productivity

Designed for Focus or Distraction?

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distracted squirrelProductivity isn’t just about willpower, motivation or discipline. It’s about design. Your environment has an impact on your productivity, well-being and efficiency through the cues that it is consciously and subconsciously sending you.

It can:

      • Encourage focus
      • Create calm
      • Promote distraction and procrastination
        • Intensify overwhelm
      • Make things harder (and take longer)

Visual Impact

Although our eyes “see” a great deal of visual information around us, it is our brain that processes only about 1% of that information. It tends to focus on anything survival related while keeping an ongoing “video” of the last 10-15 seconds based on attention and memory. So, it is our brain that interprets what we see and then makes sense of that information. The more cluttered the environment, the harder the brain has to work to see what you want it to see. If you’ve ever searched for your keys, only to find them 20 minutes later in one of the first places you looked – you know what I mean.

The busier the space, the more brain interference especially if there are things in your environment that are calling for attention. Maybe you have left something out as a reminder of a task or a decision you need to make. If that isn’t your focus right now, then maybe you can reduce the visual choices in that area and create a “focus zone” to help reduce the nonessential.

Sensory Input

First, we want to be sure our brain has everything it needs to be happy. The brain is continually sensing and responding to variations from the norm so it needs to have certain things like food, water, sleep, and safety to begin with. A quick body check of these internal needs will let you know if your brain needs something. To avoid being distracted by those needs, you should satisfy them before getting to work.

Next, let’s look at the things that can impact our senses externally. Starting with the ambient noise level. Is it too loud or too quiet? Which helps you stay focused more?

How about the temperature in the room – is it too warm, too cool? Also, think about the air quality as proper ventilation reduces indoor pollutants and increases your brain’s oxygen level which leads to better focus. Adding a plant or two can also increase the available oxygen.

Ergonomics, as defined by Google, “is fitting the task to the person.” This means making sure that you are comfortable and able to do the job without strain or pain. Check the chair for comfort and fit. Are your feet flat on the floor? Does the height of the desk fit with the chair? Check that the lighting is bright enough and focused on your work area and not coming from the ceiling to prevent working in your own shadow.

Lastly, color can impact your focus and productivity by reducing stress and stimulating brain activity. For example, blue and green are known for helping concentration, while red is known for boosting attention to detail (in short bursts). Color can also be used to help with learning. Grouping facts or like data together with one color aids retention. So, do what you can to make your environment suit your needs.

Friction vs. Flow

Sometimes it is not your hunger, or the ergonomics of your workspace, but the “friction” between you and the next small step. What’s friction, you ask? Anything that makes getting started harder (see above). There is not knowing where to start, not having what you need or being distracted by notifications. It all takes its toll.

Flow, on the other hand, feels effortless because the plan is clear. You know what to do and you have what you need to do it or can easily find it. The more friction you can alleviate, the more flow is possible.

Friction

  • Notifications and interruptions
  • Looking for things – disorganization/clutter
  • Perfectionism
  • No plan or clue about the next step

Flow

  • Have a plan before you sit down
  • Healthy snacks, water
  • Clear work space with needed supplies
  • Distraction free zone

Simple changes to your environment and the way you think about productivity can help make getting started easier with less friction and more flow.  And that will help you get things done.

How can your environment better support you and your brain? (What can be changed, removed, simplified or decided ahead of time?) Check out our Friction Audit on Facebook.

A Calmer Holiday Season Starts Here

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Self-care by the fireHow do you feel about the holidays? If it is a mix of excitement and overwhelm, then you are not alone. The season can feel like sensory overload, with unlimited choices and decisions, an extended “to-do” list and a short time frame in which to get it all done. However, we know that stress doesn’t help get things done any faster, it just takes a bigger toll on us. Here are some ideas to help you keep the stress level down and have a meaningful and memorable holiday season.

