Optimizing Your Workflow with khogis930.5z

In a world where we are constantly faced with distractions, emails, and the pressure to be productive, the daily grind can feel like more of a battle than a goal. We spend a majority of our time simply trying to stop new problems from arising rather than focusing on truly important work. With multiple tabs, projects, and emails to juggle at once, the advice to simply “turn off your alerts” is not always as simple as it seems.

The secret to productivity lies in the creation of a system that allows you to get more done in less time while limiting distractions. The khogis930.5z method will allow you to optimize your work habits and help you build a schedule that makes the most of your busy days.

The Philosophy Behind This Method

This method was developed with the understanding that human brains cannot operate like computers all day, every day. Where other productivity philosophies have asked us to change the way we work in order to increase our overall productivity, the khogis930.5z method asks us to change the way we think about our time spent working on specific tasks. We will explore how this method allows us to utilize our time more efficiently and create a system that makes the most of our limited time spent working.

The khogis930.5z method encourages us to organize our time spent working into three main categories based on the type of work we are completing. First, we want to make time for our deep engine tasks. This is the type of work that is mentally stimulating and usually the reason we get out of bed in the morning. Second, we need to make time for maintenance tasks. This is the work that allows us to continue our deep engine projects but does not necessarily challenge us in the same way. Finally, we need to budget time for our buffering blocks. These buffering blocks are designed to absorb time spent on additional tasks that arise throughout the day.

To begin utilizing this method, we want to make small changes to the way we work with our technology. Rather than completely changing the way we utilize our daily tools, we want to integrate this philosophy into the way we currently work to make the most of our time spent working.

How to Implement a New Workflow

1. Set aside your Deep Engine Blocks
   Using the khogis930.5z method, we want to prioritize our most mentally challenging tasks in a block of time where we know we will be most productive. This might be early in the morning or right after work when our minds are fresh. We want to set aside a solid 90-minute block at some point in our day for these deep engine tasks.
2. Batch your communications
   We want to designate two or three times throughout our day to check and respond to our communication applications. By only allowing ourselves to use these communication applications in these specific blocks, we eliminate time spent throughout the day answering questions and putting out small fires.
3. Schedule your Buffering Blocks
   Do not schedule your day back to back with meetings or work. You want to leave some extra room in your schedule in case meetings run long or additional work arises throughout the day. We want to leave at least 15-30 minute holes in our schedule to buffer these additional tasks rather than having our entire day disrupted.

How to Adjust Your Day to Make This Work

While this method encourages a new way of working, it is also designed to be flexible to our needs. The khogis930.5z method acknowledges that our daily lives often throw curveballs that interrupt even the best-laid plans. We are going to explore some common interruptions you may face throughout your day and discuss how to adjust our workflow to adapt rather than fight through these interruptions.

If you find that you have an interruption or an important task added to your schedule, you will want to move this task into one of your buffering blocks rather than attempting to add it in the middle of one of your deep engine blocks. If you are interrupted in the middle of a conversation, you simply want to put a 60-second “pause” in your schedule to write down where you were in your work before you went back to the interruption. This will allow you to make an easy transition back to your deep engine work when you resume.

How to Measure Your Own Productivity Gains

As you begin to implement this philosophy and utilize new tools to help you track your progress, it is important to remember that this is not a philosophy that lasts forever. You want to make sure the way you work continues to fit your overall career goals. You will want to dedicate time at the end of each week to reflect on how your system is working for you and consider what adjustments you can make to help you be more productive overall.

How has your ability to complete tasks in this new method compared to your old method? Did you successfully protect your deep engine time? Where were the largest interruptions coming from? Do you feel burnt out by the end of your workday? By using this philosophy on a weekly basis, you are able to stay committed to a lifestyle that keeps you feeling productive while allowing you to put out your best work.