Don’t Fiddle: The Foundations of Productivity
Productivity requires a solid foundation if the methods are successful. Just like every building must have a solid foundation if it is going to remain standing, productivity must also have a solid foundation unless you want it to crumble underneath you. We are starting a ten-article series on the foundations of productivity. Today we will look at a cardinal rule: don't fiddle.
The Foundations of Productivity
I've been thinking a lot about foundations lately, so I decided to start the year at Whole Life Productivity with an article series about the foundations of productivity.This article series will take you through ten of the foundations of productivity and show you how to build them up to increase your productivity, whether at work or at home. I remember watching my husband pour a concrete slab. He cleared the ground, removing the grass and rocks, then used a tool to pound the dirt flat. It was a lot of effort, and I asked him why. He replied, "Without a good foundation, everything on top will crack."
Completely Unprepared For The Holidays and What I Did About It
OK, I really don't have a good reason. After all, every calendar I have seen for the past two months has reminded me that the holidays were barreling down on me like a freight train.And yet, I didn't start my shopping until the 19th, when I was in bed, frantically trying to find things that were Amazon Prime. My cards are still not mailed. Heck, they're still in the place I put them after last holiday season. Talk about a total breakdown of all organization systems.
Making The Most of Sales
One of my readers asked me how I keep track of sales. She wanted to know the magic formula for getting the best prices. The truth is that I really don't shop around. I refuse to go store to store tracking down prices. I would rather sit and home and let my fingers do the work. So today we will look at my method of making the most of sales, without having to use a third party tracking or anything other than your basic search.
The T-Minus List: A Powerful Tool
One of the most powerful applications of a checklist is the T-Minus list. The T-Minus list gives you the ability to plan out what you need to do before an event, capturing it so you don't have to think about it again.
Keep Up With Friends Using Productivity Tools
I want to keep up with friends. But one of the things I face as an introvert is not keeping up with people. I forget to keep in touch, and then when I think of it, it has been so long that I feel awkward re-establishing contact. I have made a conscious decision to be in contact with people. Today’s article are techniques on how to use productivity tools to keep up with friends. The Start: Making A List When I first realized this was a problem, I had to figure out what I wanted “being connected” looks like. So I made a list of all the people that I wanted to have regular contact with. This included a childhood friend, a high school friend, my college roommate, and three good friends now. (I have a lot of acquaintances, but few people I choose to spend a…
Modifying A System For Big Productivity Gains
When I started this job as a teacher, I knew that the planners I had designed and used for my work as an IT consultant weren't going to work as they were. Today I will share with you the system that I use at school (work) and how I designed it.
Better Time Management With Goals
Many time management systems say that you should block out time on your calendar for everything you need to do. This means that if you need to take out the garbage, you should schedule time on your calendar to do so. However, this sort of planning can be counterproductive, stifling and rigid. But it doesn't have to be this way. You can have better time management with goals. I'm not talking about the project-based goals, or life goals or finish-line goals here. I'm talking about a targeted list of things you would like to get done. I'm talking about setting your sights on a few things to accomplish during the day, without sewing yourself into a calendar so tight you can't sit down.