Self-Care Ideas:

  • You don’t need to do it all. Pick the things that resonate with you rather than feeling obligated to accept all invitations.
  • Find your high energy times and use them to get the important things done
  • Most adults can focus for 90 minutes but then you should take a break and do something that involves more activity
  • Start your morning off knowing what your top 3 priorities are for the day. If you wait to plan your day in the morning, you are already wasting valuable energy time.
  • What is it that stresses you out the most about the holidays? Can you brainstorm with your family some solutions or strategies to help, rather than avoiding it?
  • Remember experiences together can be more meaningful than “things”
  • Take breaks throughout the day to check in with yourself. We often ignore our internal signals until they become urgent. (Ex. Are you hungry, tired, overwhelmed, or need support?) Ask, “What do I need right now?”
  • A 15-minute walk in nature is helpful for resetting your brain and attitude – give it a try.
  • Find little things that add joy to your day and sprinkle them throughout

Lastly, remember to take pictures and to write down the good, the bad and the ugly so you don’t forget what made this holiday so memorable. I’m building my “one sheet” option in Notion that covers everything from gift suggestions, to special events that happen each year and important things to remember and/or do for next year, recipe successes or fails, and most importantly how I felt this year. How will you remember?

I’ve been summarizing our Christmases for years in my journal and it has helped incredibly to reread them each December 1st, but this page in Notion includes the specifics (you can use a notebook if you prefer) and that will ensure that each year is less stressful and more fun.

Wishing you a calm, magical and fun-filled holiday season no matter what holidays you celebrate.

 

From Busy to Effective: The Art of Balanced Productivity

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Personal producitivtyPersonal productivity, is the art of getting things done or as ChatGPT defines it, “Completing tasks, managing time, and achieving goals in your daily life or work.”

Are you happy or should I say satisfied with your level of personal productivity?

Let’s take a closer look at that definition. The first thing it mentions is completing tasks. What tasks does it mean? If it is the tasks on my to-do list then there isn’t enough time in the day to do all of them. How do I choose? We’ve all had an extremely busy day of getting things done but at the end of it, we either can’t cross anything off the list or we feel like we really didn’t accomplish anything important.

Every day, everywhere we look we are exposed to all kinds of options and choices. Sure, we’d like to do it all, but it is probably not humanly possible. So, we have to make choices. Choices should represent the important things, those high impact tasks that make a big difference but are not a lot of work. Knowing ahead of time what those tasks are takes some thought (usually ahead of time) to be most effective.

One way is to create a realistic plan for the week based on the available time you REALLY have and then ask yourself, “What is really important for this week?” If you have a master list of your tasks, then just going through that will trigger the important things but remember….you can’t (and shouldn’t) try to do it all.

Take the tasks that you feel need to be done this week and write them down on a new list. Now, based on the available time you have, the time of day, and the priority level of the task, decide where in the week will you get that done? Having a plan allows you to see not only what the most important task is but also, how other tasks may be grouped together to save you time and energy. Estimate how long your tasks may take to be sure you are not trying to be a super hero.  Or you can wake up slowly on Monday morning and wonder, “What do I feel like doing today?” I know I would go for the easiest tasks but those are not usually the most important ones, are they?

Managing Time

Managing time is mentioned next in the ChatGPT definition above, but what does that mean? I certainly don’t know how to “manage” time, in fact it often flies by without me even noticing it, how can I manage it? Did you notice after the clocks changed, how much faster the day went by? It wasn’t really faster, it just seemed like the day was longer, because the sun was out longer. Time ticks away a minute at a time no matter what we try to do about it. We can only “manage” ourselves by following our plan, limiting what distracts us (unless it’s our kids) and having clear boundaries around our time.

You can “save” time by having habits and routines that keep the family current.

Which would you rather….

  • Do 2 loads of laundry or 7?
  • Take 30 seconds to put dishes in the dishwasher or wait until the sink and counters are full?
  • Know what is for dinner and have it or figure it out at 7:30pm?
  • Have kids put their toys away before bed or risk stepping on a Lego in the dark?
  • Start the week with a full tank of gas or risk being late for that meeting because you had to stop for gas?
  • Paying your bills on time or risk having to pay the late fee?

