5 Secret Destructive Behaviors You’re Probably Not Aware Of
If you were to come to me and tell me you weren't as productive as you wished, and your life was complicated, I would tell you five things you probably do that contribute to this state of life.
The Dreaded Productivity Slump
I've had a rough couple of months, and my productivity has taken a hit. It reminded me of a week years ago. Read on for the description, and what I did: It was the week from hell: a situation with a family member threatened to sever a relationship, I was recovering from a vertigo-inducing double ear infection, and my daughter picked up a virus that caused her to vomit for 9 hours. Then work went to you-know-where in a handbasket, and we went on vacation. I spent the next two weeks trying to catch up, unsuccessfully.
Podcast Episode 70: Pursuing Zero
The feeling of getting to zero in my email in box is something that really gives me a boost. I realized after a trip away that the piles in my life were very much like a backlog of email: incomplete decisions. I decided to go through my physical, written and electronic spaces to pursue a concept of zero.
In Pursuit of Zero
Getting my inbox down to zero means that I can approach my inbox each time without the dread of all the leftover email waiting for me to do something about it. It makes email much less stressful. I wondered if I could apply the concept of Zero to other areas of my life.
The Importance Of Gratitude
In the US this month we have Thanksgiving. I find that being thankful, or having gratitude, is one of the things that helps keep me on track, both in how and what I am doing.
Podcast Episode 69: Clearing the Decks
If I have too many projects on my plate I shut down, overwhelmed by the volume. I needed to tackle this early this fall, and I tried something new: clearing the decks. It worked really well taking my 18 project list down to 4 in about 5 hours.
Things I Learned From My Mother’s Death
I had a really rough August into September. Two days after we took my only child to college and became empty nesters, my mother passed away. My husband and I made the drive to Wisconsin. I came away with some profound lessons. These are things that I am trying to incorporate into my life.
Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.
Perfectionism is a deadly enemy of productivity. Whether it is self-imposed, or imposed by others, the quest to get things absolutely right is a waste of energy and time.
