Adam Grant's Secret To Insane Productivity (iPad Edition)
How a Wharton professor stays ultra-productive (and how you can do the same)
Adam Grant is a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
He isn’t just any professor though: Poets and Quants named him as one of the world’s top 40 business professors under 40. When became a full professor, he was the youngest at Wharton. He has published two bestselling books and his research has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, and more.
Despite his success at a relatively young age, his secret to productivity is simple: entering a flow state with extreme focus and isolation.
Here’s how you can replicate this productivity trick with an iPad:
Focus Is Key
Focus modes have been a game-changer when it comes to productivity.
The customization offered means that there’s a solution for everyone: everything from contacts, apps, and even home screens can be limited for each Focus mode.
I use a School Focus mode to focus on school work (scheduled to be active during school hours) and a Writing Focus mode whenever I’m looking for extreme focus while writing.
In iPadOS 16, Apple introduced Focus filters: the ability to customize apps and your device when a Focus mode is enabled. For instance, users can choose to activate Dark Mode or filter iMessage conversations when a specific Focus mode is activated.
If you’re interested, you can check out this video for more information about Focus modes.
Restrict Yourself
Sometimes, even Focus modes aren’t enough.
For instance, whenever I don’t feel like doing work, I sometimes leave the app I’m working on (this reduces the intensity of my focus).
To solve this issue, I use Guided Access.
Guided Access gives users the ability to stop other people from leaving apps. When used on yourself, Guided Access turns into a powerful productivity trick that forces you to stay focused on your work by restricting you to a single app.
There are some disadvantages to Guided Access though (you can learn more about Guided Access here).
Listen To Star Wars Music
One trick to enter a flow state is to create a consistent working environment.
I like to change the colors of the lights in my room and play music (for whatever reason, Star Wars music works the best for me). One of my friends uses a separate room to do his work. Another also plays music.
See what’s best for you. Once you find something that works, it becomes far easier to enter a flow state.
Free Yourself
Another idea is to disconnect yourself from everything, like Wifi, Bluetooth, and cellular service (if you have it).
I don’t do this because I need Wifi (for work) and Bluetooth (for music), but it might work for you depending on your use case.
By disconnecting yourself, you’re essentially simulating isolation (this makes you less prone to distractions).
Final Thoughts
“Human beings, it seems, are at their best when immersed deeply in something challenging” - Cal Newport
Thanks for reading!
Adi
I want lights that can change color. Which ones do you have? Great post. I also have a specific “work playlist” that helps me focus.