By having set days or times that you do certain tasks automatically, you can save energy and time and lower your stress. When the children are involved in the daily chores, they develop accountability and responsibility. Working together can build their confidence and self-esteem. Pitching in can develop cooperation and teamwork while they learn essential life skills like organization and time management. It’s a win-win situation.

Achieving Goals in Your Daily Life or Work

The third and final piece of the personal productivity definition is, “achieving goals in your daily life or work.” A goal can give you a glimpse into the future and maybe provide motivation when things become difficult. It is your “why.” It points you in the direction of your best self but it doesn’t tell you how to get there.  That’s where “PACT” can help. PACT is an acronym, similar to SMART that is used to create goals, but PACT is more focused on the actions needed to attain a goal. PACT stands for Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, and Trackable.

PACT pushes you to go deeper and to think about the actions needed to get to your goal. It focuses on output – actions you can do now to move you in the direction of that goal. If that doesn’t work, the “C” encourages you to try something else. Continuously working towards your goal by designing different experiments, like a scientist might, to collect the data on your results. You can easily see that because you are keeping track and adjusting when necessary.

So, if you are looking to improve your personal productivity, first, think about why. Why do you want to be more productive? Is it just to get more done? I hope not. Is it to follow through on what you have already agreed to and is it essential enough for you to give your irreplaceable, and limited time to? If not, then let it go. There is a big difference between what we need to get done and what we “want” to get done. Check your list, cross off anything you can. Focus on the important things – those things that move you in the direction you want to go in. It’s not about how much you get done. It’s about getting the important things done and to do that…..

Make sure to:

  • Take care of yourself
  • Create habits and routines that make life easier
  • Plan ahead
  • Reset nightly for the next day
  • Get the family involved
  • Focus on the important things
  • Take time to recharge

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or confused on where to start, then use the above list to help you figure out a PACT goal that will lead you to the actions you need to get there. For example:

P – To have enough energy to feel good and get through my day

A – Go to bed at 10pm every night

C – Might need to go screen free at 9pm

Or make sure the kids go to bed on time

Or shower in the morning

T – Track what time I do go to bed (and how do I feel the next day) That is one simple example of how you get to “taking care of yourself.”

Now it’s your turn, what is one thing you can do to increase your level of productivity? Let us know on our FB page.

 

Image by TyliJura from Pixabay

Slow and Steady Makes A Productive Day

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Productivity BooksEvery day in multiple ways we are bombarded with information. Whether it is auditory, visual or both, information is all around us even if we don’t want it to be. According to an article in the NY Times, in 2009, as quoted in Building a Second Brain, by Tiago Forte, “the average person’s daily consumption of information now adds up to…34 gigabytes” or about 174 newspapers worth per day. A quick Google search shows it is now up to 74 gigabytes or 16 movies worth a day! Who could sit for that long?

There’s a problem with too much information whether we are consuming it ourselves or are just being exposed to it. We can’t hold onto the information long enough to use it or remember why we read it in the first place. Even if you could remember it, could you find it? What is the point of this new knowledge we’re learning if we can’t use it to improve our lives in some way? Students must wonder about that all the time.

What is Productivity?

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or like your brain was about to explode, then you know it is a stressful feeling and it interferes with your ability to get things done.

We all want to be more productive; it is one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions. Well, chatgpt defines productivity as, “how efficiently and effectively you use your time, energy, and resources to accomplish tasks, achieve goals, and improve your overall quality of life.”

To improve your overall quality of life is the key point, because what is the point of doing more if you just feel unhappy, stressed, overwhelmed, or brain dead?

How to Start

In order to make good decisions about the tasks and projects that are important to you, you need to know what they are. When was the last time you wrote down EVERYTHING that was on your mind? (I call it a brain dump but some prefer the term a cranial cleanse.)

Remember a project is anything that has two or more tasks/steps before it is complete. Maybe just think about the projects you would like to complete in January. No, you can’t do all 100 of them, but you might be able to finish 2 or 3 of them and remain sane at the same time. How would that feel?

