Ask the Readers: Best Off-the-wall Productivity Tips?

Abhijeet from Jeet Blog Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:14 pm

I think one of the best productivity tips which worked for me is creating important folders in windows taskbar. I work full time online and this tip has saved me a lot of time.

I also wrote about it on my blog: http://www.jeetblog.com/productivity-tip-create-a-new-toolbar-for-important-folders/

Vered Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:18 pm

I don’t know if this is original - it seems as though there are no original thoughts left in this world - but once I learned to SLOW DOWN a little and take mini breaks throughout the day, I became significantly more productive.

It seemed counter-intuitive at first, but taking mini-breaks and lowering the pressure that I put on myself to produce results, has resulted in significantly higher output. Go figure. :)

Marelisa Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:23 pm

I think that productivity can be thought of from a different perspective: instead of finding ways to do more, of acting more efficiently, of going after what you want in a way that takes less steps, and so on, you should try to be more “attracting” to the things you want.

By putting yourself in harmony, quieting mind-chatter, waiting for the moment to be right, letting go of the notion of competition (the notion that you have to rush or someone else will get to the prize before you do), the notion that for you to win someone else has to lose (which is basically the notion of scarcity), and so on, you clear the path so that what you want can move toward you, instead of you always moving toward it. I guess this is more of a spiritual hack then a productivity hack, but I hope it helps. :-)

Jeff Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:25 pm

The internet is the enemy to my productivity.

So here’s what I did.

I have two computers, one laptop and one desktop. I have them in two separate rooms. The laptop is for play, the desktop is for work.

Whenever I feel the urge to mindlessly browse sites or check my email, I guiltlessly allow myself, except I must go to the other room and use my laptop to do so for as long as I want.

The desktop is for serious work only.

Works pretty well.

Jeff Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:28 pm

Not subscribing to blogs like these and, instead, using that time to actually BE productive…no offense.

Adam Sicinski - Study Matrix Art Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:32 pm

First of all, I think that productivity has more to do with a state of mind, rather than a specific list of strategies that we implement on a daily basis. If we are constantly reacting to events than we will struggle to maintain our productive habits no matter what techniques we utilize. On the other hand if we are proactive in our actions, than this will bring us a much better sense of control over our daily tasks.

Secondly, productivity is more about what we avoid doing rather than what we do consistently. I’m not saying that utilizing productivity techniques and strategies is wrong. I’m rather saying that we partake in so many unproductive behaviors on a daily basis, that if we just took the time to remove these habits from our daily actions than our productivity levels would immediately climb.

For those who are interested, I have prepared a free mind map about Productivity and Time Management Techniques that we can utilize as a desktop wallpaper reference mind map. If you scroll down to the bottom of the article I have also included links to a number of additional articles and references that can help you to boost your productivity levels.

Shanel Yang Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:35 pm

I changed my screen saver to have the words: “Make It Work” tumble around. It’s beautiful and inspiring at the same time. I also changed my wallpaper to a beautiful winter wedding dress that I want have custom made for me someday if I ever get married. That motivates me not only to save the money I would need for that but to also stick to my latest diet and exercise routines b/c as the ladies know winter white in layers is not exactly a slimming look! I’ll have to lose quite a bit of weight to look good in that outfit. : )

Paul Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:38 pm

For me, starting my day with a self-care ritual is essential. In my case, it’s shaving (which I started doing after reading a guest post about “classic wetshaving” here). But whether it’s shaving or exercise or meditation or even a luxurious moment with a cup of coffee, starting the day by taking a moment for yourself changes your outlook for the rest of the day.

Ramesh | The Geek Stuff Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:40 pm

In my opinion, off-the-wall productivity tips are good for short term. Unless you have a good productivity framework/system (like GTD, ZTD) implemented, the productivity tips are not going to pay off in a long term.

if you have the GTD or ZTD implemented and when you relate a off-the-wall productivity tips to the framework, they will stay for a long term.

Ramesh
The Geek Stuff

Josh Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:41 pm

Getting rid of Digg and StumbleUpon or other aimless internet browsing. A good office chair and well as a consistent schedule and time frame to work on given tasks. Eliminating email addiction (still working on it).

Katie Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:55 pm

I have the words ” Do What You Have To Do, so you can DO what you WANT to do” as my screensaver at work.

Terry Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:55 pm

Since I easily get sucked into the internet, I’ve started using the 3-2-1 widget to break my work and play into 15 minute segments. I work for 15 minutes, the timer goes off, and I decide if I want to continue working or play a little bit. If I choose work, I reset the timer and keep going. If I choose play, I set the timer for 10 or 15 minutes, and read some blogs until the timer goes off again. Then I make the same decision over. Usually, I find that I want to keep working. forcing myself to choose between work and play so often keeps me from playing, since I feel guilty for making that choice.

Terry Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:56 pm

here’s a link to 3-2-1, for those interested: http://www.baldgeeks.com/3-2-1.htm

Michael Moniz Says:

June 19th, 2008, 20:58 pm

For me it is all about the vision. It is so easy to get caught up in all the details and day to day to forget why you are doing it all.

I use a vision board to keep me moving forward and towards my goals. It reminds me each day why I do the things I do. It helps me not to lose myself and allow not to feel so stuck or even tied down. It reminds me of the control I have over my life and that this is part of the plan to get me to the vision.

Of course your vision can not be far out there. You have to be able to build on short term wins to keep you going and moving on. My vision is the future but the near future. Makes it easier to be motivated.

