You want to be more productive, so you study up on all the latest systems from the big productivity gurus–things that involve funnels, fancy timers and frogs. You research apps, planners, and To Do list formats that are more complicated than the tax code. How’s all that working? I’ll bet you’re not seeing the results you hoped for. … Read more
During a recent workshop, Dr. Russell Ramsay offered the following definition, “Motivation is the ability to generate emotions about a task that promote follow-through.” I’m struggling with this definition. I think it’s partly correct in that motivation promotes follow-through. When we are motivated, we want a specific goal, and we’re willing to work hard, or even … Read more
In my previous post, I suggested that awareness was the critical factor in figuring out how to get things done. Nothing else matters, if we don’t have an awareness of what we’re doing and why. Almost always, when clients have significant breakthroughs, they tell me it’s because they were able to notice what was happening, and they … Read more
What kind of shunning am I talking about? motivashun inspirashun activashun perspirashun determinashun Okay, I’ll stop the bad puns. But what am I talking about? Motivation is the reason we want to do something. We want the benefits that come with completing a task or project and quite often, we are willing to tolerate some unpleasantness to achieve … Read more
Life is so much easier when you clean up after yourself. In the past, I’ve cautioned about the 2-minute rule, which states that if you can do something in 2 minutes, to just go ahead and do it. There are times when this is not a good plan. Here’s that blog post, if you missed … Read more
Some work sessions are not productive, or so it might seem. I’m not talking about the times when we’re exhausted and we try to do a task that requires a lot of effort. I’m talking about project work when we’re calm, well-rested and not hungry or anxious. All the ingredients for a productive work session are there, … Read more
Some things that we need to do are just plain yucky. They make us feel bad. → Self-compassion increases our tolerance for the bad feelings, so that we can do what we need to do. → Self-compassion leads to greater productivity. But self-compassion isn’t so easy to muster, at least not for many of us. So what to … Read more
It’s ironic how many hours are lost in the quest to maximize our time. Clients often tell me they don’t get anything done because they are paralyzed, wondering, “Is this the best use of my time?” They have an inclination of something they could be doing, but they question whether they “should” be doing something better. Consider the following dilemma: In the … Read more
David Allen is a well-known productivity mastermind with a well-known rule: If you can do something in two minutes, do it now. (I’m paraphrasing. You can hear him describe it , here.) In theory, I’m totally behind the concept of getting small things out of the way. But I’ve seen a lot of people get into … Read more
Many people struggle to follow through with intentions because they don’t have a plan. Quite often, our intentions actually represent complex projects, and not simple tasks. Here’s the difference: a task is something you can do in one relatively short block of time, such as look up a phone number or take out the garbage. We … Read more