Steps to Slow Down and Do More

    1. Work on fewer projects. Cal Newport, author of Slow Productivity, suggests not taking on a new project until one of your initial projects is completed. We often try to cram more work into an already overloaded schedule, without thinking where that time will come from. So, making space first makes sense. (Hide the rest of the list until you are ready.)
    2. Before you decide on which projects you will take on, think about what would make you feel fulfilled and pleased to have accomplished by the end of this month?
      • Is there something you have been meaning to do concerning your health?
      • How about a Home project that is haunting you
      • But most importantly, is there something you want or need to do that would make you feel productive and possibly even recharge you?
      • Make some time daily or at least weekly that you can do whatever it is that recharges your batteries. Even just a trickle charge can keep those batteries running during the coldest (bleakest) of times.
    1. Now based on the projects or areas of your life that you have listed to work on, set up a digital folder or notebook page to collect incoming information that will be helpful for it. Keep track of the info you consume in a way that allows you to use it later. This comes from Building a Second Brain. The concept is simple, take notes and keep them in a digital app that you can search and use easily.

Is being more productive about managing your time better? What is time management really? We can’t manage it or slow it down or save it to use later. It is really about energy management. Your energy is what determines how well you get things done. By collecting the information that is important to your tasks and projects, and putting it all in one place, you are saving yourself time, effort and brain bandwidth. Cut down on the information you really don’t need as it just takes up space in your memory and often isn’t a priority of yours anyways.

Do remember to take good care of yourself including; sleep, nutrition, movement, and screen free down time so, you can feel your best. Everything is more difficult if we aren’t feeling our best, don’t you think?

Seek out the resources and the tools to help you manage your tasks and limit what you are focusing on so it is more manageable. That should help you save time and mental energy. Good luck.

Keep Calm and Celebrate: 5 Stress Busting Strategies to Use Now

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Stress BusterIt’s official, we are in the holiday season. With Thanksgiving falling at the very end of November, it seems everyone is getting into the holiday spirit a lot earlier this year. How about you? Do you feel your stress level increasing at this time of the year as you try to juggle multiple responsibilities? Here is some help to ease the stress.

Here are my 5 Stress Busters:

              1. Declutter – not your typical way
              2. Prioritize health
              3. Create a realistic plan
              4. Stress free zone
              5. Reduce and unplug

Stress Buster #1:Declutter Important Spaces

If you are entertaining (or would like to) this holiday season but feel a bit overwhelmed by the clutter around you, then I am sorry to tell you that now is NOT the time to declutter or organize. Sorry to tell you that, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make things easier on yourself quickly and painlessly so that you CAN do the hosting you want.

There are three areas of your home that you probably use for guests. The living room/family room/great room where the entertaining happens, the kitchen where you do all the preparing and the bathroom, are the three key areas to declutter.

Step 1: Get a trash bag and a recycle bin and go as quickly as possible around those three rooms in a clockwise manner and toss, or recycle whatever you can. (Estimate:<30 mins)

Step 2: Find as many bins and boxes as you can and head to the bathroom with one or two. Put away anything that belongs there and load what doesn’t belong or doesn’t have a place, into your bins or boxes. Is the counter clear? How about the floor? Wet towels go in the laundry bin not the decluttering bins😊 (Estimate: <15 minutes)

Continue this process in the entertaining room. Start to the left of the doorway and work your way around the room in a clockwise manner loading whatever doesn’t belong or does not have a “home” into the bins. You could also make bins for each family member to take care of their own things rather than storing them. We all know our family and friends are probably not judging us, but when our homes are overwhelming us, it is harder to focus on others through our own embarrassment. When you feel good about your space, and it works, you can relax and enjoy. (Estimate: <60 minutes)

Lastly, it’s time to tackle the kitchen. This is probably the most difficult space to clear out but also the one with the biggest impact. Imagine working in your kitchen with clear counters and finding the tools you need quickly and effortlessly. What would that feel like (first name?) Now remove anything that you won’t need for entertaining into a bin. Start from the sink and move clockwise, touching things only once to put into a bin or return to its home. For kitchen items you might want to categorize what goes into each bin, just in case you need something in a hurry. (Ex. Extra pans, knick knacks, appliances like instant pot or extra storage containers, etc.) (Estimate: <90 minutes)

Step 3: Remove all the bins to some other space where your guests won’t see them but where you can access them if necessary. Take a look around, how does that feel?

