As an avid gamer and streaming enthusiast, I‘m obsessed with leveling up skills, achieving high scores and completing epic quests through strategy, grit and grinding. So when I stumbled upon MIT researcher Lex Fridman‘s highly structured productivity routine, my inner power gamer knew I had to give it a test run.
Could a scientific approach to real life routines and mindsets help me unlock achievements – both virtual and tangible? Time to turn life into a game!
Who is Lex Fridman?
Lex Fridman is no average academic. Beyond directing the MIT Human-Centered AI Lab, he also hosts one of the world‘s most popular podcasts Interviewing mavericks like Elon Musk and Vitalik Buterin.
With over 150 million views, Lex applies an exploratory gamer‘s mindset. He uncovers Easter eggs of wisdom in long format conversations about technology, science, philosophy and the meaning of life.
As an avid gaming fan himself, Lex‘s interdisciplinary research also intersects with simulation theory and video game metaphors for reality. No wonder big thinkers geek out in deep convos with him!
In a rare public glimpse into his personal life through a YouTube vlog, Lex revealed his exact daily routine – codes and all. As a gamer, I instantly realized the parallels. Here was a high performer taking a systematic approach to leveling up his day-to-day.
Just like completing missions in video games, Lex used specific rituals, power-ups and measurements to achieve fast progress. Could I implement such gaming inspired productivity "hacks" in my own life?
Game on! âī¸ đŽ
Lex‘s Daily Routine Speed Run
For any fellow gamers seeking that elusive work-life balance, here‘s a speed run through Lex Fridman‘s standard daily schedule.
With monk-like discipline, he follows this routine Monday to Friday. Then Lex allow himself free exploration and goofing off time during his weekends.
Daily Grind Quests (45-60 Mins)
After waking at 6 AM sharp, Lex prepares for the day‘s adventures ahead with deliberate intent:
đ¯ Set Rules & Difficulty Level (5 mins)
He establishes constraints around available time, blocking distractions etc. It‘s like setting parameters in a game engine.
đž Choose Character & Abilities (10 mins)
Through journaling, Lex reflects on core strengths and qualities he wants to embody that day – his "character stats" so to speak.
đēī¸ Set Waypoints (5-10 mins)
Lex maps out short and long-term destinations he‘s aiming for (quest markers!). This anchors his daily grinding.
đ§ Navigation System Check (5 mins)
He charts his schedule and targets for the day (the HUD keeping him on track).
âĄī¸ Activate Power-Ups (10 mins)
Similar to intense pre-battle rituals in epic game cinematics, Lex visualizes having an incredible day to get hyped up.
Grind Time! (4 Hours) đšī¸
With his gamified morning prep complete, Lex can launch into grinding for XP with laser sharp focus:
đž Deep Work Bursts (3-4 hrs)
Leveraging the Pomodoro technique, Lex alternates 25 mins intense work sprints (boss battles!) with 5 min breaks (to resupply health).
No responding to random pings (notifications) until he completes 4-5 work quests. This results in huge XP via ruthless efficiency.
đī¸ââī¸ Training Montages (1 hr+)
Lex incorporates exercise like running 5 miles and bodyweight routines (gotta montage!) as well as joyful practices like cold showers and dancing.
This boosts his overall stats so he can maintain performance without getting burnt out mentally.
Evening Loot Enjoyment & Reflection (60+ mins)
With his core missions accomplished in the first half of the day, Lex has capacity after dinner for:
đŽ Skill Tree Upgrades (60 mins)
Through reading fiction and learning podcasts, Lex continues improving his capabilities.
đ Daily Wins & Losses (â10 mins)
Lex tracks achievements and areas needing improvement via gratitude journaling and meditation.
Experimenting With The Routine: A Gamer‘s Experience
As an experiment, I decided to gamify my life by implementing parts of Lex‘s routine. Could powering through mundane tasks like level grinding missions make me happier and more productive?
Here were my key learnings over the week:
Pros đ¤Š
- Structured routine shook up my habits for the better!
- Timed focus mode helped me grind through boring tasks really fast. My efficiency improved by ~20%!
- Morning reflections made me feel more motivated and in control. I didn‘t just react to random pings all day.
- Streak tracking small tasks activated my completionist psychology. Tiny wins!
Cons đ
- With non-stop quest chasing, I neglected just "chilling in the tavern". I missed more organic adventuring and group battles (socializing)!
- Intense scheduling killed spontaneity which made me feel like a scripted video game character vs having agency.
- Excessive optimization risks burnout. Need to balance grinding with rest.
Key Takeaway đĄ
Like choosing gaming side quests, Lex‘s program works because it aligns tightly with his goals and interests. Customization based on your play style is key!
For gamers, applying this achievement focused mentality in moderation by tracking skill trees can be motivating.
But don‘t let obsessive min/maxing keep you from enjoying the journey! Remember to rest, reconnect with your community and simply have unstructured fun. Games are ultimately about joy after all.
Bonus Levels: More Hacks For Gamers
While not every gamer will want to adopt Lex‘s intense schedule, we can adapt tactical elements of his routine to "optimize" our gaming lifestyle:
đšī¸ Work In Bursts Between Multiplayer Battles
Use 25-30 min Pomodoro grinds to power through obligations quickly, then return to gaming with more presence.
đĨ Set Up Achievement Tracking Systems
Apps like Habitica gamify task management. Getting that dopamine hit from ticking off quests provides momentum.
đī¸ââī¸ Pre-Gaming Training Montages
Hype up your energy before long raid nights with 10 min jogging or exercises. Get pumped up!
đ Implement Preventative Measures
Lex‘s cold showers, eye breaks, intermittent fasting etc aim to boost cognitive stamina for intense gaming sessions.
đ§ââī¸ Reflect On Your Play
Journal after big wins or losses about tactics that worked well (and areas for growth).
At the end of the day, gaining XP points to impress a scoreboard matters far less than having an epic and meaningful experience.
Lex Fridman‘s monk-like discipline enables great achievements, proving what we humans can accomplish through focused intent.
But don‘t let his intensity intimidate you â start where you are. Internalize the lessons from top performers, while also valuing your unique play style.
With the right team by your side + balanced strategies, you‘ll automatically level up to your highest self in no time!
Ready player one… here we go! đž