Once one item is achieved, I celebrate and move on to the next while adding a new one.

Thomas Herold Says:

June 19th, 2008, 21:29 pm

Don’t seek to be more productive at all - simply drop it. Do some self inquiry and find out what’s your strength, talents and unique gifts. After that think about how these talents can serve others. Then start living it…

Cheers

Thomas Herold
CEO Dream Manifesto

Laurie Says:

June 19th, 2008, 21:33 pm

I work with a friend in the room who is also working. We are able to hold each other accountable that way.

Stephen Smith Says:

June 19th, 2008, 21:50 pm

>>Jeff (20:25) that is a really good idea, for those that can manage two computers. Thanks for sharing.

Sara Says:

June 19th, 2008, 22:04 pm

I pretend that I’m on Project Runway: Office Edition and Tim Gunn is telling me to make it work. That way, I feel some urgency (I have a vivid imagination) but I’m still having fun, which I hope comes through in all the work I do.

Amberlynn Says:

June 19th, 2008, 22:10 pm

Turn on some fast, happy music, like the old punk band The Toy Dolls, or They Might Be Giants, and just GO. When I have a silly, happy, upbeat soundtrack to my activities, it makes it easy.

I avoid music that really captures me, makes me want to listen, or that gets emotional. I like music too much and the wrong music will make me stop and pay attention, instead of just moving to the beat.

Mary-Lynn Says:

June 19th, 2008, 22:14 pm

I know this may seem old-fashioned, but if I simply write myself a to-do list in the morning, I seem to get a whole lot more done. It’s so easy to get distracted. My list keeps me focused on what needs to be done today.

derek Says:

June 19th, 2008, 22:23 pm

We ditched the boob tube years ago, and that made a world of difference. I gave up newspapers and magazines and only allowed fiction reading right before bed. A short intense workout everyday has upped my energy tremendously, so I veg-out much less and get more done.

derek Says:

June 19th, 2008, 22:27 pm

Oh, and making love more often… Works wonders.

Peter Durand Says:

June 19th, 2008, 22:28 pm

I moved closer in to work and now can walk again. I still get to the office at the same time, but my mind is clear.

Another work hack that works — I try to do my job and think about whom to serve.

This is a big change, one that is still taking work, namely: Letting go of what I think *should* happen, and being present with what *is* happening.

Zen and meditation have been guiding this novice.

stringy Says:

June 19th, 2008, 22:36 pm

For people who prefer audio-input to visual-input (ie the kind of people who use voicemail to remind themselves of things rather than email): teach yourself new habits by learning little songs that will remind you to do them.

Example 1: I sing Tim Minchin’s Canvas Bags song every time I go shopping - it’s become a habit that I associate with the act, so now when I get ready to go shopping I automatically start singing the chorus “Take your canvas bags to the supermarket”, which reminds me to actually take the bags instead of leaving them at home.

Example 2: when I’m doing a quick tidy-up of my house, I sing “Put that thing back where it came from or so help me”, from Monsters Inc. Now it just jumps into my head whenever I see something lying around out of place, and reminds me that I need to put it away.

ioahaij Says:

June 19th, 2008, 23:13 pm

closing my google reader, or setting up a alarm to limit the amount of time surfing.

Alex Shalman Says:

June 19th, 2008, 23:46 pm

I look myself up in my room, with eight cups of coffee, and do not leave for any reason other than to pee. At the end of 16 hours if my project is not complete I go to sleep. I wake up, get eight cups of coffee, and sit in my room for an additional 16 hours. Rinse, repeat.

Marc and Angel Hack Life Says:

June 20th, 2008, 0:04 am

We always cook in bulk for the entire week on Sunday evenings. Having our food already prepared is a huge time saver and stress reducer during our busy work nights. I wrote a bit more about it here:

http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/06/09/10-ways-to-save-10-minutes-daily/

Mike King Says:

June 20th, 2008, 0:08 am

Thinking about productive writing. Try changing the way you write DRASTICALLY so you’re learning something new while writing.

For example, change your keyboard layout to Dvorak or learn to write with your opposite hand on paper. Its a challenge and keeps you focused to learn by keep on writing.

LivSimpl Says:

June 20th, 2008, 0:22 am

I also don’t think this is original to LivSimpl, but one of the best things I’ve found is to mentally prepare ahead of time for the task at hand.

Before leaving the office, I’ll make plan of what I’m going to do the next morning. Knowing what I’m going to do as soon as I sit down at my desk helps me get straight to work instead of becoming distracted.

http://www.LivSimpl.com

Jarrod - Warrior Development Says:

June 20th, 2008, 0:27 am

Inner Peace and Purpose

They are not a trick? Oh well…

Thomas Liu Says:

June 20th, 2008, 0:41 am

GTDers all know about the two minute rule: items requiring more than two minutes to complete become next action items which will then be scheduled, filed as someday,,maybe, or put on a list to be completed sometime. I’ve found that my list of incomplete next actions sometimes grows to a disturbing size.

To prune the list, I devote 2-3 hours to what I dub a 2-minute drill. Basically I commit 2 minutes to each incomplete next action. Several outcomes may occur:

I complete the action - it only took 2 minutes
I realize the action/project is no longer important, and it gets dumped.
I make at least 2 minutes of progress on a project, and gain the satisfaction of moving it forward.
I ignore the 2 minute bell and make SIGNIFICANT progress on a project that was stagnating.

