Scramblers, this one is for you. And no, we are not talking about egg aficionados here, but rather those who rush around finishing tasks before bedtime. Procrastinators, listen up too. And also on the guest list are those who:
- Get into bed wondering where their 24 hours went
- Need a double ration of hours in their day
- Want to give up on life by lunchtime
The following method could quite frankly change your entire life. It is simple, but it works like a magic trick. How? First, by freeing up mental space to make you even more focused than a heat-seeking missile. Second, by emphasizing immediate action -- the only type that counts.
Halve Your Day to Double Your Productivity
1. Decide what to do today
Write everything down, but don’t forget that first word — decide. It is of prime importance. It's the acknowledgement that there are always more things to do than you have time for. Which is fine. Most of it is not worth your time anyways.
2. Group activities
If you subscribe to the Getting Things Done philosophy, you know how important a clear mind is. Your brain is not a storage unit. Rather, it is the workshop in which you construct all your brilliant ideas and inventions. To take this analogy a little further -- what is easier to move around? A pile of knick-knacks or a box of knick-knacks?
In order to do your best thinking, the minutiae of your day needs to be put away somewhere reliable. This is where grouping comes in. Instead of having a laundry list of tasks on your mind, figure out the key goal of the day in each of the main areas of your life.
Keep the details on one part of the plan, and the general breakdown in a separate section. I keep it real simple. My listed areas are work, food, sleep and other. “Other” is the knick-knack box to end all knick-knack boxes — cooking, laundry, cleaning, personal emails, errands and so on. These individual subdivisions don't have dedicated spaces in my plan because they are flexible and constantly changing. Time and experience have taught me that life runs smoothly if I allocate two hours to this general category.
As for the rest of the areas, work is the second major one — I list the hours to spend writing and the specific project to complete. Sleep is not quite as complex -- I just have a bedtime written down. And food doesn't require me to write down a general target at all --rather I put away the details of this subject by quite literally boxing them in. My plan has a little box with the menu for the day and the times at which I will have each meal.
So now, when you are considering your day, you can play with this overview and be free from the details until you are ready to go deeper into a particular area.
3. Halve your day, halve your tasks… and halve them again
Take the number of hours you have set aside for each of your major categories and halve them. This amount is what you will have to do by halftime, roughly eight hours from when you woke up. Halve it again. Congratulations, you have your general breakdown for the first quarter of your day.
4. Assign exact times and specific tasks
This is where the detailed list comes back into the picture. Four hours with breaks should give you approximately three different segments. This really feels like the sweet spot. I have a theory that the mind doesn’t want to hold onto more than three goals at a time.
Do make sure to build in breaks, especially if you have trouble with procrastination. You have full permission to do this because the goal is not maximum efficiency. It is finishing by the end of the quarter. That’s one of the major advantages of this method. It shows you that you have time to work and also to rest.
5. And… go!
Some extra tips:
- Try front-loading your schedule slightly so that you can take advantage of the morning, when you are freshest. This also has the advantage of helping you build momentum.
- Work towards moving things out of the final quarter and into the first three so that you can keep the last part of the day free. Again, breaks are the way to go!
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.