon.

We explored productivity through clarity and focus. 

The Eisenhower Matrix helps you choose what truly matters. 

The Pomodoro Technique helps you stay present while doing it. 

Theme days give your mind structure, not pressure. 

And when rest comes, choose recovery; not escape, so you remain grounded, not drained.

In conclusion:

Productivity isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters, with intention.

Protect your time, honor your energy, and treat focus like a gift—not a punishment. 

When you work from purpose, even rest becomes powerful.

A befitting conclusion indeed.

Right, my friend?

This just sums up all I was thinking about, and I hope you learned something from the chat.

Have a productive Monday! ☺️

Let's move now to Highlights.

From the usual read.

None other than...

365 Days With Self-discipline

📌 On Spontaneity

"As he walked across the farmyard toward the hen house, he noticed the pump was leaking. 

So he stopped to fix it. It needed a new washer, so he set off to the barn to get one. 

But on the way he saw that the hayloft needed straightening, so he went to fetch the pitchfork. Hanging next to the pitchfork was a broom with a broken handle. “I must make a note to myself to buy a broom handle the next time I get to town", he thought…

By now it is clear that the farmer is not going to get his eggs gathered, nor is he likely to accomplish anything else he sets out to do. 

He is utterly, gloriously spontaneous, but he is hardly free. He is, if anything, a prisoner to his unbridled spontaneity. 

The fact of the matter is that discipline is the only way to freedom; it is the necessary context for spontaneity."

Quote by John Guest

Quite a long quote, right?

It actually resonates with me because I'm a bit of a spontaneous person myself.

Discipline is the only way to freedom.

Remember that, Duon 😌

"When you think of spontaneity, you might think of it as something positive and fun. Going on an unplanned road trip. Dancing in the rain. Saying yes to random invitations."

"Spontaneity can be positive, as long as you don’t mistake it with impulsiveness. Whenever you justify your uninhibited behaviors with spontaneity, ask yourself if that’s what it really is or whether your unplanned actions are in reality caused by a lack of self-control."

"If you’re wondering if self-discipline is going to make you a boring person, realize that you can make an exception from time to time; just don’t do it when you’re being pressured into doing it."

Being pressured.

That's keyword here.

Don't make an exception to your routine or discipline when you're being pressured to do so.

Stand your ground.

This is where I'll call it a day...

Thank you so much, my friend 🎀

For reading.

Not missing any of my posts.

You can catch up on posts from last week by checking out Documenting 2025.

I'll see you there 😉

I'm Duon Ada.

I'm documenting 2025,

And I'll see you tomorrow.

Ciao 💕