Try this out the next time it seems like you’re not making enough progress on your list of important but not yet scheduled next actions list.

sunflowergrrl Says:

June 20th, 2008, 0:59 am

did this come from zen to done or somewhere else? i can’t recall, but here it is: pick the 3 most important things you have to do at work each day and race yourself to get them done by noon. don’t go to lunch until they are done.

Tom Stine | Living from Consciousness Says:

June 20th, 2008, 1:19 am

I have two:

1. Act as if you have all the time in the world.

2. Stop trying to be productive. Let go of the entire notion of productivity. Do what you have to do. Then do what comes next. And so on.

Sara Says:

June 20th, 2008, 2:02 am

^ I like Tom’s.

Mine was more to do with sleep. I used to be of the mentality that sleep is essential to productivity. Then I realized I was getting all the sleep in the world but not making enough morning time for myself. So, it sounded weird at first, but it was actually better for me to get less sleep. I got yoga done in the mornings, had plenty of time to shower and relax, and avoiding the rush in the morning from sleeping in made me so much more healthy.

Jenny Blake Says:

June 20th, 2008, 2:06 am

Use consistent names for the folders on your computer, your bookmarks, your email labels - even your paper files - etc. That way no matter what format the file is in, you know where to look to find it!

Julia Says:

June 20th, 2008, 2:07 am

For awhile, I limited my online time by never plugging my laptop in when getting home (or to the hotel) from work. If I didn’t get done what I wanted online before the battery ran out, too bad. There’s always tomorrow.

Miguel de Luis Says:

June 20th, 2008, 2:25 am

Draft with pen and paper, final version on computer, hit F11 (full screen), as that ensures a minimun of distractions.

With complex or literary text, always revise on a print-out.

Dustin Says:

June 20th, 2008, 2:31 am

Heh — I started blogging about productivity.Now, if I eed to know how to do something or if I just need a kick in the pants, I figure it out and I write a post about it. I learn tons of new stuff, and more importantly, I learn a lot about myself — my hangups, my weaknesses, my strengths, and what to do about/with them all.

Thirty Days Challenger Says:

June 20th, 2008, 3:26 am

I think waking up early having a warm shower eating healthy , exercising , put a time table …. all that helps
but on top of all that being faithful helps the most

Andrew Scotchmer Says:

June 20th, 2008, 4:02 am

Well about two year’s ago I switched my computer’s OS from Windows to Ubuntu (linux).

They have a great productivity tool in my opinion: virtual desktops.

When you have many windows and applications open, the task bar in Windows can get a bit crowded to say the least and sometimes I’ve had to open several just to find what I wanted.

With virtual desktops, each window or application can be opened on it’s own desktop making finding the needed application just one click away.

Bamboo Forest Says:

June 20th, 2008, 4:12 am

Make tea or coffee in the morning. Make something you love! It will help you to get out of bed early (:

Not so original. But, for me, tea in the morning is a real joy!

Farblade Says:

June 20th, 2008, 4:58 am

I’d have to say, it would be facing every challenge with the thought that, if I look poorly at it, I’ll perform poorly at confrontation. One’s outlook often affects the outcome, especially during the hard part of the challenge.

Orchid64 Says:

June 20th, 2008, 5:01 am

I try to recognize that there are different types of fatigue and respond to them appropriately. There’s actually need for sleep that is best dealt with by taking a nap and there is lethargy that comes from sitting down for too long. Getting up and doing something physical or spending some time on the treadmill helps deal with the latter. It helps clear my mind.

Also, when I feel overwhelmed by a job, I focus on how I’ve felt that way in the past, but the job finished and I was free. I calm myself by remembering that the stress and tiredness will pass as it has before. That helps remove the emotional blocks to getting the job dealt with more effectively.

Mike D. Says:

June 20th, 2008, 5:33 am

Reminding myself that when I’m on my death bed I won’t remember the days I was “productive,” but the days I actually lived and enjoyed life - without the tips to do it quicker, faster, easier and in a more organized fashion.

Life is not a dress rehearsal - this is it - as opposed to being more “productive,” I am working to be more purposeful.

ok Says:

June 20th, 2008, 6:20 am

When doing long stretches of work into the night - regular showers and walks outside work for me.

Jimbooo! Says:

June 20th, 2008, 6:32 am

I up my productivity by not sitting on my fat ass reading webpages about increasing my productivity, and actually doing some damn work.

Sounds crazy, I know. It’s highly effective though.

Jonathan Says:

June 20th, 2008, 6:45 am

When my email gets backed up, I take an approach that I learned from exercising, pyramids. I schedule throughout the day an email clearing task which should take no more than 10 minutes. First time I clear 10 emails, then 9, then 8, then 7, etc. These basically end up being fillers between tasks and by the end of the exercise 55 emails are cleared. I don’t do this all the time just when things get backed up and it feels like I’m in quicksand.

Matt Says:

June 20th, 2008, 7:01 am

a good way to improve productivity is to take a couple week vacation, take the time to really recharge the mental batteries. We don’t notice the effects of the daily grind on our lives but its there and a vacation helps bring back a measure of productivity for me.

MacEwen Says:

June 20th, 2008, 7:37 am

I like one of the new gmail labs tools called simply “addict” that intermittently throughout the day disables your inbox and makes you take a break. Because I use GTDInbox as my sorting tool, I can batch my email sessions and connect my google office suite to that labeling system. With Notifier and all the other features, its easy to leave gmail on all day. This tool keeps me from being totally ruled by other people’s messages… peep it in your gmail.

