Joe Bussell

Be intentional, have fun. Mindset framing and general life hacks. Mindset Mentality. Opinions are my own.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

One of the most powerful skills to learn is task switching.

Study after study has shown humans are incredibly bad at multitasking.

For our best work, we need to dedicate focus and attention to one task and then move to the next. The time in between is task switching. When we task switch, it can take up to 20 minutes of labored work to fully get into the mindset and flow of the next task.

Moving from one task to the next without utilizing much activation energy is a skill that can be built. Studies suggest building time in between tasks to reset your brain and move on to the next task. I have personally found that momentum of completing one task can carry me into the next task.

This is where “batching” can create flow.

Batching is grouping similar tasks together to eliminate any additional friction of task switching. Set time blocks to do similar tasks in succession. If you have 3 reports to do, schedule them in your calendar to knock them out. Don’t do one, break, then try to work on the next one. The activation energy used to restart will sap more of your energy than just continuing. Schedule your creative work in batches, your analytical work in batches, and your physical labor in batches.

When a batch time (aka time block) is over, then take your break and rest before switching to a different batch of tasks.

Pro tip: Determine when your brain likes to work on different types of tasks and block your time accordingly. My creative time is in the morning prior to everyone else waking up. My analytical time is around lunch time and early afternoon. When I need to dedicate myself to tasks in those areas, I block my schedule and plan to complete those tasks in the allotted time block.

Two schools of thought on blocking time: Either give yourself a tight deadline to get the work done or else will spur the motivation and avoid Parkinson’s Law. Or give yourself 2x however long you think because it always takes longer than you think. That’s a personal decision but know that both tools are available.

Good luck and hope this helps supercharge your productivity.

[NFL Philosophy @NFLosophy]

I’ve said this before: The world could take some tips from the football world. “Watching tape” is one of the most powerful things you can do for anything in your life. I’m not talking about reflection. I’m talking about the physical steps of record, watch, critique, iterate.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

If you had to rely on a friend in your most important situations and they only showed up 50% of the time, you’d probably stop relying on them.

The same goes for discipline. It’s hard and unreliable.

Build an environment and habits that automate your brain through hard tasks.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

“Choose not to be harmed and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed and you haven’t been.”

Victim mentality is the most poisonous mindset.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

I love @AdamMGrant’s question, “What’s one thing you’ve changed your mind about lately?”

It’s a great interview question for hiring managers to show people’s ability to adapt, to overcome bias, and to be focused on the outcome instead of winning an argument.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

Coffee: Like throwing gasoline on the pile and lighting it.

Tea: Like throwing clean dry wood on the fire.

Coffee is a great accelerant. Tea (Yerba Mate is probably the best) is great for a long slow burn of caffeine.

Choose wisely.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

Make excuses or make things happen. The choice is yours.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

Let your child do it.

If you do it for your child, the only thing g you’re teaching them is they don’t have to because mommy and daddy will.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

PSA: The Alchemist (my favorite book of all time and a book I think everyone should read) by Paulo Coelho is free on Kindle Unlimited right now.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

@DillieHoliday With an attitude like that, I wonder why you can’t seem to find common ground with anyone…

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

It’s a sad day for Americans when we’ve become so divided as a country that there is an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate.

We have to be better than this.

Progress through unity.

United we stand. Divided we fall.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

This morning’s @SystemSunday is something I harp on often.

“You don’t need more self-control. You need an environment that doesn’t require it.”

It’s easier to make strong choices when you leave yourself no room to make the bad choice.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

It’s great if you want to be a generalist for your own pleasure and enjoyment, but never forget…

You get *paid* for the one thing you do well.

[DAN KOE @thedankoe]

Become undefinable.

Run a marathon one day, write an essay the next. Direct a short film, build an app, deadlift 500lbs, strategize a marketing campaign, or do whatever your curiosity draws you to.

If you can be defined as "____," you face either competition or replacement.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

Optimism isn’t weakness. It is strength. It’s choosing to see the good in the world because it’s the best option to move forward. It doesn’t mean you don’t also see the bad, it just means you keep pushing your world towards the positive.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

“When I choose to see the good side of things, I’m not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It’s how I’ve learned to survive through everything. I know you see yourself as a fighter. Well, I see myself as one too. This is how I fight.” - Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

@NFLosophy They're gonna do defense next. Can't go 3 offensive positions in a row. Definitely gonna be DBs or DL.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

Independence Day.

Today is a great day for realizing you are free to do whatever you want. You don’t HAVE to do anything (except eat, sleep, and breathe).

The only limitations you have are self-imposed.

You don’t have to go to work. You don’t have to go to that party. You don’t have to [insert anything here].

You have a choice. You choose to go to work to earn a paycheck to afford things. You choose to go that party because it’s fun or you told a friend you would and you want to keep your word.

The key is realizing EVERYTHING is a choice. This puts you in control. This gives you the power.

When you realize everything you do or don’t do is a choice, you gain FREEDOM.

Happy Independence Day!

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

@pablofindsout @minakimes “The internet said…” has never been more true with literal bots consolidating info and spitting out answers.

The more that happens the more places like Reddit - where real human experts can provide responses - become the place to go for answers.

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

I rise in the morning torn between the desire to enjoy the world and to improve the world. And this makes it difficult to plan the day. - E.B. White

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

Your phone doesn’t have to listen to you to know what you talk about. It’s just a bit of smart engineering compared with how humans typically operate and they know what you’re going to talk about before you do.

Not sure if that makes it more or less creepy!

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

“Wow, I was just talking about that. My phone HAS to be listening to me!”

The ads and suggestions we see on social media are so well-engineered that our phones don’t listen to us.

Here’s how your phone knows what you talked about without listening.

🧵

[Joe Bussell @JoeBussell_]

This weekend we spent time with friends who are parents of children the same age as our daughter. They have an indoor bounce house. I mentioned I just saw a small one on Insta (that I watched a couple of times).

They got targeted with the exact video I engaged with.