Do you want to be productive? Do you want to make the most of your time? Then there is something you need: a purposeful system.
What does “purposeful system” mean? Well, let’s break it down. There are two words there: purposeful and system. Let’s start with system.
To make the most out of your time, you need to make a deliberate effort. You can’t just go about your day as usual and expect to be productive at the end. That might happen occasionally, but you need something that can help you do that consistently. The solution is to have a system.
In Atomic Habits, it’s written that you “fall to the level of your systems.” Your system helps you structure your day so you can make the most of it. Our natural tendency is to follow the path of least resistance. If left to our own devices, that is the path we would most likely follow. So you need something that can help you overcome that tendency. The answer is a system.
What does a system look like? There are multiple forms; you need to find the one that works for you. For some people, it means scheduling their day in detail. They plan in advance what to do at what time. In my case, I like to have some flexibility, so my system is a checklist of habits. These are things I aim to do daily. Over time, I have developed this list to work better and better for me. It requires experimentation and constant tweaking; you can’t expect to nail it from day one. But don’t let that stop you; start with what you have and refine it from there.
It’s not enough just to have a system, though. Your system also needs to be purposeful. What does that mean? It means your system should be aligned with your life’s purpose. It should help you fulfill your purpose and make your life meaningful and fulfilling.
This requires clarity. You need to have a clear sense of purpose and direction in your life. You want to be sure you are living your own life, not someone else’s. With so many expectations surrounding us, this is easier said than done. Still, you need to strive to live your own life authentically.
That’s why you should take some time to distance yourself from the day-to-day and look at the big picture. Don’t get so bogged down in the details that you lose sight of the forest for the trees. You don’t want to be so busy climbing the ladder only to find at the end that it’s leaning against the wrong wall. That’s why you need to step back from time to time and look at the big picture of your life and the direction you are going. Are you going in the right direction? Are you doing things that are meaningful to you? Is what you do aligned with your life’s purpose?
If not, then you need to take action to realign yourself. Of course, this is not something you can do in one day. It may take time, but your goal is to align yourself better and better over time. As you do that, you should adjust your system accordingly. If your system is in the form of a habit checklist like mine, adjust your habits accordingly. Don’t just do what you have always done. Make sure you are still going in the right direction.
A purposeful system helps you become both more effective and efficient. Effective means doing the right things, while efficient means doing the things right. The purposeful part is about effectiveness; it helps you choose the right things to do, things aligned with your life’s purpose. The system part is about efficiency; it helps you do those things the right way. Put together, you will have a fulfilling and meaningful life. Yes, it will take deliberate effort to reach that point, and you will need to adjust and adapt continually, but it is definitely worth the effort.
