If you're overwhelmed with a deluge of daily tasks, it's hard to find the time to do the things that really matter to you. Here are a few unconventional ideas to make more time and space in your life.
1. Be mediocre sometimes. Some things just don't have to perfect. Find a way to let them be good enough, and spend that extra time on perfecting things that matter to you.
2. Do less things. I know, that doesn't sound like much of a productivity tip, but think of all of the things you do each day that really wouldn't have to get done. Stop doing them, teach someone else to do them, or see #1: do them at a mediocre level.
3. Stop multitasking. It may feel like you are getting more done, but really your brain is quickly shifting between the tasks. You can never go deep and do your best work if you are allowing yourself to be distracted. Do one thing at a time.
Small exception: If a task really is mindless and requires no concentration from you (like housework or commuting), then make that time productive by listening to a podcast or having a conversation.
4. Don't start right away. Instead, pause to decide what is most important. Whether you are planning your whole day or just the next hour, decide exactly what needs to happen. If you are clear on your immediate goal, it will motivate you to keep going instead of being tempted by social media breaks.
5. Stop deciding. You have a finite amount of attention to devote to decisions, so save that decision-making power for things that matter. Wonder why Steve Jobs was always in the same outfit? He didn't want to "waste" a decision on deciding what to wear.
If you create patterns ahead of time - like a rotation of what to have for dinner or a set time for the gym - you don't "waste" any of your decisions on those things. You also may end up healthier since your pattern will direct you toward healthier food and more frequent exercise, even on days you wouldn't have had the energy to "decide" to live healthy.
Which one will you try first? Find one that resonates with you, and try it today. Why not tomorrow? Well, procrastination doesn't lead to higher productivity either.
Ready for more? Use this handy dandy planning sheet to get more done and get more meaning out of each day. Just a couple minutes of reflection as you start your day can be enough to make the difference.
Wondering where I got all of these ideas? Some are through reading the research of others as I got two master's degrees, and others have developed through over a decade of coaching and presenting to leaders at these and other fine institutions.
Want to be as productive as the leaders listed above? The first step is to use the planning sheet in the download. After that, let's talk.
© 2017 | Legal Information