Declutter your life with these frameworks
Timelessness and gratitude, free productivity framework templates, and a food for a good night sleep.
Hello, my lovely reader 👋 This week, your beautiful messages truly lit up my days! One reader shared how she’s been using a productivity framework I created to bring sanity to overwhelming days and finding it helpful. She asked for more tips on digital decluttering, which I’ll cover in this and future posts. Another reader was inspired by the Red Queen Effect to plan their company’s growth strategy. Another reader friend suggested I turn my posts into an ebook for easy access to past newsletters. I'm touched and grateful that you're finding value in my writing. 🙏❤️
What gives me immense satisfaction is seeing that past posts continue to provide value. Unlike a fleeting TikTok video or a piece of junk news that you quickly scroll past, the FUI framework I shared a year ago is still resonating with readers today.
When I started this newsletter, I wanted to write timeless content. While there's a place for newsletters that keep you updated on world events, politics, or bitcoins, I tend to gravitate toward reading—and writing—pieces that offer timeless insights. Knowing that my writing is a tiny part of the world of “timelessness” is deeply gratifying. 😇 I share this not to boast, but to express my immense gratitude to you. 🙏 Thank YOU for making room for my newsletter in your busy lives.
I promise to continue doing my very best to help you gain clarity in your thinking and decision-making.
Today's post is all about decluttering, featuring two frameworks from previous newsletters. As I'm learning, it's always worth revisiting these older gems. And don't miss the Mental Boosters of the Week, including a food that promotes a good night's sleep! 😴
Here are three frameworks to help declutter your life. The first framework is for organizing a productive day, prioritizing the most important task, and then tackling the mundane ones. For those who struggle with prioritizing, the second framework offers a method to let go of non-essential tasks. The third framework is designed to help you declutter your inbox effectively.
3-3-3 for a productive day
It’s a nifty framework crafted by Oliver Burkeman, the author of Four Thousand Weeks.
The three 3s stand for:
3 hours on your most important thing.
3 shorter tasks you've been avoiding.
3 maintenance activities to keep life in order.
I went ahead and created a template in Notion for you to use. It’s color-coded to adds a little flair to your organization and keep things visually distinct.
Feel free to duplicate and use it.
Here’s a Google Doc version if you’d prefer that over Notion.
Link to the original post if you’d like more details ⬇️
FUI to prioritize your tasks
I designed the FUI framework to help you manage overwhelming task lists and focus on what truly matters. It involves organizing your tasks into a table with five columns: What, Why, F (Feasible), U (Urgent), and I (Important).
Set up your table:
What & Why:
List each task in the ‘What’ column with an action-oriented verb.
Include a short explanation in the ‘Why’ column to clarify its importance.
Mark Your FUIs:
Assess each task’s feasibility (F). If it’s not feasible, disregard it.
For feasible tasks, determine if they are urgent (U) or important (I).
Prioritize Your Tasks:
Tasks not feasible: IGNORE. 🚫
Feasible, urgent, not important: IGNORE. 🚫
Feasible, important, not urgent: SCHEDULE in your calendar. 🗓️
Feasible, urgent, and important: DO IT NOW! ✅
Execution:
Focus on the first FUI task using a one-hour timer to maintain concentration. ⏰
Take 10-minute breaks between tasks to recharge. ⚡️⚡️
Stay hydrated and celebrate small accomplishments to keep motivated. 💧🙌
The FUI framework helps you prioritize effectively, ensuring peace of mind as you tackle tasks that align with your goals.
I created this Notion template for you to use this framework. Duplicate and enjoy! 🙌
Here’s a link to the original post if you’d like more details ⬇️
3-21-0 to declutter your inbox
This ones comes from Ben Meer.
It involves three daily email sessions, each lasting 21 minutes, aiming to leave zero emails in your inbox by the end of each session.
3 Sessions Daily:
Schedule three 21-minute email sessions throughout the day.
Recommended times: 9:30-9:51 AM, 1:00-1:21 PM, and 4:30-4:51 PM.
Avoid checking emails outside these sessions to minimize distractions.
Email Batching:
Batching allows you to concentrate your email processing into dedicated time slots, protecting other times for deep work.
Zero Emails Goal:
The aim is to process emails efficiently so that your inbox is clear after each session.
Setup:
Achieve inbox zero by creating a folder “Old Emails” and moving all existing emails into it. Take a moment to see your inbox with zero emails. 😇 Sort them in the coming week.
Create three folders for ongoing management: Action, Reading, and Waiting.
Maintenance:
Action Folder: For emails needing a response longer than 2 minutes. Treat it as a to-do list.
Reading Folder: Save valuable content to read later.
Waiting Folder: Store emails awaiting others’ responses; track and follow up as needed.
Implementing the 3-21-0 framework helps manage your inbox effectively, freeing up time and mental space for more critical tasks.
Mental Boosters of the Week
✍️ 🧠 Writing for clarity
Most times, we’re overwhelmed because we don’t know what all are we worried about. Self-reflection through writing is one of the best ways to beat that overwhelm. As we write, we start to realize we’re not even sure what we’re worried about.
“Writing is often the process by which you realize you do not understand what you are talking about.”
— Shane Parrish
🥝 😴 Kiwi for a sound sleep
Kiwis are rich in serotonin, which helps regulate sleep cycles, improving sleep quality by making it easier to fall and stay asleep. They also contain antioxidants like vitamins C and E, which reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Enjoying kiwis before bed can help your body relax and recover, promoting a good night's sleep.
Until next time 🙌
Beautiful guidelines to make your life smooth.