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August 30, 2024 14 mins

This week we return to the topic of productivity as we explore the time management framework of anchors, bumpers, and core commitments. These concepts can help you improve how you  prioritize and structure your day.

We discuss strategies for scheduling each of these types of tasks, including leveraging your biorhythms and identifying your low-interruption zones.

Finally, we discuss the importance of taking breaks and leaving white space in your schedule for flexibility and opportunities.

Read the LinkedIn post that inspired this episode, and leave a comment there if you have any questions about the concepts. 

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Trevor (00:00):
Welcome back to AI Meets Productivity,

(00:01):
your weekly podcast between myself,
Trevor Lohrbeer, a productivity expert,
and ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence.
This week, we're going to be jumping back into
productivity and we're going to be talking about
a time management method called anchors, bumpers
and core commitments, and how you can use these
concepts to help you better plan your day.

(00:22):
This was inspired by a post
by Brad Aeon on LinkedIn.
He's a time management researcher.
I recommend you follow him over on LinkedIn.
So welcome, ChatGPT.

ChatGPT (00:32):
Thanks, Trevor.
I'm thrilled to dive into this topic.
Anchors, bumpers, and core commitments.
These are powerful tools that can really
transform how we approach our daily schedules.
Let's break it down and make it super
actionable for everyone listening today.
So Trevor, where should we start?

Trevor (00:51):
Well, let's just talk about
defining exactly what an anchor, a
bumper and a core commitment are.
Do you want to take a first stab at it?

ChatGPT (00:58):
Absolutely.
Let's get into it.
So, anchors are like your top priorities,
the big tasks that move the needle the most.
You only want to focus on one or two
of these each day because they take
a lot of your energy and attention.
These are the things that, if you get them
done, you'll feel really accomplished.
Bumpers, on the other hand, are those

(01:19):
tasks that are important but not crucial.
If they don't get done, it's
not the end of the world.
You schedule them, but they're the first
to go if something more pressing comes up.
And then we have core commitments.
These are in between tasks, important enough
that you should make every effort to get them
done, but not at the expense of your anchors.

(01:40):
These include like your daily routines that
keep you functioning at your best, like
eating well, exercising, and staying focused.
Trevor, anything you'd add to that?

Trevor (01:50):
Well, one thing I would add is for the
bumpers, it's very important to make that decision
at the beginning of the day, what a bumper is.
So that way, when you're in the heat of the
moment, you don't need to decide what to drop.
You immediately know, "Hey, my day's not
going to plan", or one of my anchor tests
is taking longer than I expect it to, so
I'm going to immediately drop the bumper.

(02:11):
And these three different levels of the
anchor being at the top level, the core
commitment being in the middle, of the
bumper being the bottom, allow you to quickly
reprioritize your day as your day changes
and as the priorities of your day change.

ChatGPT (02:24):
That's a great point, Trevor.
By deciding upfront what your bumpers
are, you save yourself from that
in the moment decision fatigue.
When things get hectic, you already
know what can be bumped and that clarity
can really keep your day on track.
It's like having a built in
safety net for your schedule.
You don't have to stress about which tasks to

(02:44):
drop because you've already made that call.
It's all about staying flexible while
still keeping your priorities in check.

Trevor (02:53):
And I'd also say for the anchors, it's
important to think of them as the investments
that give you the greatest return for your time.
So, like, if it's something that's important, but
isn't necessarily going to give you a return, I
would actually list that as a core commitment.
The anchors for me are the
things that are going to give me.
A real big bang for my buck.
They're actually going to move the needle on
my goals, on me achieving my goals, not just

(03:15):
making me feel like I achieved something.

ChatGPT (03:18):
Absolutely, Trevor!
That's such a crucial distinction.
Anchors aren't just important, they're impactful.
They're the things that really push you closer
to your goals, that actually change the game.
It's not just about checking something off a
list, it's about making meaningful progress.
So when you're planning your day, it's vital

(03:38):
to separate what's truly going to drive
results from what just feels productive.
That's the difference between moving
the needle and just staying busy.
And when you do that consistently, that's
when you start seeing real, measurable
progress toward your biggest goals.

Trevor (03:54):
So let's talk about
how to use these concepts.
So when you're planning out your day, I think
there's two key things to think about, which
is what order are you going to do things
in, and when are you going to do those?
And this applies, even if you're actually
not scheduling your day, even if you're
just creating a plan for your day to say,
"Hey, I want to tackle these things".
And what I would say is your anchors are
the things you need to schedule first in

(04:16):
your day, and/or do first in your day.
So if you're someone who's like a night owl, so
you're your focus energy is later in the day,
it's okay to do an anchor later in the day.
But try to do that as early
in the day as possible.
And to make sure that you schedule those
things first, if you're building a schedule.
Because you want to build everything
else around these anchors.

