We all want to be more effective, efficient and productive in our lives. Time is a very precious thing and we try our best to make the most of it.
Hell, I’ve struggled with procrastination and lack of productivity at many different times in my life and have assembled a variety of strategies, tools and mindset hacks that will help you get unstuck, get your ideas flowing and keep yourself balanced throughout your work day.
One of the biggest tools I use to keep myself on track is a pomodoro timer.
This is a digital timer (usually a free app) that you can use on your computer or smartphone to create time blocks for work and rest throughout your day.
Working TOO much without mindful breaks to move our bodies and nourish ourselves can work against us and actually make us LESS productive throughout the day.
So, to stay focused and productive, you can use the timer to create three blocks of work/rest breaks and one long break.
My work/rest cycle looks like this:
- 24 minutes of work
- 4 minute breaks to move your body and hydrate
- 15 minute break to go outside, stretch, have a snack (after 3-4 work sessions)
- Repeat cycle until the work day is complete.
It’s pretty darn effective, I must say. I find that by keeping my mind focused AND building time to rest, rejuvenate, move my body and nourish myself – I’m more productive and actually enjoy my work more as a result.
We are so conditioned to sit in front of our computers for hours on end, which can result in massive eye strain, headaches, back pain and brain fog, not to mention the horrifying effects on our posture from sitting down for long periods of time.
Getting a simple to-do list is also a great way to be more productive.
You’d be shocked how many people rely on their memory to try and guide their day.
That’s like giving the Cookie Monster a fresh batch of moon pies to keep safe.
It ain’t gonna happen, babe.
However, by creating a digital or physical to-do list on the daily, you’re better able stay on track with your commitments – AND – you make it REAL by writing it down.
I find that when I’ve tried to rely on my memory to keep track of everything in my life, it fails. Horribly. Like Clear Pepsi kinda fail. By getting your commitments, aims and intentions on paper (or on screen) then you’ve got yourself a solid, editable, directed plan of action. It’s such a simple thing to do that makes a massive difference in your productivity every day.
When you commit to deep, focused work you’ll be amazed by how much you can get done in a short period of time. There are two things that I recommend to get going with deep, focused work:
Start actually doing the work.
Minimize your distractions.
Often, when we sit down to start a new project or continue working on an existing project, our inner editor can really get in the way.
You know, that voice inside your heads that says,
“Ahhhh… you’re going to write THAT?!? I think that sucks, actually. You know you’re an impostor, right? I mean, why do you even DO THISSS?”
Tell that mouthy little rabblerouser to take a back seat.
Seriously, when the inner editor or critic comes up for air, push ‘em back down.
It’s not their place. You can say to yourself, like I do,
“Hey, thanks for the input. I don’t believe you. So when I’m ready to edit this later, I’ll ring ya, okay? Until then, get out.”
It honestly works (the profanity can be your choice – or not!) What this allows, though, is for you to work unfettered and able to freewheelingly create something simply out of the spontaneous joy of doing it.
It doesn’t need to be perfect, or polished, or even make any sense…
JUST DO THE WORK.
In the immortal words of a fortune cookie I once read,
“Do not give up. The beginning is always the hardest.”
I’ll never forget that vegan orange chicken. So good.
Related to that, it’s pretty hard to begin anything when you’re constantly being distracted.
There are WAAYYYY too many emails, texts, direct messages, homing pigeons, notifications, dings, bells, ringtones, vibrating phones, watches, etc, that are constantly fighting for your attention.
Technology is great, but it’s made our attention spans last about 5.2 seconds.
If you want to begin something with real focus and intention, you need to minimize as many distractions as possible.
I recommend putting your phone on airplane mode (or turning it off) and putting it in a drawer in a completely separate area of your living space. One that is far from you so you’re not tempted to check if your avocado toast post got an extra 10 likes on Instagram. Seriously, what’s more important – the toast post or you FINALLY starting your new project?!?
