Originally written and posted by Lauren Myrick on July 18, 2013.
Between projects, your family & friends, vacation days, and
deadlines all vying for your attention this summer, there’s a lot on your
plate! Continuing the flow from last
week’s post on revamping your Office Space, I have rounded up some productivity tricks from around the web… So you can work hard and play hard!
Often times, the ugly intimidator of productivity is often overlooked:
procrastination. Using a mix the
productivity tips and procrastination killers below can give you a winning
combination! Be sure to check out the
poster below - it contains a collage of techniques and motivational quotes to
get you going!
As with all articles, posts, and tidbits, feel free to take what you
like and leave the rest. Something that
works for me (or the writer of an article), may not work for you, and vice
versa.
Best practices:
·
25 minutes dedicated solely to one task, 5
min break (Pomodoro Technique). Set
a timer for 25 minutes, when the time expires give yourself a break, even if
you feel you don’t need one… this will prevent burnout in the long run. A 5 minute break could entail checking
emails, getting a fresh cup of coffee or water, a bathroom break, getting a
meeting early, getting a breath of fresh air, etc. This break can also provide a welcome rest
for your eyes. When 5 minutes is up,
repeat!
·
Elimination. Over time, tasks and responsibilities can
build up, leaving a feeling of obligation to do EVERYTHING or feel guilty about
not doing it. The article below by Inc. gives you plenty of examples of how
to cut something out of your day. Pick
one or two things that can be subtracted!
I especially like “eliminating one will-power drain” and “eliminating
one ‘permission’”.
·
Designate time to manage email. In almost every list and article I’ve read,
this suggestion is included. Email is
tricky, it can reel you in before you even know you’re hooked! Set aside time
everyday dedicated solely to managing email.
And turn off the pop-up email icon or notification on your computer and
phone. REMEMBER: If something is urgent, a phone call is the
proper protocol.
·
Reward yourself / Relax. With all your responsibilities and deadlines,
remember to reward yourself. This can be
done in a number of ways: a vacation
day, a new dress, a massage, going out to lunch, buying fresh flowers,
etc.! Most important, remember to RELAX
– make time to do nothing or just enjoy the outdoors… without technology!
·
Face your procrastination. Pretending things don’t exist or trying to
ignore them eventually turns a bug into a beast! Write down the things you’ve been
procrastinating on. Ask yourself a few
questions for each one:
o
Do I really need to complete this task? (See Elimination above)
o
What’s the worst thing that will happen if I
complete this task?
o
What’s the best thing that will happen?
o
What is holding me back from completing this
task? (Need guidance/help, ask for it!)
If you do indeed
need to complete the task:
o
Make a plan, schedule, timeline, etc.
o
Be reasonable when goal setting. (Use SMART
goals!)
o
Start small.
“A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” –Lao-tzu
o
And last, take some inspiration from Nike, Just do it.
Have any great ideas that weren’t mentioned here? Share below!
Productivity:
Procrastination:
