Measurement: simple weekly review metrics (throughput, focus blocks, carryover)
Day 5 of 30 · Productivity 2026: How to Manage Teams and Time
What you don't measure, you can't improve
Learning goal
- Understand the three key metrics: throughput, focus blocks, carryover.
- Create a weekly review routine with these metrics.
- Identify where you can improve your productivity.
Why it matters
- Throughput: How many important tasks did you complete in a week? This is your real productivity.
- Focus blocks: How many deep work blocks did you hold? This is your quality work.
- Carryover: How many tasks remained from last week? This is your planning accuracy.
- These metrics give objective picture, not just feelings.
Explanation
The three key metrics
1. Throughput: Number of completed important tasks per week. Not activity count, but completed outcomes.
2. Focus blocks: How many 90-120 minute deep work blocks did you hold? This is your quality, focused work.
3. Carryover: How many tasks remained from last week? Low carryover = good planning, high carryover = overplanning.
How to measure
Weekly review (30 min):
- Review: What did you complete? (throughput)
- Focus: How many deep work blocks did you hold? (focus blocks)
- Carryover: What did you postpone? (carryover)
- Reflection: What worked? What didn't?
- Plan: What do you plan for next week?
Practical Example
Week 1:
- Throughput: 8 important tasks completed
- Focus blocks: 6 blocks (target: 8)
- Carryover: 3 tasks (target: <2)
Reflection: Too many meetings, not enough deep work time. Next week: more time blocking, fewer meetings.
Practical exercise (25-30 min) — First weekly review
- Throughput count: Write down how many important tasks you completed this week. (Important = outcome, not just activity.)
- Focus blocks count: Write down how many deep work blocks you held (90-120 min, uninterrupted).
- Carryover count: Write down how many tasks remained from last week.
- Reflection: What worked well? What didn't? Why?
- Plan: What will you change next week? What concrete steps will you take?
Self-check
- ✅ You know the three key metrics: throughput, focus blocks, carryover.
- ✅ You have a weekly review routine with these metrics.
- ✅ You know where you can improve your productivity.
- ✅ Measurement is objective, not just feeling-based.
Optional deepening
- David Allen: "Getting Things Done" — about weekly review
- Cal Newport: "Deep Work" — about measuring focus blocks
- Eliyahu Goldratt: "The Goal" — about measuring throughput