Step 4: Now it should be easier to quickly clean these spaces. (For your family’s health, please use products that are environmentally friendly and people friendly. Chemicals and fragrances can be harmful to your health.)

Stress Buster #2:Take Care of Yourself

Holidays are no fun, if you get sick. Yet, that’s when we tend to squeeze more things into an already overpacked schedule. Eating and sleeping tend to get less attention the busier we are, but have the greatest impact on our energy and health. With some advance planning you can have quick and healthy options ready. Make a list of your favorites and the time it takes to get them ready. Looking at a list to pick from is so much easier than trying to think of what you can make when it is already late and you’re starving. Better yet, make a meal plan for the week.

Stick to a bedtime, seven days a week. What time will that be? That is up to you, but it needs to be consistent or your body will call you on it. Getting some sunlight in the morning or afternoon can help reset your circadian rhythms making it easier to fall asleep. Reading for as little as 7 minutes is also supposed to help. Some people find listening to audible books or the calm app is helpful. Making sure to avoid screens (TV included) for 60-90 minutes before bed helps melatonin do its job. Aim for at least 7-8 hours so you can wake up refreshed.

Stress Buster #3: Your Plan

Create a REALISTIC plan. I know your cape comes out at this time of year and you become a superhero but, as your coach, I have to ask you, “what is it costing you?” When you are running on adrenaline and cortisol, it takes a toll on your reserves. You know those things that when they run out, you end up exhausted, cranky and sometimes sick.

A realistic plan starts with knowing what you “have to” and “want to” do in the next few weeks. Maybe brain dump (cranial cleanse all those thoughts) out onto paper. Get the family’s input and put rough estimates on the time each task takes next to them. Add them up. Humanly possible? Probably not. What can go? What’s really important and where can you schedule it in? Make sure your calendar is already up to date with school scheduled events, family parties and appointments. Now try to fit in 3-5 similar tasks a day, several days this week. Keep weekends open for fun and Sunday prep for the week time if possible. Any events in the future you need tickets or reservations for, book them now. Sometimes the future seems so far off and then suddenly….it’s here.

Stress Buster #4: Stress Free Chill Zone

Create a stress-free zone. Any area where you can go to relax and/or spend some time doing something you love without thinking about all the other stuff you still have to do. You need some downtime to recharge and clear out the brain RAM so you are ready for whatever comes next. Try to take a 30-60-minute break for yourself each day, (I know it seems impossible) but the benefits are incredible! Unplug, be creative or just take a catnap – whatever helps to recharge your batteries give it a try and see what happens.

Stress Buster #5:Limit the Negative

This is probably the toughest, yet, most effective stress buster if you want to relax and unwind at home – reduce your exposure to social media and the news. It is hard to escape the constant attention grabbing, sensationalism, that the news has become. From verywellmind.com…

“…constant exposure to negative information can impact our brain,” says Annie Miller, MSW, LCSW-C, LICSW. Consuming the news can activate the sympathetic nervous system, which causes your body to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.” Even if the news is just background noise it was shown to have a negative impact.

Reduce your exposure and you will reduce anxiety, worry and fear that often comes with the news. The article goes on to suggest doing something to “energize and enrich” your life rather than watching what makes you feel worse. Maybe head to your stress-free zone or have a family game night, do a puzzle, watch Hallmark, hang some decorations – whatever you see as positive. I hope it will also help you sleep better. Your brain continues to process whatever you have done or seen in the last 30 minutes once you are in bed. No wonder we can’t sleep!

