Before pursuing any life goal, ask what role ’life admin’ plays in its challenges or solutions; this helps you better achieve your objectives by anticipating hidden administrative tasks.
When making a significant life change, consciously block out dedicated time (e.g., 2-3 extra hours a week) for the associated mental and research work, even if it means temporarily reducing time spent on other activities.
Give a name to the invisible burden of ’life admin’ to acknowledge its existence and impact, transforming it into a tangible problem that can be actively thought about and addressed.
Whenever possible, deal with small requests or tasks right in the moment instead of deferring them, preventing them from landing on your to-do list and consuming future mental bandwidth.
Make conscious choices to deflect or decide not to do certain items, preventing them from ever landing on your to-do list and reducing your overall administrative burden.
Include your ‘good day list’ (important but not urgent activities like meditation, writing, or exercise) at the top of your daily to-do list to ensure you prioritize self-care and meaningful tasks.
Start with a simple paper to-do list, especially when feeling overwhelmed, as many successful individuals find it effective for managing tasks and reducing mental load.
Transfer unfinished tasks onto a list, particularly a paper one if it works for you, to ‘close the loop’ mentally and reduce the cognitive bandwidth they consume (Sigurnic effect).
Keep a longer running to-do list in a simple notes app on your phone, with your ‘good day list’ (important but not urgent items) at the top as a constant reminder.
Discover your preferred mode for tackling admin tasks (e.g., paper vs. high-tech, marathon sessions vs. short sprints) to make the process more effective and less burdensome.
Give up the expectation that a single ‘magic tool’ will solve all your life admin problems, especially during overwhelming periods, and instead focus on simpler, direct strategies.
Approach life admin as an ongoing work in progress, avoiding self-criticism for perceived shortcomings, and extending compassion to yourself and others in managing these daily burdens.