A better approach to managing your to-do lists
Make your daily workflow more productive.
Hey everyone,
For the past year or so, I’ve been cautious about the content I consume whether it’s a video game, music, book or film. However, there are times when something exceptionally intriguing arrives and I get pulled into it completely. This week had a long weekend, so I plunged into two video games: Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. While I’ve been playing video games quite frequently this year, it’s usually an hour-long session or two. However, these two games have managed to keep me hooked for five to six-hour long gaming playthroughs. I’m quite certain that I’m going to pour several more hours into them in the coming weeks or even months. I completed Far Cry 6 as well. More on that later.
Check out some of my photomode shots from Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
These long gaming escapades meant that I didn’t plan any other leisure activity this week. Although, preps for Durga Puja, the MET Gala for Bengalis as described by a friend, is underway. Shopping and planning outfits are usually the norm, but this year I’m trying to be mindful of the clothes I buy.
I also got to catch up with a dear friend which included some shopping and a much needed cheesy pizza at the end. It’s always refreshing to spend some quality time with friends and I believe in doing this every couple of weeks.
October seems to be quite a busy month for me. Here’s hoping yours is fun and productive!
🗓️ In this week
▶️ Videos
I used to be obsessed with to-do lists a few years ago but over time, I realised how to effectively utilise them rather than letting it become a chore. Currently, I employ the Getting Things Done method by David Allen and it has immensely helped me to organise my personal and professional workflow. Calendar blocking was something I used for bigger projects but after watching the below snippet from Tim Ferriss’ podcast, it makes more sense to apply it for all tasks that aren’t menial. Tim’s guest Sam Corcos states that while you’re adding your tasks to the to-do lists, you’re not placing them in time slots when you intend to work on them. You may have a strong visibility on the deadline and task at hand, however, you will be completely unaware about when you should be working on them. This especially becomes extremely difficult when you’re doing multiple tasks and projects. I have already started using his advice and so far it has ensured more efficiency.
Mike’s YouTube channel, Pro Home Cooks, has been incredibly helpful with tips and tricks on making the process of cooking at home more efficient. His meal planning and 15-minute recipe videos are my personal favourites. Last week, he went over making some yummy and healthy snacks that don’t take much effort. Almost all the recipes were super easy and I’m already planning on making the banana chip ice-cream and energy balls, obviously with my own variations. I would highly suggest you to subscribe to his channel if you enjoy cooking.
Do you have any exciting recommendations? Some more interesting tidbits you would like to share from the content mentioned here? Or just simple feedback? I would love to hear from you!
🎮 Video Games
Like I mentioned, this week was full of video games. Far Cry 6 was one of them. It looked amazing right from the time its cinematic trailer dropped, depicting the ruthless dictator Anton Castillo played by Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian). The open world country of Yara is beautifully crafted and I enjoyed driving through different landscapes across the massive map as Dani, the protagonist, sang along with the radio. I liked how they explored a revolution by guerilla fighters uniting together to collectively dismantle Castillo’s rule piece by piece. It took me a couple of weeks to finish but you can spend way more time if you’re a completionist.
"When tyranny is law, revolution is order." - Clara Garcia, Far Cry 6.
The game had additional DLCs which marked the return of popular Far Cry villains including Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3), Pagan Min (Far Cry 4) and Joseph Seed (Far Cry 5). I played the Vass Insanity DLC and it took me some time to recover after completing it, considering how cathartic it was. The story is a deep dive into the psychopathic and twisted mind of Vaas that attempts to tell us why he is so messed up. If you’ve been a fan of Michael Mando’s character of Vaas, you can’t miss this. You simply cannot. Do check out this interview of Michael talking about his return to the role after so long.
🎵 Music
When I’m winding down for the day or doodling, I like listening to some melancholic music. Spotify has a beautiful playlist called Melancholy Instrumentals on the same theme and I’ve created my own playlist as well: Mortality. Recently, I landed upon Starry Night by Jordan Critz and in just a few seconds, it made its way into my playlist. To me, the music invokes a bittersweet feeling and keeps the soothing rhythm going until the end. Easy recommendation from my side.
🚀 Looking for more?
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Read my previous newsletters:
The poetic connection between Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy sequel and Edgar Allan Poe
My curiosity took me on a journey from Star Wars to Irish folk music
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Featured photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash.