I’ve heard many people talk about how they just do not have enough time in the day to keep their commitments. As a youth pastor, I simply sighed when they cancelled on me last minute. As a church tech team lead, I got frustrated when I had to tell my, then, fiancé I had to go run something instead of sit with her. And as a consultant, I was able to fill my true role and admonish the volunteers who did not own their commitments.
The real concern isn’t “not enough time” but what you are honestly valuing. If you had 10 days to fix a legal problem or go to jail, magically, you would find the time. So for the things you commit to, figure it out. And if you’re not sure, here is an infographic.
Side note: I love that I am writing this article on my lunch break at work while watching YouTube. I’m breaking so many rules while doing this. But’s done and we can move forward with life.
Here are three of my favorite random but genius ways to improve your productivity.
- I have yet to correctly implement the Pomodoro Technique, but it allows for you to focus for periods of time and only on short breaks become distracted. I have too slow of a start-up to be successful at it.
- Say no. As in, stop over-committing. The concern is that you say yes without having margin or boundaries and all of a sudden you are giving C+ performance to too many different parts of your life. (It’s also the Good To Great model.)
- Disorganization on your desk actually hinders your productivity. Get rid of the distractions. (Including Facebook!)
What do you do to continue to be productive?
[via Hubspot]
Ben Boles says
I read a great article this week about Ivy Lee’s 6 Item Todo List http://www.inc.com/betsy-mikel/productivity-tip-pick-exactly-6-things-to-accomplish-today-no-more-no-less.html
Ive also been reading about how personality types affect how we approach productivity. In this article (http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/what’s-your-productivity-personality-type/) it states that GTD and other system based productivity processes are affective for a small minority of people with the ISTJ (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) and how someone like me ENFP (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving) will have the most problems with a system based productivity system.
We don’t really talk about how personality types should influence how we try to accomplish tasks or how personality types will impact how we our those who work for us/ with us. I wonder why that is.
Eric Dye says
I think personality types are overlooked in MANY areas of life. You’ve brought up a good point in applying it to productivity. Checking your link now…I’m very curious! 😀
Greg says
I understand many of the suggestions on the infographic, but can somebody help me understand why you have to move away from incandescent bulbs to newer technology? I actually work better under the warmer tones provided by incandescent lighting. The inherent flickers from CFL’s gives me a headache over time and I don’t like (what I perceive as harshness) of the cool, white/blue of most LED desk lamps.
Jeremy Smith says
The flicker is definite difficult but they found that the brighter light may offer more productivity.
Eric Dye says
I also use an LED bulb. It’s amazing how such a stuble thing makes a big difference.