Go to Settings/Labs/Email Addict
by Michael D

Lets you take a break from email and chat by blocking the screen for fifteen minutes and making you invisible in chat.

It can be disorienting at first, but its an interesting experiment in turning your life over to a higher power.

Joost Says:

June 20th, 2008, 7:56 am

I agree with the people that say: Don’t try (very hard) to be productive. I just had a very crazy period in which I tried just about every system for productivity that I could find for a while before switching to another that promised more productivity. This went on and on until I almost did not get anything done anymore.

At that moment, I realized that I had a false sense of needing to be more productive. Looking back at my days in academia, I noticed that I had never missed a deadline, could find any document within 1 minute, kept all my commitments, did not make any commitments that I could not keep and that I worked really hard.

Needless to say, I’ve gone back to my old system that worked like a charm. I would urge anyone trying to be more productive to ask yourself the question: “Do I really need it?”

Sheila Says:

June 20th, 2008, 8:01 am

I don’t know if this is that off-the-wall, but when I’m confronted with a number of things to do, I try to use this as a compass to determine which task I should do next–I tackle the one that feels the “worst” to me. All other things being equal, the stickiest, oh-argh-I-don’t-want-to-deal-with-this task gets done first. Sometimes it helps if I coax myself into doing Just One Thing on it and then Just One More Thing once I’ve started and so on until it’s done.

This frees up a huge amount of mental energy because once that’s done, then it’s no longer looming in my head as I take on the other things.

Craig Says:

June 20th, 2008, 8:32 am

I’ll cheat and include two:

1. Sleep more.

No seriously. We live such busy, busy lives that we tend to eat into the margins of our day. How many of you have had a solid eight hours uninterrupted sleep more than three nights this week?

So set yourself a strict bedtime, and make it nine hours before you have to leave the house in the morning. If there is a prgram that’s on the TV later than that record it.Then, when your alarm rings you have a whole hour to do the getting up stuff.

A friend of mine has a plug timer on his TV set to turn it off at 10:30pm. It also prevents him forgetting to turn the plug-off and so reduces his carbon footprint.

2. Eat a hearty breakfast - 1000 calories minimum.

It is not only better for your waistline to fill up first thing than snack all day, but it also gives you that much needed acceleration up the energy curve following your good night’s sleep.

Since I followed this advice my days have been far more energetic and productive. My concentration levels have increased and I lost 6lbs in a month!

Mark - Creative Journey Cafe Says:

June 20th, 2008, 8:51 am

I sit in the chair, despite the urge to flee, and begin.

Pete Says:

June 20th, 2008, 9:11 am

I think the best productivity comes from a mix of self discipline and motivation.

I just wrote about ‘the secret ingredient to everything you want in life.’ I think it addresses the same issues from a unique point of view.

Many of us don’t understand that productivity starts with motivation, but needs self discipline to continue its consistency. Some days you will feel motivated, on others you will feel disciplined. but each day you will be productive. It works for me….check it out.

http://yinvsyang.com/the-secret-ingredient-to-everything-you-want-in-life/145/

DrCris Says:

June 20th, 2008, 9:19 am

I have two that I have used for a long time.

1. Plan your work hours and don’t let them spill.

At the end of each hour book a 10 mintue break and do something else in a different room. At 6, quit. Do the same routine every day. I did this when I was studying and my mind was much clearer than some of my friends as I allowed myself to do other things.

2. Minimise what you have to carry with you.

I work as a hospital doctor, so don’t usually have a desk. So I have to carry everything with me. For example, I have to carry a phone, so figure out if there is any way that I can use that phone to let me stop carrying something else. So I use my phone to take photos of some paperwork I would other have to take with me. If I have to carry a folder, can I attach my stethoscope to it in some way? Weekly audits of what you are carrying lets you slowly reduce the “stuff” that you need.

Pril Says:

June 20th, 2008, 9:26 am

How I stay more productive!
1. Having a partner who knows how to present that your being lazy! Having someone who says the kitchen is still dirty. Or are you ever going to mop the floor ECT… can come of wrong sometimes! So having your partner point it out in a good non judgmental way! I.e. Can I help you do anything to clean the kitchen, I don’t feel too good when the kitchen is a mess, and after this show did you want to clean the kitchen while I mop the floors in the bathrooms!
2. Limits – we all like to push our limits but if you’re in the right state of mind you can push your limits or see how much you can get done with in a time frame! I think this was done but how I do this is set the kitchen timer for 30 minutes, I turn off the phone! And I play some hyper music anything that gets me up and singing! So that way I get to sing dance and do 1 thing I don’t like to its multitasking without multitasking! LOL I even keep a log of what I got done to make me feel good in the amount of time and with that I get to try to push a little more out of myself… and rewards are always the best so after that 30 minute craziness.. I’m done for the day!
3. Don’t waste your energy!!! I’m a very lazy person… but at the same time I’m very productive! It’s a mood just like when you’re happy! I noticed when I’m very happy and excited I need to do something anything and I use that added energy in the house when I can. Whenever I notice I can’t sit still I do something proactive in my home! Weather it go through a junk drawer or just taking some clothing down stairs! If your foot is bouncing back and forth then that means your body don’t want to sit! So use it don’t waste that energy use it even if it is for 30 seconds!!! Sometimes going to the back of the closet grabbing a handful of clothing that’s been hidden I’ll go through and then I’m fine! Still happy and used energy!

Vishnu Says:

June 20th, 2008, 9:40 am

I second Vered’s comment.

Slow down, relax. Just concentrate on the task at hand and do not worry about anything else. If you slow down, time moves more slowly and you can get more done.

Genesis Says:

June 20th, 2008, 10:03 am

Since I have small children, my best productivity tip is to take a laptop, go into another room and shut the door. Put on headphones so you can`t hear them banging on the door and yelling for Mama and start working (leaving someone to actually watch the kids, of course).

Another thing that really helps me when I´m bogged down is to take a notepad, pen and a cup of coffee outside and sit down under a tree. Then I write down all the stuff that is bugging me and slowing me down. Once I have that list, I go back and work out solutions for them. Then I can go back to work with my mind nice and clear.

Dot H. Says:

June 20th, 2008, 10:05 am

I’ve never had a problem with productivity. My problem is knowing when to stop. My off-the-wall tip is that any activity that removes you from your frantic left-brain intellectual activity for a short period of time, even going to the bathroom, may give you a break long enough for your more intuitive right brain to step in with an overall perspective that cuts through all the details. My favorite such activity is a walk in the woods. Suddenly it all becomes clearer.

Edison and Einstein took frequent naps. Doesn’t work much in an office environment, though.

Emily Says:

June 20th, 2008, 10:09 am

I dress the part. Sounds childish, but I think I never grew out of playing “dress up”. For work around the house, I wear a bandana, old jeans and T-shirt (already with paintstains on them). For working out, I have certain clothes set aside that I can picture myself sweating in. For work, I make sure I’m primped and clean.

I noticed this pattern in myself when I got home one night and couldn’t write in my journal until I had changed into jeans and cozy sweater. With that, my mood changed, and so did the gears in my head.

Also, when I really have a project that I want to start and finish once I sit down to it, I put on the headphones to a satellite radio station and tune out everything around me until it’s done.

Kacper Says:

June 20th, 2008, 10:19 am

My best productivity trick is called “productive Saturday”. You can read more there: http://www.kacperwrzesniewski.com/productive-saturday-my-latest-lifehack/

Nicole Says:

June 20th, 2008, 10:30 am

Keep your inbox empty.

Three times a day I check email and I use Outlook’s categories to file away emails rather then let them sit in my inbox, Then I set specific times to work on certain categories (i.e. Leads, Marketing Resources, Client Followup…). That way I can focus on one function at a time and not worry about all the rest.

Lauren H. Says:

June 20th, 2008, 10:45 am

I second Emily’s comment. When I need to get something done, I’ll dress for it. The way I look really affects the way I run my day.

Aside from that, my trigger is having something to look forward to. Not in the long term, but rather, very soon. I’ll work through whatever I’m doing with a positive outlook because I’m excited and in a good mood thinking of what I get to do when I’ve completed the task.

This technique works for anything that I find unpleasant; so long as I have something that makes me happy afterword, then I’ll get through the bad parts beautifully.

Mrs. Micah Says:

June 20th, 2008, 10:46 am

Listen to new age/light music which doesn’t have enough of a theme to distract me but allows the wandering parts of my brain to focus on something. Then the rest of my brain can get down the business. Makes a huge difference.

Music w/lyrics or drama (whether it be pop, metal, or classical) generally impedes my progress.

kennesis Says:

June 20th, 2008, 10:56 am

The Rule of Three

I apply this to so many areas of my life and it works like a charm. One example is, the never ending list of things that need to get done around the house or elsewhere. A huge list is intimidating and it never seems like I get much done. If I write done just three things I get a sense of accomplishment and when they’re done and I can just add more. It’s amazing how much I get done this way.

The same can be applied to so much in life from starting new healthy habits, goals, marital focus - everything!

Amy Says:

June 20th, 2008, 10:59 am

I put on the Mozart for Meditation CD. When that is playing I can focus better for some reason. It clears all the other junk from my mind and allows me to get in the flow. I’m pretty scattered with out it, so when I know I need to spend some serious time on one task, I pop in the Mozart.

DiscoveredJoys Says:

June 20th, 2008, 11:07 am

You ask me why I live
In jade mountains.
I smile, unanswering.
My heart is calm.
Peach petals floating on the water,
Never come back.
There is a heaven and earth
Beyond the crowded town below.

- Li Bai (701-762)

Productivity - who benefits?

Teresa A Says:

June 20th, 2008, 11:13 am

I “trick” myself. I have taught my kids to do this when they are feeling unmotivated and unproductive as well. Let’s say my garage is a disaster. I cannot for the life of me bring myself to tackle this project. It is so over whelming. I “trick” myself into getting started by telling myself that I’ll just open the garage door. Then I tell myself I will find just one thing to throw out. One thing turns into two, which turns into three, etc. By that time, usually, I am caught up in the task and most of the time I will continue until finished. But whether or not I actually complete the task not important here. What is important is that I got started and atleast something was accomplished.

Teresa A Says:

June 20th, 2008, 11:17 am

Also, like many others here, I tend to get a lot more accomplished with music playing. I think it takes your mind off whatever is making the task unpleasant.

Ian Parker Says:

June 20th, 2008, 11:20 am

I recently switched to pencil/paper for accomplishing most tasks and moved all of my e-mail to GMail and stopped using an e-mail client to remove the distraction from the desktop, but I cannot say that I do anything terribly off-the-wall in terms of productivity.

What I could say is that it is worth taking up a new hobby once a week for about an hour. Pick something that you would normally never do or that you fear doing or you think you may not do well. Then do it. It’s amazingly refreshing because it moves your focus and clears stress and anxiety since you need to concentrate on something new and unusual. Also, you will probably find that it isn’t so hard as you initially thought. Not to mention you gain some fun new skills.

