From the latest “daily beemail”, I believe @Daniel_Reeves was quoting @bee when he wrote, “all (my) productivity is Beeminder-driven”.
That really had me thinking, because sometimes I feel like I can’t do anything productive without Beeminder (and Focusmate (and, to an extent, Intend.do)). But another part of me is weary of the meta-productivity of Beeminder upkeep (not too weary, though!).
So I’m asking, “all your productivity is Beeminder-driven?” Like, all all of it?
Does that phrase, “all (my) productivity is Beeminder-driven”, resonate with anyone else? Sometimes I feel like I’m using Beeminder for too many things, but other times I feel like I’m not using it nearly enough (or I’m not pushing myself hard enough), and I’m curious how other folks think about this!
This resonates with me during past periods of my life. At those times, my work productivity could be captured by a single Toggl time goal. I was also using Beeminder for health and household goals, which have persisted. I think I could be using Beeminder a lot more for work now.
It’s not quite true that all of my productivity is Beeminder-driven, but it’s pretty close.
I recently noticed this when I set all my Beeminder goals to zero over the holidays. I intended to run an experiment where I kept them at zero throughout January, to observe my “natural” rate of progress without Beeminder … and I made it about a week. For many of them (especially exercise), I realized I’d just keep putting them off to the next day ad infinitum.
Of course, if Beeminder evaporated tomorrow, I’d figure out a new productivity system. And I don’t need Beeminder for most things that have external accountability mechanisms (like showing up to work). But for most other things, my productivity is very Beeminder-driven.
I wouldn’t say that all my productivity is Beeminder related, but I have learned that if I’m resisting doing a task, or working toward a goal, making a Beeminder goal will push me to do it.
However, I recently have become really reluctant to start another manual entry goal because of the meta-productivity you mention.
I already have a sense for my typical productivity without Beeminder (due to previous tracking through Intend).
I think Beeminder increased my aggregate accomplishment by 40 - 50% (maybe +60% tasks, 50% time, round down a little due to tracking stuff more)
I could probably push it more if I wanted to, but that seems to be enough to keep all the plates spinning while still having a personal life
So I would still be about 70% as productive as I am now without Beeminder
But tbh I would still use it even if it didn’t improve my productivity at all, just because it makes life far more tolerable, makes me a more stable & resilient person, and a better partner.
Not all of my productivity is Beeminder driven - but it is close for me right now. I had been on an upward swing of productivity when I picked Beeminder back up a few months ago after a long absence - I tried it once years ago. This time though for whatever reason it has stuck for me and now I have a few 2+ month habits which is longer than I have ever stuck to them before.
It’s a bit crazy that this platform works for me - the only other tool that comes close is Focusmate (which ofc I Beemind sessions for). I have decided not to investigate this too deeply for now for fear of it all falling apart Having ADHD things do fall apart for me often - but I’m optimistic that I have set up a resilient/realistic system right now and I’m just rolling with it!
If I had to put a number on it - I think Beeminder is responsible for about 80% of my productivity right now. I don’t think many of my core tasks would drop away entirely if stopped using the platform - but I can guarantee I would not be nearly as consistent.
Having ADHD things do fall apart for me often - but I’m optimistic that I have set up a resilient/realistic system right now and I’m just rolling with it!