In most cases, we are looking for ways to increase our productivity and put our lives in order because the current state of things seems to us wrong and irrational. At the same time, it is unlikely that the scale of the activity will differ greatly from one "simple" person to another. What can we say about the people who run a huge state. Thanks to the work of journalists Michael Lewis from Vanity Fair and Ryan Lizza from the New Yorker, we have the opportunity to learn about how the current US President Barack Obama lives and copes with the unimaginable rhythm of life.
The President's Day actually begins the night before. After his family members have already gone to bed, Obama returns to the tasks that he did not have time to complete during the day. For example, when receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, aides presented the president with several versions of the speech that he was supposed to read at the award ceremony, however, Obama considered all options unacceptable. Instead of memorizing the text as usual in such cases, he compiled the main thoughts and theses of the upcoming speech on a piece of paper, after which he compiled his own version of the speech based on these notes. Of course, it is impossible to call such night work at the expense of rest useful, but with such a rhythm of life it is almost impossible to find another time for this.
Interestingly, many of us try to fully control and manage our lives, but when every day you have to make dozens and hundreds of important decisions, refusing to participate in some of them turns out to be the most acceptable.
At the time when Harry Truman was President of the United States, his staff of assistants numbered 12 people. Now this number exceeds 100 people. This solves the problem of excessive consumption of information and the elimination of participation in less important issues.
"I don't want to be involved in deciding what I'm going to eat and what I'm going to wear, because I have a lot of other more important decisions to make."
This practice is used not only in matters of wardrobe, nutrition and limiting participation in non-critical issues. For example, all papers containing proposals requiring a decision should contain 3 paragraphs at the end of the text with places to tick: "Agree", "Disagree" and "Need to discuss".
Fair criticism has never been to the detriment of its addressee, but some people, by virtue of their position, are simply surrounded by fundamentally and radically dissenters. Such a flow of unconstructive negativity will bring anyone out of balance.
"We have one basic rule: we don't watch news channels. We don't listen to public speeches of politicians. We watch sports programs and discuss them."
Obama agreed that it is impossible to live in a bubble isolated from the information flow, but filtering the flow of incoming information is vital.
"One of the things you quickly realize in this job is that people don't see me, but a character named Barack Obama."
Obama's every day includes a 45-minute cardio or strength workout at the gym.
"I'll be more productive during the day if you give me time to train."
In addition to daily classes in the gym, he regularly meets with his friends to play basketball.
"You need to train, otherwise at some point you will just break down."
In Obama's daily schedule, there are always 3 time intervals that belong only to him: morning workout, dinner with his daughters and the beginning of the night when his family is already asleep. Each of these gaps has its own meaning. The gym helps to keep fit, at the beginning of the night he can focus on unfinished and upcoming tasks, and dinner in a calm family atmosphere allows you to switch from a frenzied work rhythm and be a simple father.