Balfour Says:

June 20th, 2008, 11:28 am

Great post. I don’t want to forget to read the rest of this, thus this comment, so followups will flow to my inbox.

Anne Says:

June 20th, 2008, 11:29 am

I do better things when I don’t think of them as “products”I have to be “productive”and “produce”—I do better things and am happier in the dong when i think of what’s ahead of me as good actions I can participate in, things that will have consequences—-as in, instead of “I have to be productive and write some important correspondence about problems at work before noon” I think to myself “Hmm, here is this letter I will write to my boss about what has been going on; if I do this, good things will happen: she will understand the situation better, there will be a record of it all, I can clarify things, I can help the situation move forward.” If I just change my thinking slightly and focus on the purposes and outcomes and reasons for acting, and on making good actions, it gets easy.

Also if I feel my brain slowing down, I stand up and do jumping jacks for one full minute, and stretch!

And I do use a timer—but not as a whip: really I use it to help me keep answering the question “how much energy will I devote to this thing now?” adn then to keep things in proportion. Something with a high purpose and bigger consequences deserves more time than answering routine emails, so I let the timer reflect my values in that way.

Thanks for all the good suggestions, everyone,

ckutzner Says:

June 20th, 2008, 11:46 am

Four things: Timers. Taking a walk. Using my cellphone as a dictaphone. Changing my work environment.

#1 A timer, software or usual kitchen timer, set for 15 minutes, keeps me focused. It’s easier to stay focused for three times 15 minutes with 1 minute break in between than for 45 minutes in a row.

#2 Taking a walk: German poet Gerhart Hauptmann used to take long walks (he called them “productive walks”), after which he usually dictated another chapter to his secretary. I adapted this habit when I worked on my magister thesis. Every time I felt stuck I went for a walk to think about my text, mumble random associations into my cellphone and record them. That not only provided me with open air and exercise, which by the way work wonders on a tired brain, but also with some alternation of environment (see tip #4). Also, walking seems to enhance “right-brain”-creativity, which may bring great ideas even for a scientific text.

#3 The dictaphone: Speaking a text instead of writing it down (while poring over the text already written, your books and library catalogues) seems to make your brain work in a different way. Speaking focuses me on what I really want to say, and say it in my own words, and it brings up thoughts I’d never come across (or discard in the very first instant) when sitting in front of my computer. Usually I get to the very essential when just talking to my phone’s memory.

#4 Change the working environment: If you ever experienced the quiet of a good library reading room, you’ll know what I’m speaking of.

Joy Says:

June 20th, 2008, 11:59 am

I run up and down the stairs for 2-3 min every hour or so at work. It gets my blood flowing, my butt isn’t the shape of my chair and I feel I’m getting more done FOR ME in a day than just work.

Janice C. Cartier Says:

June 20th, 2008, 12:13 pm

I love the make tea suggestion. It is simple and lovely.

Lately, 2 minutes have kept me sane. It comes from GTD, but with a twist. What can I actually do in two minutes? You will surprise yourself answering that question about yourself.

So little moments are a great resource, as are large moments of doing “nothing”, but being. Renewal is absolutely essential.

( I love the dress the part too. )

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

June 20th, 2008, 12:31 pm

I’ve found that the best way to manage my time (and my stress) has been to focus on things that really matter. It’s about knowing what I absolutely have to do and what can either be postponed, delegated, or done away with altogether. It’s about knowing what to take seriously and what to let slide. It’s about taking care of the big things so the little ones take care of themselves and the really little ones don’t bother me at all.

Why do anything else? Why be one of those people who knows more about Hollywood’s hottest couple than they do about their own family and friends? Why be one of those people who spends hours and hours watching the latest reality show but never has time to take a walk or read a book? Those things aren’t important, so why not spend time focusing on the things that are?

(More in Work in Progress)

Enrique S Says:

June 20th, 2008, 13:00 pm

Whenever I’m faced with an unappealing job, I do what I do best - procrastinate. I find when I limit the available time to complete the job, I can crank my motivation up. The closer that I get to a deadline, the harder I work, and I find I’m more efficient.

Jonathan B. Says:

June 20th, 2008, 13:50 pm

I like to give myself a time limit for a task, set a timer, and try to complete it as fast as possible. Basically I race myself. This is a good way to focus for me.

David Says:

June 20th, 2008, 13:58 pm

Katie said WAAAY up thread: ‘I have the words ” Do What You Have To Do, so you can DO what you WANT to do” as my screensaver at work.’

Wow. I read that and it really hit home. I enjoy my job but work in general is just a whipping… so those words really bring it home for me.

James Says:

June 20th, 2008, 15:07 pm

I’m doing an entire productivity tips series on my blog at the moment that covers a few suggestions (listed below). Check them out here for more details on them. So far I have…

Start something and finish it.
Deal with the obstacles in your path as they appear.
Define what ‘done’ actually means.
Reward yourself for getting stuff done.
Take a break and recharge.
Do the crappy stuff first.
Apply some pressure.

Some of them are more standard than others. Getting all the horrible, nasty work done first thing so you have the rest of the day to do the fun stuff and relax is particularly effective, and I guess is a tip that doesn’t get that much coverage. Working under pressure can be effective too, though because if you don’t manage it properly it can have adverse effects it doesn’t get discussed a lot.