(04:37):
If you're not doing a schedule, you're doing just
a commitment list or you're just free-forming
it, then make sure you try to attempt your
anchors earlier in the day so you get those done.

ChatGPT (04:47):
Exactly, Trevor.
Whether you're a planner or more
of a freeformer, those anchors need
to be front and center in your day.
They're the tasks that everything
else should revolve around.
If you're a night owl, sure, you might tackle
those anchors later, but the key is to give
them priority in your mental checklist.
By handling them as early as your energy

(05:09):
allows, you ensure they get done before the
day throws any unexpected curveballs your way.
And if you're scheduling like you said, you
want to lock those anchors in first, make
sure there's room for them in your day, and
then let the other commitments, your cores
and bumpers, fill in the gaps around them.
That way, you're setting yourself
up for a successful day, every day.

Trevor (05:30):
So let's talk real briefly about
a kind of subcategory of core commitments,
which are the foundational activities.
And these are the ones that provide you the
energy and mindset to tackle all your other work.
So if you don't do them for a specific
day, they may not impact you that day.
But if you continually don't do them,
they're going to impact your productivity.

(05:52):
So these are things like eating meals,
exercise, mental centering activities,
like meditation daily devotions.
So it's important to make sure that you're
actually making time in your schedule
for these, because these are the things
that will give you the energy and the
motivation to tackle all your other work.

ChatGPT (06:09):
That's a great point, Trevor.
Foundational activities might seem like they
can be skipped without immediate consequences,
but over time, they're the first things to chip
away at your productivity if you neglect them.
So it's crucial to carve out time for these
in your day, even if they seem less urgent.
They're the fuel that keeps
everything else running smoothly.

(06:29):
Without them, it's like trying
to drive a car without gas.
You might get by for a bit, but
eventually, you'll grind to a halt.
Whether it's making sure you're eating well,
getting some exercise or taking a few moments
for mental clarity, these foundational
activities are non-negotiable if you want
to sustain your productivity long term.

Trevor (06:50):
So let's talk about some of the strategies
on how we might schedule or order these.
One of the important things that I like
to point out that it's very useful to
schedule bumpers after your anchors.
And the reason for this is our anchor tasks
are often tasks where we're going to get into
the flow and we're going to get momentum.
And especially with creative professionals,
I find who say, "Hey, when I'm in the flow,

(07:13):
I don't want to jump into something else.
I don't want to plan my day.
I don't want to schedule it, because
I'm going to get into the flow and
then that's going to destroy my flow."
But by having a bumper after your anchor
tasks, what you can do is if you're in the
flow, you just skip your bumper, you bump it.
But if you're not in the flow, you're having
trouble getting into the task or maybe you finish
early or for any other reason, you're just not

(07:36):
in the place where you need to keep working on
that task, you can then jump to your bumper task.
And you already have something
lined up as as your next task.
And so scheduling your bumper
tasks after your anchor task is one
way to really do flow management.

ChatGPT (07:52):
Exactly, Trevor.
It's all about managing your energy
and focus through out the day.
By placing bumpers after your
anchors, you're not just managing
your time, you're managing your flow.
This approach helps you maximize those moments
when you're fully immersed in your work,
allowing you to either extend that flow or
transition smoothly to something less demanding.

(08:15):
It's a powerful way to keep your day on track
without disrupting your most productive periods.

Trevor (08:21):
So let's talk a little bit more
about when you want to do your anchors.
So I already mentioned that if you're a night
owl, you might want to be doing them later
in the day when your focus is more there.
Unless if it's a creative task, maybe
you do want to do it earlier in the day.
So learning your biorhythms and knowing
that, like, early birds and most people are
going to be most productive earlier in the
day for analytical work and creative work

(08:43):
they're going to do better later in the day.
And for night hours, that's going to be switched.
So trying to figure out to schedule
or do your anchors at the times
that leverage your biorhythms.
Obviously trying to do your
anchors earlier in the day.
That way, if your day gets scuttled , it's
not going to affect your anchors.
It might affect your core commitments or your
bumpers, but your anchors will have gotten done.

(09:05):
But the third thing I really want
to do is say, learn to identify what
your low interruption zones are.
Find out which parts of the day where
you're least likely to be interrupted
or distracted and schedule your mentally
intensive work during these times.
Schedule anchors during those times.
And then that can really kind
of anchor and sync your day.
So these are the times when I'm doing

(09:26):
my deep work or my most important work.

