I attended this great webinar at VAClassroom on How to Overcome Productivity Pitfalls, Once and for All, and came away with a few tips which I have already begun to find useful.There might be one or two that will work for you.First Craig started with listing some productivity pitfalls, which we can all relate to. Skype, Instant Messaging, Social Media, Mobile Devices, and Creature Comforts for example the Refrigerator, and I might add the Television.What resonated with me though, was Craig's summation that Energy Management and NOT Time Management is the key to Productivity.That being the case he encouraged us to harness our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energies for greater productivity.He noted that while time management helped us to be more efficient, energy management helped us to be more motivated and engaged.This in my mind is critical for the virtual entrepreneur.The sources of energy referred to were. Physical (related to the sustainability issue); Emotional Energy (the value of the work you do); Mental Energy (our level of focus, our efficiencies and creativity); and your Spiritual Energy (the sense of meaning and purpose in what you do).Here are some practical suggestions which I noted for maintaining your sources of energy..Physical Energy.Work at optimal level for no more than 90 minutes.Build in short rest times that replenish your energy (listen to music, read, drink water, have a cool down at end of work - relax).Eat healthy meals at consistent times.Drink lots of water.Sleep (Between 7-8 hours a day - Best hours before midnight).Have a quiet time before going to sleep (listen to music, read a book).Emotional Energy.Ensure that you are doing work you really enjoy.Work with clients who invigorate you.Recruit a mentor or mastermind group which understands you.Someone who is a real encourager.Be a mentor.Spend quality time with the most special persons in your life.Mental Energy.Never work more than 90 minutes at a time.Make time weekly to dream, brainstorm and reflect on the direction of your business.Retrain.Focus on work that put your best skills to use.Do not mulit-task.Spiritual Energies .Avoid work or clients that compromise your values in any way.Participate in work or volunteer activities that are bigger than you, and closely align with your values.Make sure that your work offers adequate and significance in your life.Ask Yourself. Is what I am doing making a difference in the world? .Craig concluded with these productivity tips some of which I can certainly see myself implementing..Make Sure that You Do work that Inspires and Motivate You.Establish Monthly, Weekly, Daily MIT Lists (Google Docs, Google Tasks).Slot out the times.Go from Macro to Micro (Prepare a daily list the night before - start day with sense of purpose).Ruthlessly eliminate distractions when working with deadlines and project.(Shut down Skype, put phone on vibrate, use a clock, shut off social networks).Build in regular rest times (60/10 - Work for sixty minutes, break for ten minutes) throughout the day.Implement 'Batching Principle.' Consolidate work and do in chunks.Set time for writing emails or responding.Go on Facebook twice a day.Set a time for doing certain tasks.Designate certain days of the week for particular tasks/work.Empty your mind on a regular basis (use Google doc, Notebook for notes).Implement David Allen's 2 minute rule.If a task is going to take you less than two minutes, do it now.Incorporate 'Strategic Mulit-tasking' in Moderation.(eg multiple screens).Eat the Frog.Tackle important tasks that you have been putting off before opening your Inbox.The following books were highly recommended..The Power of Full Engagement.Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.Getting things Done. The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.David Allen.Be Excellent at Anything.Tony Schwartz.I do hope you find these tips useful, as I already have.Feel free to share your Productivity Tips.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
How to Avoid Productivity Pitfalls
I attended this great webinar at VAClassroom on How to Overcome Productivity Pitfalls, Once and for All, and came away with a few tips which I have already begun to find useful.There might be one or two that will work for you.First Craig started with listing some productivity pitfalls, which we can all relate to. Skype, Instant Messaging, Social Media, Mobile Devices, and Creature Comforts for example the Refrigerator, and I might add the Television.What resonated with me though, was Craig's summation that Energy Management and NOT Time Management is the key to Productivity.That being the case he encouraged us to harness our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energies for greater productivity.He noted that while time management helped us to be more efficient, energy management helped us to be more motivated and engaged.This in my mind is critical for the virtual entrepreneur.The sources of energy referred to were. Physical (related to the sustainability issue); Emotional Energy (the value of the work you do); Mental Energy (our level of focus, our efficiencies and creativity); and your Spiritual Energy (the sense of meaning and purpose in what you do).Here are some practical suggestions which I noted for maintaining your sources of energy..Physical Energy.Work at optimal level for no more than 90 minutes.Build in short rest times that replenish your energy (listen to music, read, drink water, have a cool down at end of work - relax).Eat healthy meals at consistent times.Drink lots of water.Sleep (Between 7-8 hours a day - Best hours before midnight).Have a quiet time before going to sleep (listen to music, read a book).Emotional Energy.Ensure that you are doing work you really enjoy.Work with clients who invigorate you.Recruit a mentor or mastermind group which understands you.Someone who is a real encourager.Be a mentor.Spend quality time with the most special persons in your life.Mental Energy.Never work more than 90 minutes at a time.Make time weekly to dream, brainstorm and reflect on the direction of your business.Retrain.Focus on work that put your best skills to use.Do not mulit-task.Spiritual Energies .Avoid work or clients that compromise your values in any way.Participate in work or volunteer activities that are bigger than you, and closely align with your values.Make sure that your work offers adequate and significance in your life.Ask Yourself. Is what I am doing making a difference in the world? .Craig concluded with these productivity tips some of which I can certainly see myself implementing..Make Sure that You Do work that Inspires and Motivate You.Establish Monthly, Weekly, Daily MIT Lists (Google Docs, Google Tasks).Slot out the times.Go from Macro to Micro (Prepare a daily list the night before - start day with sense of purpose).Ruthlessly eliminate distractions when working with deadlines and project.(Shut down Skype, put phone on vibrate, use a clock, shut off social networks).Build in regular rest times (60/10 - Work for sixty minutes, break for ten minutes) throughout the day.Implement 'Batching Principle.' Consolidate work and do in chunks.Set time for writing emails or responding.Go on Facebook twice a day.Set a time for doing certain tasks.Designate certain days of the week for particular tasks/work.Empty your mind on a regular basis (use Google doc, Notebook for notes).Implement David Allen's 2 minute rule.If a task is going to take you less than two minutes, do it now.Incorporate 'Strategic Mulit-tasking' in Moderation.(eg multiple screens).Eat the Frog.Tackle important tasks that you have been putting off before opening your Inbox.The following books were highly recommended..The Power of Full Engagement.Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.Getting things Done. The Art of Stress-Free Productivity.David Allen.Be Excellent at Anything.Tony Schwartz.I do hope you find these tips useful, as I already have.Feel free to share your Productivity Tips.
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