This is the time to protect yourself and your family from the stress of the outside world. Your home is your sanctuary and it should be filled with love and calmness that nurtures and recharges you and your family.

Four Productivity Hacks for an ADHD Brain

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ADHD signsOctober is National ADHD Awareness Month and so in tribute, let’s bring some awareness to how ADHD can interfere in your life and what you can do about it. First of all, ADHD or its side effects, has nothing to do with intelligence. It has a neurobiological (read chemical) basis related to the neurotransmitter hormone levels in your brain. Those chemicals are responsible for transmitting messages from one side of the brain to the other. Sometimes they complete their mission and sometimes you forget part or all of that previous thought.

ADHD is often related to weaknesses in Executive Function skills. Those are the processes that are the last to fully develop and are in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain. It’s interesting that those EFs (task initiation, inhibit, monitor, planning/organization, working memory, organization of materials, cognitive and behavioral shift and task completion) are necessary for completing most projects (and homework too).

It’s easy to see how difficulty planning can cause us to work harder and longer than we really need to simply because our plan is not the most efficient or cohesive. When that happens, we also may have difficulty getting started, and then watch out when our emotions take over. Can we notice how things are going or do we just jump up and go do something else? When a simple shift in our method, environment or state of mind or body may be all that is needed to stay focused.

An ADHD brain often finds it difficult to persist through boring, complex or difficult tasks as it prefers creative, interesting and fun projects – who doesn’t? When faced with this dilemma, it will seek out stimulation that it prefers and that’s where distractibility comes in. The brain is searching for something to make it “happy” and so it distracts us. Once distracted, since we weren’t monitoring the situation, it is challenging to regain control (inhibit our response) and all that we were holding in our working memory may be forgotten. Thus, adding more time to a task we didn’t want to do in the first place. Making it impossible to complete the task.

So, often it is the brain that is interfering in our ability to complete tasks and not our intelligence, age or state of overwhelm (although that has its own issues). Knowing that, we can be on the lookout for signs and use strategies and routines to mitigate its impact.

Brain and Body Check

First, we want to be sure our brain has everything it needs to be happy. The brain is continually sensing and responding to variations from the norm so it needs to have certain things like food, water, sleep, and safety to begin with. I would also add that stress can impact the brain as well. The higher the stress the less the brain can think and it sets off the fear alarms. Do what you can to be sure the brain and body have what they need and anticipate any needs that may come up while you are working.

Find What Helps Your ADHD Brain Focus

Check around you. Is your environment filled with distractions? Are there any changes you can make to reduce the irritating distractions and include some more helpful ones? Remove the clutter, face away from the window, turn off the TV, add some music, maybe add a few photos that make you smile or a small plant for some fresh oxygen. Read a previous post called Hack Your Workspace for more helpful tips.

Make A Plan

I confess, I am a paper planner (with digital backup) enthusiast. It doesn’t matter if you prefer a notebook, planner, digital calendar, master task list or a spreadsheet but you need to find a way to hold onto the tasks, appointments and ideas that are important to you. If you ask your brain to hold that info, it can hold 5-7 things until something distracts it and your working memory deletes it all. I am sure your task list is longer than 7 items. (The master task list that is….not the plan for today.) Whether you like to plan your day the night before or just start fresh in the morning – here are three questions to ask yourself.

  1. What are my 3 priorities for today?
  2. How much time do I have to spend on each?
  3. Where can I schedule the time to work on each into my day? (Taking into account my energy levels and other commitments in the day)

Work the Plan

Now that you took the time to make the plan, respect it. Don’t ignore the timeframes, if you scheduled a task for a specific time, do it then. Do not wait until you “feel” like it – because that rarely (if ever) happens. In fact, if you are easily distracted, you may want to set an alarm for 15 minutes. Then check in with yourself that you are still focused on the task.