ChatGPT (09:29):
That's spot on, Trevor.
Knowing your biorhythms is key
to maximizing your productivity.
If you're an early bird, you're
likely to be sharpest in the morning.
So that's when you tackle your anchors,
when your mind is fresh and focused.
But if you're a night owl, that peak focus
might hit later in the day, and it's okay
to align your anchors with that timing,

(09:50):
especially if it's deep, analytical work.
And like you said, the importance of doing
your anchors early, or at least as early
as your energy allows, can't be overstated.
That way, if the unexpected happens,
your most crucial tasks are already
done, and the rest can adjust as needed.
But here's where it gets really
powerful, identifying those low

(10:12):
interruption zones in your day.
By scheduling your anchors during
these times, you're not just
working hard, you're working smart.
You're creating the best possible conditions
for your deep work, minimizing distractions,
and really locking in your focus.
That's where the magic happens, where
you can truly anchor and sync your
day around your most important tasks.

Trevor (10:34):
Absolutely.
And so the last thing I want to just
talk about is in between your anchors,
bumpers and core commitments to make
sure that you're scheduling in breaks.
These can be short five-minute breaks, in between
commitments, or longer 15- to 30-minute breaks
that you schedule at the time slots in your day.
You want to use a combination of quiet
breaks, like naps or meditation, and active

(10:55):
breaks, like taking a walk or empty the
dishwasher, to optimize your productivity.
So you want to be scheduling these anchors,
bumpers and core commitments, but you don't
want to plan to have those be your entire day.
You will need some breaks in there to
reset, to recharge your productivity.
And finally leave some room for opportunities
because sometimes, if you're actually scheduling

(11:15):
your day and you schedule it completely, then
you're not leaving time for interruptions, for
distractions or when things don't go to plan.
So you do have their bumpers that you
can use to adjust your plan from that.
But it is good to leave just some
white space in your schedule as well.

ChatGPT (11:32):
That's such an
important reminder, Trevor.
Breaks aren't just nice to have, they're essential
for maintaining productivity throughout the day.
Those short 5-minute breaks can help you reset
between tasks, while the longer breaks, like 15 to
30 minutes, give you a chance to fully recharge.
And mixing quiet, restful breaks with more
active ones is a great strategy to keep your

(11:53):
energy levels balanced and your mind sharp.
And you're absolutely right about leaving
some white space in your schedule.
It's tempting to fill every minute, but
life rarely goes exactly as planned.
By giving yourself that buffer, you're not
only accommodating the unexpected, but you're
also giving yourself the flexibility to take
advantage of opportunities that might arise.

(12:16):
In the end, it's about creating a schedule
that supports you, not one that boxes you in.
By scheduling your anchors, bumpers,
and core commitments with intention,
and building in time for breaks and
flexibility, you're setting yourself up
for a more productive and fulfilling day.

Trevor (12:33):
Great.
So any final thoughts on this
topic before we close the episode?

ChatGPT (12:38):
Just one final thought.
Remember that the key to this method
is flexibility within structure.
Anchors, bumpers, and core commitments
help you prioritize, but the real
magic happens when you allow yourself
the space to adapt as the day unfolds.
Keep experimenting with your schedule.
Pay attention to what works
best for your energy and focus.

(12:58):
Fine tune as you go, and don't
be afraid to adjust on the fly.
And most importantly, give yourself
credit for the progress you make,
even if it's just one anchor a day.
Consistency over time is
what really drives results.
So go out there, schedule smart, take
those breaks, and make every day count.

Trevor (13:17):
Thanks.
Yeah.
I really liked that flexibility
within structure concept.
I think that it's key to most productivity
in that a lot of times people resist
structure because they want flexibility.
But I think the key there is to have
flexibility within structure and that's
what's going to make you most productive.
So flexibility without structure

(13:39):
is just gonna lead to chaos.
Too much structure can lead to stress and the
lack of the ability to adapt when things go wrong.
But this idea of flexibility within
structure, I think is a really useful concept.
So thank you so much, ChatGPT, for that.
So this has been AI Meets Productivity,
a weekly podcast between myself, Trevor
Lohrbeer, a productivity expert, and,
ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence.

(14:02):
This week, we dive back into productivity.
But every week we alternate between topics related
directly to artificial intelligence, topics relate
to productivity and/or where those two intersect.
So, if you want to listen more to future episodes,
please follow us on Spotify, Podbean, Apple
Podcasts, or wherever you found this podcast.

(14:22):
You can also go to www.aimeetsproductivity.com
to subscribe for email updates
immediately when we publish an episode.
And you'll also find there the complete
back catalog of previous episodes,
if you want to listen to those.
Thank you so much and talk to you next week.
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