Each ball is equivalent to a month.

Each row to three years.

Seeing time distributed this way helps us notice something:

We don’t have that much time.

So, to help you optimize yours, I’ll give you the 5 things that helped me the most to optimize mine.

Starting off with the first one:

1. Deep Work sessions.

Focus is a superpower.

Cal Newport’s book Deep Work explains how uninterrupted, high-focus work leads to incredible achievements.

Most people live in a state of distraction, constantly switching between tasks.

This kills productivity and creativity.

Deep work means organizing uninterrupted blocks of time to focus intensely on one task.

This applies to your job, your studies, creative projects, business goals etc.

Here’s how to pull it off perfectly:

Turn off notifications.

Block social media.

Create a dedicated workspace where you are free from interruptions.

Train your brain to work in deep, concentrated sessions by starting small—maybe 30 minutes at first, then gradually increasing.

Your ability to produce high-quality work quickly will skyrocket.

When doing it, make sure to have water or coffee with you.

And above all, make sure to have your phone ELSEWHERE!

Even minor distractions can decrease the quality of your brain’s processing.

Be selfish with your deep work sessions.

They’ll pay themselves off in ways you can’t yet imagine.

Trust me.

2. Digital minimalism.

Your phone is not your friend.

Another one of Cal Newport’s books, Digital Minimalism, shows how technology is hijacking our attention and wasting our time.

The more time you spend scrolling, the less time you spend on things that truly matter.

Therefore, use technology intentionally.

Some tips on how to do it:

Set limits on your social media usage.

Turn your phone screen to grayscale—it makes apps less addictive.

Delete social media apps from your home screen so they’re not the first thing you see.

Schedule time away from screens—like walks, reading, or working on a personal project.

Reclaim your time and attention, and you’ll feel more in control of your life.

And lastly, keep this in mind:

The companies that built your phone make literal billions off your eyes.

It only makes sense for them to make phones as addictive as possible.

That includes social media, games, arguing over politics online etc.

Mostly all a waste of time, which is precisely what you can’t get back.

Do not forget this.

3. Go where you’re celebrated, not tolerated.

You are the sum of the people you most spend time with.

Many friendships and relationships form out of convenience, not alignment.

We connect with people at work, church, or the gym—but it doesn’t mean they are the right people for us.

Often times we only do it because they’re already there.

Like I said, convenience, not alignment.

Surround yourself with people who aim high and above all push you to be better.

When you stay in environments where that isn’t the case, you limit your own growth.

Every second spent with people who aren’t like that is a second taken away from people who are.

Raise your standards.

If people don’t respect your goals, move on.

You owe it to yourself—and to those who would be inspired by you—to be in the right places with the right people.

There are literal millions out in the world who would benefit from what you have to say.

You just haven’t found them yet.

But I promise you they’re there.

I am one of them.

So MOVE!

If you know you have people around who you would rather not, don’t waste any more time.

Decide.

Right here, right now.

It’s your future we’re talking about.

No time for games anymore.

Go.

4. People Want the Version of You That Best Suits Them.

Growth makes people uncomfortable.

This is due to the many changes one must go through in order to grow.

But most people don’t want you to change.

And when you start improving your life, some friends and even family members might resist it.

Why?

Because it disrupts their idea of who you are.

If you start a business, some people will doubt you and maybe even make fun of it.

If you get in shape, some will say you’re too strict and that you ‘can’t have fun anymore’.

If you chase a dream, some will say you’re out of touch and that you should be more ‘realistic’.

Not because they hate you, but because your growth reminds them of their own stagnation.

Keep growing anyway.

Let people adjust or fall away.

You are not responsible for their discomfort—only for your own progress.

And remember, the more you grow, the faster you’ll realize who you can really keep around.

The right people will cheer you onward.

The wrong ones will fade away.

That’s okay.

Just take care of your garden.

I promise beautiful new butterflies will come flying soon.

5. Everything You Want is on the Other Side of Discomfort

Discomfort really is the price of success.

Your dream job, the business you want, the relationship you crave—it all requires stepping into the unknown.

Learning a new skill feels awkward at first.

Having difficult conversations is uncomfortable.

Facing your fears and insecurities is painful.

But growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones.

Discomfort is a sign you’re expanding.

If you avoid it, you stay stuck.

If you embrace it, you unlock everything you’ve ever wanted.

Lean into the challenge.

That’s where the breakthrough happens.

And trust me, I know.

Back in 2019 when I tried to record my first ever YouTube video on a separate room, I literally froze.

All I could think was “What if people don’t like it?”, “What if people make fun of me?”.

Looking back at it now, I laugh.

Not just because of how worried I was in my own head.

But because of how much I cared about what other people thought.

Caring so much about it made me avoid trying new things.

It made me be afraid to seek challenges.

“What if I fail? What will they think? And say?”

The real question is:

Who gives a sh*t?

The sooner you understand you have to go through a lot of discomfort to achieve anything you want, the better.

This is true to business, as it is to studies, as it is to relationships.

Do not run from it.

Run for it.

Teach yourself to want it.

To thrive in it.

It’s what all the greats have in common.

And if you want to be one, prepare now.

It’ll be worth it.

You got it, my friend.

References:

• Deep Work – Cal Newport
• Digital Minimalism – Cal Newport
• 12 Rules For Life – Jordan Peterson
• On The Shortness of Life – Seneca