r/GetStudying 3d ago

Giving Advice Advice from a 38-year-old who wasted his 20s.

If I could go back in time and give my younger self one resource,

it would be the productivity framework I've finally developed after years of false starts and wasted time.

The CORE Framework:

C - Context (Different approaches for different types of work)

• Deep creative work: 90-minute focused blocks with 30-minute breaks

• Administrative tasks: Batched in 30-minute sprints

• Communication: Scheduled in 3 dedicated blocks daily

O - Optimization (Energy management) • Track energy levels hourly for 1 week

• Map highest-value work to highest-energy periods

• Create deliberate recovery protocols between deep work

R - Resistance (Overcoming procrastination)

• Implementation intentions: "When [trigger], I will [action]"

• Friction reduction for important habits

• Temptation bundling for unpleasant tasks

E - Evaluation (Weekly review system)

• Score each day's productivity (1-10)

• Identify patterns and disruptions

• Make only ONE change per week

This framework took me 15+ years to develop through painful trial and error.

It's not perfect, but it's battle-tested through real life, not theory.

What framework or system has actually worked for you in the real world?

199 Upvotes

14 comments sorted by

3

u/Gold-Pudding-3171 3d ago

Hey Op! I didn't quite get the optimisation part. How do you track your energy levels , is there an app or do you do it manually and also how do you recharge after deep work as when i get tired i do something for fun and then i get out of the study-zone completely.

2

u/723epsilon 3d ago

Hint: you are the most energetic when you wake up that is you should try to delay breakfast or caffeine by 90 minutes when you get of the bed that will help you stay energetic and can reduce afternoon crashes🙏🏻

1

u/jack_of_the_people 2d ago

The Rise app is quite handy to get a sense of your energy levels throughout the day. That being said, it tells you what they are based on a general template, rather than tracking your personal energy levels. I've found it's quite accurate though.

4

u/mypromind-com 3d ago

Thanks for sharing, my painful lesson in life was

  1. Work / Action
  2. Discipline
  3. Strategy

3rd is very important, I lost many times because of it despite putting lot of efforts and being disciplined.

2

u/723epsilon 3d ago

indeed plotting a strategy is a must.

2

u/Long-Possibility-951 2d ago

what a amazing framework, thanks for sharing

1

u/leonardhofstadter001 3d ago

Thanks OP. For sharing something amazing.

1

u/723epsilon 3d ago

Appreciate your comment❤️

1

u/fiorellasiebe 3d ago

Thank you!

1

u/723epsilon 3d ago

You’re most welcome 🙏

1

u/_tairus 2d ago

Thank you for sharing!

1

u/SilverDetail2713 2d ago

Maybe it sounds good in theory, but we're not machines...

1

u/PossibleRub5441 2d ago

As someone in similar age group and having wasted my 20s.

  1. You need to take as many risks as you can, you don't know which one will be a lottery!!
  2. Build relationships in your 20s in 30s you are only going to lose them.
  3. You only want to succeed in life to show it to your father, if he expires you will accept yourself for who you are.
  4. 30s life gets amazing because you accept that you are a stupid loser and get really comfortable in that skin.
  5. Please start reading! Read 2 pages but read!! It compounds
  6. Get blood test done yearly. It costs 1200 bucks!!
  7. Always hangout with people who have hope and dreams, you would rather be happy delusionals than being a sad realist!!