Okay, so I’ve been seeing this “James Pritchard” guy all over my YouTube feed lately. He’s a productivity guru, and everyone seems to be raving about his techniques. I figured, why not give it a shot? I’m always looking for ways to squeeze more out of my day.
First thing I did was watch a bunch of his videos. I started with his most popular ones, just to get a feel for his style. He’s got this calm, almost meditative way of talking, which is kind of nice. No hype, just straight-up advice.
He talks a lot about “time blocking,” which is basically scheduling out your entire day in chunks. I’ve tried this before, but I always fell off the wagon. Pritchard’s approach seemed a bit different, though. He emphasizes being realistic about how long things actually take.
My Experiment Begins
So, this morning, I started by opening up my Google Calendar. I used to just use it for appointments, but now I was going to map out my whole day. I estimated how long I thought each task would take, then I added some buffer time, just like Pritchard suggests.
- 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Wake up, morning routine (coffee is a MUST).
- 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Deep work block #1 – Writing this blog post!
- 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Break, check emails (but only for 30 minutes!).
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Deep work block #2 – Editing some videos.
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch and a short walk.
- …and so on…
The “deep work” blocks are where I’m supposed to focus on my most important tasks, with zero distractions. No social media, no checking messages, nothing. It’s harder than it sounds!
I actually managed to stick to the schedule pretty well for the morning. The buffer time was key, because things always take longer than I expect. Editing those videos? Yeah, that took a full two hours, not the 90 minutes I’d planned.
The afternoon was a bit more challenging. I had a couple of unexpected calls, which threw things off. But, I tried to adjust my schedule on the fly, instead of just giving up. Pritchard talks about “rolling with the punches,” and that’s what I tried to do.
Initial Thoughts
It’s only been one day, but I’m feeling pretty good about this. I definitely got more done than I usually do. The time blocking forced me to be more intentional with my time, instead of just drifting from one task to another.
The biggest takeaway so far is the importance of being realistic. Don’t try to cram too much into your day. It’s better to underestimate what you can achieve and leave yourself some breathing room. Also the deep focus block and the Pomodoro technique make me more concentrated, as if I have to finish the task before the ring bells.
I’m going to keep experimenting with Pritchard’s methods for at least a week, maybe even a month. I’ll keep you guys updated on my progress. Maybe I’ll even become a productivity guru myself! (Just kidding… mostly.)