Each task should be a single step and you may have several for each project. If you think about what the end needs to look like, you can easily work backwards to get the individual tasks that need to happen. Each project has a beginning, middle and ending, all the way to the clean up of any materials you used and other completion tasks.

Adults may be able to maintain focus for about 90 minutes, but if that is not you then be sure to break your “on task” time into manageable blocks and take breaks in between. The Pomodoro method uses 25-minute work blocks and a 5-minute break in between. After 4-Pomodoros, a longer break is encouraged. You can see how it works by joining our Work it Wednesday Focus group Wednesdays at 10am ET.

Whenever you stop working for the day, take the time to “close out the day.” That means leave a note of where to pick up tomorrow. Figure out your priorities for tomorrow and any responsibilities you may have at specific times. Check off what you completed. Savor the moment. That’s right, too often we don’t take time to appreciate and congratulate ourselves on what we did accomplish. A “done list” really helps us see our successes and can be motivating too. Clear off your workspace and set it up for tomorrow.

Work with your brain and your energy levels by frequently checking in with yourself. Take time to reward yourself and recharge your batteries. There will always be more to do, just make sure it is worthy of your time and effort.

Three Keys to Being More Productive – From Our Archives

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What does productivity mean to you? Yes, it is about getting things done, but more importantly it is about getting the right things done at the right time.  It is also about making decisions. I am sure you know the feeling of being busy all day long only to wonder at the end of the day what you actually did.  Being busy is not necessarily being productive.  Today’s reality is that we are constantly being bombarded by stimulus (ex. cellphones, internet, social media, news, blog posts, emails, texts, electronic billboards, pop up ads, etc.) we have to be vigilante that all that stimulus doesn’t distract us from the important things. It’s a bit like that dog in the movie UP that yells “squirrel” and runs off after another distraction.

According to two online dictionary definitions, Productivity is “the quality state or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance or bring forth goods and services.” Or it means you “do a lot.” Both of those sound like being a robot; preprogrammed to action without thinking about whether or not what we are doing is important. How do you avoid that?

  1. First step is to set clear boundaries. That word has been overused somewhat but if you think of yourself with a fence around you and only one gate to get in that you control you will get a better idea of what I mean. All this outside stimulus just finds its way to our attention which takes our focus off of the important things or even just the things we want to do. With you in control you get to open the gate and let in only that which is important to you at the time. Or you can be standing in the middle of an open field with no fence and have all that “stuff” assault you from every direction. Which would you prefer?

Ways to set boundaries:

  • Handle or prevent those interruptions that you can control and find a way to limit or cut short those that have you at the mercy of someone else.
  • Turn off your alerts and decide when you will be available.
  • Check email three or four times a day, not constantly
  • Decide if “x” is worth your time, energy or effort before you say yes. Sure, you may want to do it all but at what price?
  • Make/take time for yourself
  1. Taking care of yourself is the next key. I understand you want to do all and be all but you can be of no help if you become ill or feel resentment. Self-care means making the time to exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep, socialize and do the things that lower your stress level. Being organized makes your life easier too, why do things the hard way when you don’t have to?

Self-Care keys:

  • Create morning and evening routines that serve you that include a specific bedtime and wake up time.
  • Filter out the extraneous stuff. Let go of commitments you are no longer interested in or are of a lower priority.
  • Set aside some time for yourself. (Sometimes that means locking the bathroom door – do whatever it takes).
  • Organize so that you have efficient systems to handle the everyday stuff. Your home needs to serve you, not make your life more difficult. Make sure you can find what you need quickly and return it to that place when you’re done.
  • Choose wisely grasshopper, as you are trading away time that can never be regained.
  1. Planning and Prioritizing will keep the important things on the top of the list. Having a plan will keep you on track. By creating your list the night before you have time to think about how important those tasks are to you. Without a plan your day can go in any direction but often it is not the direction you want it to go in. Priorities should be based on your goals and dreams as you work towards creating the life of those dreams.

