Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists

Friday's Digest 118

My Secret for Time Management

(The Stress-free Version)

Time management often sounds extreme and rigid. But it doesn't have to be.

Here's how I manage my time without the stress.

November 29th, 2024

Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists

For two decades, I've been developing tools that have improved my practice in medicine, dentistry, and scientific research.

Join me every Friday to discover a new tool you can integrate into your workflow as a doctor, a scientist, or both.

I believe in sharing knowledge, embracing automation, boosting productivity, and finding joy in the process.

Life Update
Tools and Tips
Readers’ Favorite
Stuff

Life Update

In the past, I recorded several YouTube videos and about 20 podcasts.

Then I stopped.

Not because it wasn't successful— quite the opposite. I still receive messages from people asking for new videos and podcasts.

But my video and sound equipment is currently packed away.

I stored everything in boxes before coming back home, and since we're moving to a bigger apartment soon, I didn't want to set it all up just to take it apart again.

In our new apartment, my dear wife and I will have a dedicated workspace. My own man-cave with my wife's sanctuary on the opposite side of the room.

I plan to set up the lighting, camera, and microphone there.

My goal is to minimize friction. I don't want to waste time arranging equipment every time I want to record.

The goal: start recording within one minute.

I'll keep you posted.

Speaking of efficiency, today we’ll talk about time management.

I've written about this before, but back then, it was an intense, no-mercy approach.

Today, I want to share my journey of learning to manage time stress-free.

Here it goes.

Number 118!

Tools and Tips

"I need to manage my time better" is something we often tell ourselves.

Why do we say it? Usually for one of these two reasons:

⚫ We don't have enough time to do what we want.

⚫ We're too tired or lack motivation.

I've been dealing with these challenges for decades.

Many see me as someone who manages his time really well.

But let me tell you: it's hard.

I struggle to find time. I fight the urge to rest instead of working.

Since coming back home, something has changed.

For years, I was chasing milestones: getting accepted into residency, entering a fellowship program abroad, taking hundreds of exams, and managing research under extreme conditions.

It required sacrifices.

A LOT of sacrifices.

But now, the formal chase is over.

And the informal chase begins 🏃‍♂️.

What is this "informal chase", you ask?

It’s the chase that happens in your mind. Pursuing goals that don't come with certificates or promotions.

My "informal chase" is to cure head and neck cancer.

And for that, I need to manage my time.

But how do you manage your time without going to extremes?

Sure, I could work 16 hours a day.

Sure, I could spend every free minute on my computer.

Sure, I could sacrifice time with my family.

I've done it all. For years.

But I'm not doing it anymore.

Does this mean giving up my goals?

No way.

I can achieve them all, but in a balanced way.

After years of using extreme time management tools (which I shared in the past), I've found one simple, effective tool that anyone can use to achieve more.

Drumroll please 🥁

🔵 It’s Called Batching

“Batching” means changing the ORDER of what you do.

Not the NUMBER of tasks, not the TIME each task takes. Just the ORDER.

I love this approach because it saves time AND shortens my to-do list.

Let's look at a day-to-day example:

Suppose you get home and have these tasks: wash the dishes 🍽️, cook dinner 🍲, do the laundry 🧺, and give your little one a bath 👶🛁.

You could start with laundry, then the bath, then make dinner, and finally wash dishes.

But that order wastes time.

Here's what I would do:

I start by making dinner and washing dishes at the same time.

Why together?

Because cooking includes inactive moments— waiting for the oven to heat or for water to boil. I use that time to wash dishes, including those that get dirty while cooking.

I finish washing the dishes BEFORE dinner's ready, and they're easier to clean because the food hasn't dried on them.

Next, I take my little one to the bath. No need to wash hands or face first— he’s going straight into the bath.

While supervising bathtime, I load the washing machine. Why? Because it’s right there, next to the bathroom.

How much time does this sequence save? 15-20 minutes.

Do I rush it? No.

Is it more stressful? No.

I simply change the order.

And I apply this everywhere.

When I open my laptop, I read all emails (even non-urgent ones). Why? Because I'm already there.

When talking to our department secretary, I ask her everything at once instead of sending her emails. Why? Because I'm right there.

I could share more examples, but you've got the idea.

Batching.

Just do it.

It’s so great.

Readers’ Favorite

Writing a journal can transform your life. Here I explain why.

Stuff

💡Gear I use - Logitech Pebble Mouse

This mouse is great for occasional use without sacrificing bag space. You can even put it in your pocket!

Epilogue

That’s it for this issue.

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See you next week!

Shay

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