Rick - Tripping the Muse Says:

June 20th, 2008, 15:09 pm

I agree with what Nicole stated above. My biggest productivity boost has been in keeping my inbox clean at work. I tend to get at least 60-75 emails a day on average ranging from important to complete time-wasters. My approach was inspired by GTD. Emails fall into one of three folders. “Action”, “Someday”, and “Waiting For”. If I can’t respond to an emails request within a couple of minutes it goes into “Action” for later. “Someday” is usually things I may get to but don’t want to completely ignore. “Waiting For” is for tasks I delegate and can’t pick up until I receive a response. For me a clean in-box equals a clean mind that is free to concentrate on the immediate.

Nicole Says:

June 20th, 2008, 15:33 pm

Rick, I engorge your to take your process a step further with categories.

I used to use folders as well, however, I was loosing emails because I did not know if they were in a action folder or in the client’s folder. With categories you can file them away where they will eventually end up and then categorize them.

Then your create a “Search Folder” for each category. When you are done with an email un-categorize it and it will be removed from the action folder and it is still sitting in its final resting place.

Also, look into Xobni. That is the best tool for email junkies like ourselves.

http://www.xobni.com/

Heather Says:

June 20th, 2008, 15:36 pm

Accept the present moment as it is - then act.

Also, eliminate the non-essentials. For me, that meant cancelling my cable. I don’t even miss it and I get more done around the house or spend quality time with my daughter.

Also, I really love the phrase, “Make it Work”…I love the phrase, “Let it work” even more. :)

SpaceAgeSage Says:

June 20th, 2008, 17:00 pm

To get through editing my e-book, I set the timer for one hour and start working. If I struggle through the hour, I know I’m not writing from my heart, passion, or with my real voice. It is clear that I’m working against myself by pushing productivity and falling into the energy draining “I gotta do this!” mindset. At that point, I find something else to do that doesn’t require so much heart, like laundry or research. I try to re-focus on my dreams and goals and desires instead of just “doing.” When I set the alarm again for an hour, and time flies by so fast that I want to keep writing, then I know I am creating effortlessly instead of “producing,” and far more gets done in a meaningful way.

applegrass Says:

June 20th, 2008, 17:41 pm

when feeling unmotivated, i turn my frown upside down… quite literally. spending 5-15 minutes playing around, doing headstands and/or handstands really helps! it’s gets my blood pumping, wakes up my brain, and the world is no longer ho-hum.

lots of love,
-april

Sara Says:

June 20th, 2008, 18:14 pm

I like to make a collage or “vision board” as some like to call it, about once a month. I just save whatever inspires me from magazines, newspapers, online, etc. I spend a Saturday afternoon just lost in my images and symbols of things I find inspiring and pull it all together into a board. Whenever I do this I find that I have tons of positive energy and self confidence for weeks. :)

biplav Says:

June 20th, 2008, 19:53 pm

The best productivity tip for me was to challenge myself for success..

dan greenwood Says:

June 20th, 2008, 20:07 pm

Instead of just mindlessly watching t.v., I do something
I call mimicing. When someone on t.v. is talking I repeat
out loud in my head exactly what they are saying. This is
done almost simultaneous with the person speaking.

It keeps you much more alert and it amazing how much more you remember.

piankeshaw Says:

June 20th, 2008, 20:25 pm

Most of these have to do with managing time. Time is a man-made construct that is finite despite how we choose to think of it. Thus, it really cannot be managed.

We can manage our energy, however. Energy is much more expandable….possibly infinite.

Consciously avoid people who are energy-drainers and seek out those individuals who enrich and energize your life.

Oh, also, laugh as much as possible!!!

mark Guenther Says:

June 20th, 2008, 21:20 pm

I’d love to know how everyone came up with these tricks. How did you know these ideas would work for you?

Zendad Says:

June 20th, 2008, 22:11 pm

productivity tip:
two words “keyboard shortcuts”
learn them
done
http://www.zendad.net

Crystal - CrystalsQuest Says:

June 21st, 2008, 3:29 am

Three things:
1. I’ve been having a lot of success with Neal Fiore’s “Now Habit” unschedule process, which helps me get through things better while feeling like I’ve never had so much leisure time in my life.
2. Regular ‘mastermind’ meetings where we’ve all made commitments of what we’re going to achieve by the next meeting (and the chair sends out a ‘tickler’ email a few days before of what our commitments are)
3. Remembering that productivity by itself is not a goal and making time for aligning my tasks with the bigger picture stuff - I realised a while back that Efficiency (or productivity) is a bit like getting in a sportscar and driving really fast through life, but Effectiveness is the equivalent of the steering wheel! Going for the first without the second has just too much potential for ending in a mess…

sarah Says:

June 21st, 2008, 3:58 am

I am a terrible procrastinator, but what helps me is physically moving my desk and computer to a part of the house that I don’t normally work in… sometimes the newness of space helps creative ideas to flow. This works well for one-off, lengthy projects or school papers. In the long term, I know that I need to find better ways to deal with my lack of productivity. Sometimes a glass of rum and coke helps, but only in the daytime!

Joke (not a joke, but a Dutch / Belgian girl's name ;)) Says:

June 21st, 2008, 5:21 am

The kitchen timer!
The only thing that managed to really get me working

Arina Nikitina Says:

June 21st, 2008, 8:08 am

I’ve put the law of Newton on my desktop: “A body in motion tends to remain in motion, a body at rest tends to remain at rest.” Boosts my productivity every time I see it! :)

For overcoming procrastination I love the “15 minute rule”. If you don’t feel like doing something (but it needs to be done sooner or later) engage in task for just 15 minutes. Even 5 minutes is enough, because the most difficult thing is to start.

