October 20, 20247 min read

🍒6 game-changer actions/mindsets I wish I had taken earlier · The Bunker #105

Hi friend 👋🏻!

A Newsletter in which we talk about UX Design and the Freelance Journey, dedicated to those who are starting out in both worlds and who feel identified.

From The Bunker, we accompany you on the way.

It’s clear that when we are just starting, we don’t have the same knowledge we’ll have later, once we’ve learned a bit more. That’s why sometimes we don’t take certain actions simply because we don’t know what we don’t know. If I don’t know something, I’ll do it the best way I can at that moment, but over time and with experience, we refine our approach.

Today, I want to share some of the things I consider game changers in my professional and personal life. These are lessons I’ve learned that have undoubtedly helped me optimize my processes and results.

1. Delegate as soon as possible

This took me a while to understand because I’ve always valued my time and money. But here’s the reality: with money, you’re buying time, and that time is invaluable because you can use it to focus on higher-impact tasks.

Identify tasks that drain your energy and delegate them: In my case, I enjoy editing YouTube videos, but honestly, I’d rather be doing something else during the time I spend editing. That’s why I decided to delegate the editing. Another example is that at Koala UI, we make templates for Webflow and Framer, and creating a template involves these steps:
- Deciding what template to make
- Seeking inspiration
- Designing it
- Developing it
In the case of templates, for me, development was the least relevant: In the end, if you find someone who can do good development, as long as you create a good design (which is the hard part), the rest can be done well. That’s why I decided to delegate all the coding of those templates, and now I just focus on designing them. I earn half because we do a 50/50 split between design and development, but I also produce twice as much.
Always evaluate the cost-benefit: If you’re spending time on operational tasks, ask yourself how your business would be impacted if you spent that time thinking about strategy or activities that really generate value. In my case of video editing: I have much more impact if I spend my time thinking of new video ideas rather than editing them.
Trust but maintain control: Delegating doesn’t mean losing control. Provide feedback when necessary and ensure the processes align with what you expect. It’s just a matter of patience → “No one will do it like I do”: This is the typical doubt I always had, but it’s just a matter of time explaining to someone what you like.

2. Set one high-impact task each week

One of the big mistakes we make is thinking that more tasks mean more progress. That’s not true. The key is to set one high-impact task for each week, something that must get done and truly pushes the business forward.

Differentiate between urgent and important: Not all urgent tasks are important. It’s crucial that you distinguish them so you can focus your energy on what will really have an impact.
Reflect on your goals before starting the week: Every week, ask yourself: What is the task that, if completed, will get me closer to my goals? And make everything else revolve around that. Another approach can be: What is the high-impact task that I must do, no matter what? The one that truly moves the needle. Identify and do them.
Plan strategic breaks: It’s not all about work. Take time to rest and recharge. A refreshed mind makes better decisions and is more productive. Speaking as someone who used to focus on doing things non-stop, it’s counterproductive; this is not optimizing for the long term.

3. Treat everything you do as “mini-projects”

It helps me a lot to see everything I do as mini-projects. A great example is the gym: it’s not just a routine, it’s a health and appearance investment project. I apply this same mindset to Koalaui.com, brandingwebsite.com, content creation, and more. This mentality has allowed me to stay organized and take things more seriously, seeing how each small project contributes to the big result.

Set clear goals and deadlines: Treat each activity as a project with a specific goal and a deadline to complete it. It doesn’t matter if it’s something as small as writing an article or as big as launching a new product.
Track progress: Use tools like Trello, Asana, or Notion to break large tasks into small actions and track them properly. This will allow you to see real progress and adjust as needed.
Iterate and improve continuously: By approaching each task as a project, you can learn more from each process, identify what worked, and what can be improved next time.
It feels “more official”: If you just say “I need to exercise,” it doesn’t carry the same weight as saying: I have a project to improve my physical condition or achieve my best shape.

4. Learn to say NO

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that not everything is important. Sometimes, the most valuable thing you can do is say no.

Avoid overload: Knowing when to say no is essential to avoid overloading yourself with work and focusing on the activities that really matter. Remember that the key is to optimize for the long term: Identify tasks that don’t contribute to making the journey more enjoyable.
Choose wisely: Not all projects or opportunities are equally valuable. Learn to distinguish between what will bring you closer to your goals and what will simply keep you busy.

5. The value of constant feedback

Seeking and accepting feedback is a powerful tool for growth, whether in your business or personal life. Don’t wait until you’ve finished something to get opinions. Sometimes, a small adjustment halfway can make a big impact.

I used to think that if I shared my ideas to get feedback, people would steal them, but nothing could be further from the truth. The likelihood of someone stealing your ideas is extremely low, and people are usually open to giving feedback.

Early and frequent feedback: The sooner you get opinions, the sooner you can adjust and improve what you’re doing.
Keep an open mind: Accepting constructive criticism isn’t always easy, but it’s crucial if you want to keep improving.

6. The importance of self-care for your productivity

Lastly, it’s important to remember that self-care is key to maintaining a high level of productivity. Invest in your physical and mental well-being: whether it’s through regular exercise, meditation, or just taking breaks. Everything counts. I like to go to the gym in the afternoon once my workday is done to clear my mind, and on weekends, I go for walks around the city.

On weekends, I also take some time to play video games with my friends as a way to disconnect from professional life.

In the end, what I’m trying to do is have control over how I use my time. Using time as intentionally as possible is my priority.

Until next time,

Jordi Espinosa.

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