Log out of Facebook, put a “do not disturb” sign on our office door, wear earplugs – just do whatever it takes. You must proactively minimize potential distractions and do what is necessary to create focus and an intentional container for creativity to flow and flourish!
We also need to cultivate a healthier, more sane relationship to productivity and creativity. Often, we are so focused on the outcome, rather than the process. You know how this goes,
“Oh, I’ll be happy when my book is a New York Times bestseller!” “I’ll be stoked when I get 10,000 followers on Instagram!”
“Life will be SOOOO GOOOD when I finally get a million subscribers on YouTube!” It’s a slippery slope, my beautiful friend, because you are making your happiness, your contentment, your positive state of Being dependent on an outcome you cannot control. You are giving your power away.
As producers of life – as creative beings – it behooves us to focus on who we are becoming in the process of production and creation.
For example, if you create a new book/ video/blog post/human and you’re in a state of panic, anxiety, worry and fear – what kind of energy do you think will be infused into this new thing you’ve created?
Not sparkly, sunshiney, Unicorn laser beams of magical mojo, I can tell you that.
These desires are natural and intrinsic to the psychological needs of most human beings.
But CHASING those things, making those things the bedrock of WHY you do what you do, will result in you becoming dependent on specific outcomes to make you happy – and – bring you a whole world of hurt when things don’t turn out the way you want them to.
In the words of Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars, “IT’S A TRAP!”
Speaking of healthy goals, I think we need to set ourselves up for success in more sustainable ways.
Here’s what I mean: you can set a goal of making $5,000,000 in the next 6 months. I’ve seen plenty of people set this kind of goal.
Heck, I set a goal to make $100,000,000 in one year!
Now, here’s the deal for most people: if you’re currently making $30,000 a year, that’s a really hard sell for your consciousness to believe and actualize.
Two reasons for that: you likely don’t really believe that it’s possible for you to accomplish (although you’re doing your best to convince yourself that you do) – AND – you haven’t practiced a mindset or habits of abundance, action and alignment that can invite that level of prosperity into your life.
In other words, you’re trying to “fake it until you make it.”
But you can’t fake positivity, prosperity or a peaceful, connected state of Being.
Unless you own a really high-end printing press. Or can passionately moan convincingly. Then you can fake a whole lot of things.
I digress, though: when you set yourself up for success with attainable goals – that still allow you to stretch your limits and get really uncomfortable – you’ve got a better chance of hitting them.
This actually builds a TON of confidence and motivation moving forward with your next endeavor or creative project.
You get the life lessons and building blocks to get to the next level of the game. To use the example above, perhaps you could set a goal to double your income or scale up to six figures. Then, when you learn how to do that, you can aim even higher.
This aspect of productivity is about managing your expectations and setting yourself up for scalable, sustainable, long-term success. We’re not going for the snatch and grab here – we’re setting you up for the long haul.
And remember this: life’s not a race. It’s a journey. So enjoy the ride and take it easy on yourself.
See, the outcome is completely out of your control.
The only thing you have control over is your state of Being while the thing is being created or produced.
That’s all.
So, when we focus on enjoying the process, learning whilst doing, growing and evolving through our projects – the outcome becomes inconsequential.
Not to say that we don’t all want attention, approval, acknowledgement and adoration.
Superhero Action Step!
- Start using a pomodoro timer today and make daily to-do lists that are prioritized.
- Build in rest and recovery into your work day by taking intentional breaks.
- Set attainable goals for yourself that stretch you past your current limits and make you feel uncomfortable (meaning you’re going to have to work for them and open up to new possibilities!)
Also – ask yourself if you’re actually enjoying the process of producing/ creating your work – or if you’re slaving away for some imaginary outcome that may or may not happen to validate your sense of Self.
And, please, be kind to yourself when you fall short of your own lofty goals. You’re human and allowed to get knocked on your ass sometimes.
Keep creating. Create again. Create some more. Repeat.
You rock! And don’t ever forget it.