It works wonders every morning when its time for my yoga exercises. I’m incredibly lazy by nature, and every morning instead of fighting a battle with myself I say “I will just do yoga for the next 5 minutes and then I’ll see if I want to continue”. I set up a timer, but when it goes off I still find myself enjoying yoga routine! Once I overcome the law of inertia I become a body in motion! :)

~ Arina Nikitina

Steve Montain Says:

June 21st, 2008, 8:39 am

Shoes!

there are so many comments in here I’m afraid this will be overlooked or at least underestimated but simply putting on my shoes can have a big effect. It’s the first step in getting off my arse and makes me want to move around a lot more. I keep them on indoors too which helps for doing laundry or cleaning. It’s underestimated!

Jennifer Says:

June 21st, 2008, 9:47 am

Its not high-tech but when I get an idea for web or blog content I jot it down on a scrap of paper and put it in a pile of other “ideas”. This way I’m never looking for content when I post. Also when I’m waiting in line (e.g. the deli line at the grocery store) I’ll take out a small pad of paper and start writing web or blog content.

Jon Price Says:

June 21st, 2008, 11:34 am

I use a modified version of the GTD method, blending Franklin Covey software that works with Outlook and Organizing for Success.
One thing that I’ve noticed is that my daily list in Outlook tends to get longer and longer when I don’t get things accomplished and the items roll into the next day. But I don’t always look at my master list so I don’t want to do items to get lost in the background.
So I’ve started on Monday mornings dragging all the items from my daily list onto Friday. After I get done dragging them all, I go to Friday in Outlook and drag back a realistic number of items for Monday based on my schedule and urgency. If I get done with my list early (haha), I can go to Friday and do a few more. That way I don’t have to go through my whole Master list which can be a little intimidating.

ProPhotographer Says:

June 21st, 2008, 11:35 am

I turned off the “big bong” in Outlook. Productivity soared as I no longer broke off the complex retouch I was performing in Photoshop to go and find yet another piece of spam!

If I’m in the studio I now only check email three times a day. When I log-on in the morning, just before lunch and 3pm. Anything that comes in after that can wait until tomorrow. If it’s urgent they’ll call…

It works!

Matthew Says:

June 21st, 2008, 11:58 am

My biggest productivity tip to everyone is…..

STOP GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THOUGHT, STOP THINKING, START ACTING, START SMILING.

Thoughts will hold you down. Use your mind sparingly as a . Act from the moment.

-love ya all ;)

Tim Brownson Says:

June 21st, 2008, 13:53 pm

@ David & Katie

” Do What You Have To Do, so you can DO what you WANT to do”

Words to make you miserable in the long run imho.

Check this out and then tell me I’m wrong ;-)

http://www.adaringadventure.com/blog/wordpress/life-coaching/mind-your-language/

CJ Says:

June 21st, 2008, 14:36 pm

I love the idea of laptop to play in another room.

My tip however tackles email. I check it a couple of times a day and answer only the most urgent. At the end of the week or every few days, I simply use the email search engine and retrieve emails in batches. Scanning 15 on one page that refer to investing or desktop publishing or whatever, makes it easy to decide which ones to read or eliminate them all. If I’m in a real hurry, I’ll move the most interesting to a folder to read later.

JudyM Says:

June 21st, 2008, 14:54 pm

We all do way too many things we don’t want to do. The antidote to that is to do only what we want to do — and to get, or pay, someone else to do the rest! Start everyday crossing all the don’t want toos off your to-do list, and see how free you feel, which brings in new levels of energy.

Do this just for fun — and allow yourself to bask in the potential Power. It’s amazing how much we really can cross off,

DiscoveredJoys Says:

June 21st, 2008, 17:23 pm

Remember the dry stone wall building lesson. When you build a dry stone wall you build it by stacking stones on top of each other, without mortar. The secret is to *always* use a stone you pick up, somewhere in the wall, never put it back down.

The same rule applies to emails. *Always* do something with an opened email. Reply to it, file it, schedule an activity for later, or delete it. Never close it and leave it in your inbox.

Jez Says:

June 21st, 2008, 17:53 pm

A couple of things help me really crack on…

1) Riding my bike into work. I arrive that little bit earlier (because I have to set out earlier) and have to concentrate on riding on the way in, setting myself little goals about what gear to be in on what hill etc. Kind of sets the mood for the day. I really find I crank through the day that way.

2) This one is really stupid, but it works. Commit to your boss something will be done that day. You will achieve it. It’s a last-resort as far as I’m concerned but hell it works.

eclecticaliah Says:

June 21st, 2008, 19:26 pm

Periodically re-evaluate your systems. Are you doing things as efficiently as you could be? Does following your system make a task take longer? Asking other people about their systems can give you some ideas that you can adjust to fit your style. All last school year I was using a very inefficient system to do something, but I didn’t know how else to do it until I talked with some other people to find out what they do. Now I’m thinking about all the possibilities for a more efficient system that I can implement this school year.

Rannie B Says:

June 21st, 2008, 21:55 pm

My little productivity-boost trick is simple.

I make a mental to do list the night before and visualize the tasks I’ll be doing the next day. This takes no more than 5 min.

Tomorrow comes and whatever I’m doing goes much faster since it seems like I’ve already done it before.

Hope this helps you.

Cheers