Ways to Plan and Prioritize:

  • It’s okay to not be able to do it all – some things should never be done, and some can easily be put off as long as you are the one that decides. Delegate what you can.
  • Prioritize tasks in a way that honors who you are.
  • Schedule in even the tiniest tasks. If you color code your calendar you can see where the majority of your energy and time is going.
  • Estimate how long you think a task will take and then time yourself. Don’t forget to include commuting time, prep time and clean up time.
  • Be realistic in the amount you can accomplish in one day. Start small and build your momentum by getting the higher priorities or the more distasteful (but important) ones done early.

Keeping these keys in mind will help you live the life you dream of. Good luck.

Three Keys to Being More Productive

by

jugglingwomanWhat does productivity mean to you? Yes, it is about getting things done, but more importantly it is about getting the right things done at the right time.  It is also about making decisions. I am sure you know the feeling of being busy all day long only to wonder at the end of the day what you actually did.  Being busy is not necessarily being productive.  Today’s reality is that we are constantly being bombarded by stimulus (ex. cellphones, internet, social media, news, blog posts, emails, texts, electronic billboards, pop up ads, etc.) we have to be vigilante that all that stimulus doesn’t distract us from the important things. It’s a bit like that dog in the movie UP that yells “squirrel” and runs off after another distraction.

According to two online dictionary definitions, Productivity is “the quality state or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance or bring forth goods and services.” Or it means you “do a lot.” Both of those sound like being a robot; preprogrammed to action without thinking about whether or not what we are doing is important. How do you avoid that?

  1. First step is to set clear boundaries. That word has been overused somewhat but if you think of yourself with a fence around you and only one gate to get in that you control you will get a better idea of what I mean. All this outside stimulus just finds its way to our attention which takes our focus off of the important things or even just the things we want to do. With you in control you get to open the gate and let in only that which is important to you at the time. Or you can be standing in the middle of an open field with no fence and have all that “stuff” assault you from every direction. Which would you prefer?

Ways to set boundaries:

  • Handle or prevent those interruptions that you can control and find a way to limit or cut short those that have you at the mercy of someone else.
  • Turn off your alerts and decide when you will be available.
  • Check email three or four times a day, not constantly
  • Decide if “x” is worth your time, energy or effort before you say yes. Sure, you may want to do it all but at what price?
  • Make/take time for yourself
  1. Taking care of yourself is the next key. I understand you want to do all and be all but you can be of no help if you become ill or feel resentment. Self-care means making the time to exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep, socialize and do the things that lower your stress level. Being organized makes your life easier too, why do things the hard way when you don’t have to?

Self-Care keys:

  • Create morning and evening routines that serve you that include a specific bedtime and wake up time.
  • Filter out the extraneous stuff. Let go of commitments you are no longer interested in or are of a lower priority.
  • Set aside some time for yourself. (Sometimes that means locking the bathroom door – do whatever it takes).
  • Organize so that you have efficient systems to handle the everyday stuff. Your home needs to serve you, not make your life more difficult. Make sure you can find what you need quickly and return it to that place when you’re done.
  • Choose wisely grasshopper, as you are trading away time that can never be regained.
  1. Planning and Prioritizing will keep the important things on the top of the list. Having a plan will keep you on track. By creating your list the night before you have time to think about how important those tasks are to you. Without a plan your day can go in any direction but often it is not the direction you want it to go in. Priorities should be based on your goals and dreams as you work towards creating the life of those dreams.

Ways to Plan and Prioritize:

  • It’s okay to not be able to do it all – some things should never be done, and some can easily be put off as long as you are the one that decides. Delegate what you can.
  • Prioritize tasks in a way that honors who you are.
  • Schedule in even the tiniest tasks. If you color code your calendar you can see where the majority of your energy and time is going.
  • Estimate how long you think a task will take and then time yourself. Don’t forget to include commuting time, prep time and clean up time.
  • Be realistic in the amount you can accomplish in one day. Start small and build your momentum by getting the higher priorities or the more distasteful (but important) ones done early.

Keeping these keys in mind will help you live the life you dream of. Good luck.