Hey {{ first name | there }}! Welcome back to The Flow by Flocus. If you’re new around here, welcome! 👋  You can catch up on our previous editions right here.

This week: It’s all about your fixed commitments, aka anything that needs to get done during a specific time. Examples of fixed commitments, plus how to “hack” them to get more done, micro-style. Let’s get into it!

Fixed commitment = Anything in your life that you have to do at a specific time (ish).

While some commitments need to be done at exactly the same time each day, others may simply need to get done during a bigger window (like morning / afternoon / night).

Your fixed commitments can also include both one-off and recurring events. Scroll on for some examples:

⏰ Daily

📍 Location-Based

🧍‍♀️ Natural Pausing Points

No, not by themselves. It’s all about how you use the time surrounding your fixed commitments.

Using your fixed commitments as an anchor point for other tasks and habits means less work for your brain.

Since you’ve already got to do Task A at a specific time and place, you’ll spend less energy deciding when, where, and how to do Task B if you decide to bundle them in the same time window.

Caveat: A lot of productivity tips about fixed commitments promote extreme adjustments and pairings, like waking up several hours before needed to cram in all those “healthy” habits before work / school.

You already know we’re not about that kind of “advice”. Which is why we recommend starting small with 1-2 fixed commitment pairs, vs. overhauling all your routines.

Scroll on to learn how to do it!

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Now, here’s how to leverage your fixed commitments!

We’ve covered this before, but those healthy habits you’re “supposed” to do are much easier when they’re also enjoyable.

So take your fixed commitment and stack it with something that you like to do, or want to do more of.

Examples: Start brewing a morning bevvy while feeding the cat / Meditate while taking a shower

So many of our fixed commitments include waiting for something: the kettle to boil, the bus to arrive, the meeting to start.

Whenever you find yourself waiting and idle, try working on another small task. It’s okay if you don’t finish it — the goal is to make a tiny bit of progress to clear some crumbs off your plate.

If you repeat the same tiny tasks during the same waiting periods, the process will eventually become automatic and effortless.

Example: After the cat is fed and while your drink is brewing, do a tiny bit of tidying / While waiting for the bus, declutter a few emails from your inbox

Review your upcoming fixed commitments often to see what’s on your plate.

If you notice any imbalances — like a week packed with stressful meetings — plan some fun and healthy habits in the time buffers around them.

Example: Book a dinner date with a friend for the day of your big presentation / treat yourself to your favorite breakfast on the morning of your exam

A curated list of things worth sharing.

Fixed commitments work best when you have a calm place to land between them. Flocus gives you a cozy home base to organize your day, reset between tasks, and move through routines with less friction.

Go to Flocus

What’d you think of our edition on fixed commitments? As always, this one’s inspired by our own lives and came to us while we were waiting for the kettle to boil!

Until next Sunday,

Flocus Team