Thursday, February 10, 2011

CAPTAIN PRODUCTIVE TIPS AND TRICKS

CAPTAIN PRODUCTIVE TIPS AND TRICKS

As discussed in yesterday's post, procrastination and time sucking demons can be a real p.i.t.a (pain in the ass). We all face them at one point or another in our lives.

Here are a few tips for today to help you break through the barrier and get closer to project completion.

1. Just do it - Seriously. Stop thinking about how much work it will be to do and just do it. Sometimes you have to literally force yourself to take the first step, but that first step is what makes the difference. Take it.

2. Feeling stuck? Remove yourself from the situation and take your work to a new area. Sometimes our physical environment can play a big role in our productivity...especially if we work from home. Those dishes that need to be washed and the laundry that needs to be folded can seem so important when that pressing report needs to be completed and you're stuck.

3. Get physical - often times procrastination comes from a deep rooted place of habit. It's where we've conditioned ourselves to go when things get tough. It's natural. You're body and mind have their guard up against uncomfortable things, kind of like a survival technique. In order to break through the barrier, physical activity can often open your mind to new possibilities and provide you with the motivation you need to push through. Working out releases endorphins and makes you feel like a champ who can accomplish anything!

4. Make a list and keep it short. Often times people spew out all of their "things to do" on a giant list that looks impossible. By keeping lists short, you feel more of a sense of control and motivation. I will write an entire post on list making techniques soon.

5. Set a timer. I found a website called The Pomodoro Technique and it is an awesome resource. I've been using my microwave timer for years. Here's how it works. You have a task that you've been putting off (sorting papers, writing, maybe even exercise) and the whole scope of it is overwhelming you to the point where you don't even know where to start. You set your timer for 20 or 25 minutes. Press start and begin your task. You only have to focus for the allotted amount of time. But here's the catch: you can't have any distractions. You must turn off your phone, disable your internet, put away the chips and focus SOLELY on the task at hand for the duration of the timer. Once it goes off, you take a short break and then you can set the timer again if you'd like. If not, you can celebrate the fact that you dedicated 20 minutes to a difficult task...that is usually motivation enough to keep going. Starting is always the heardest part.

The point of this exercise is that it allows you to create space to single mindedly focus on one task at a time.

Because, I don't know if you heard or not, but multi-tasking is dead.

More tips coming soon!

Here's to getting sh*t done,

Kyle

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

FIGHTING PROCRASTINATION AND THE TIME SUCKING DEMONS...

FIGHTING PROCRASTINATION AND THE TIME SUCKING DEMONS...

I have become a little obsessed with momentum, impact, goals, productivity, efficiency and time-management as of late (or for always, whatevs). I have been reading tons of incredible blogs and books about these topics and I am soaking up tons of useful and applicable information. World domination is coming soon...;)

I read something today in my latest book called "The Art of Non-Conformity" by Chris Guillebeau that really resonated.

Chris was addressing those non-productive days when you just sit there and waste time, but you put in the hours so you somehow justify to yourself that you made progress. He went on to say that if he was to log how he spent his time on those days, the list would look something like this:

1. Shuffle papers around

2. Leave Gmail or Outlook open all day

3. Read the news...over and over, from multiple websites

4. Become upset about an email thread and spend 30 minutes crafting an elegant reply (bonus points for using passive aggressive language).

5. Rearrange file cabinet

6. Pay bills and check online banking

7. Check up on a few of my favourite blogs.

I gasped and laughed out loud at each point because I have done them all! I had a particularly loud belly chuckle at point #4. I totally do this! Do you? The worst part about it for me is that I sometimes craft the cheeky email and never even send it...I just needed to get my reaction out in words. Sometimes you just have to get it out...but not sending is always the better option. Personal literary vent sessions are good - but only for the duration of the time it takes to write them. Then it's time to move on.

If there is no focal point for the day, a plan of attack or a list of action items to complete then it is so easy to get caught up in wasting the day away with mundane, meaningless, but time filling tasks.

So, how many of the activities from the list have you sinfully taken part in?

And what are some tips you have to overcome those time sucking demons?

Yours in productivity,

Kyle

Monday, February 07, 2011

PRODUCTIVITY

PRODUCTIVITY

Waking up at 5am. Check.

Writing in my journal. Check.

Reading some of my awesome new book "The Art of Non-Conformity". Check.

Spending some quality time with my love. Check.

Eating a delicious and healthy lunch. Check.

Going for a run and doing some headstands. Soon to be a check and check.

Getting all caught up on emails. Check.

Being proactive and taking initiative, otherwise known as creating opportunity. Check.

Staying focused on one task at a time. Almost a check.

Having an extemely rewarding and productive start to the week.

CHECK.