1 Thought:

Before getting to the topic at hand I’d like to thank everyone for the amazing support with this new blog. This post is #20 which, I learned puts www.afew-things.com in the top 1%, based on sticking with it. Appreciate the likes, the comments and especially those of you that have chosen to take advantage of the FREE Subscription. Your support for this passion project of mine means a lot.

Now lets get to it…

I know when I get home from working, and after all the niceties with the wife, she always asks “how was your day”? Often the response will be “busy, busy” or something to that end. Unfortunately too often “busy, busy” was also the accurate response; would love to have replied “highly productive”.

Busy, busy is a place we all find ourselves and it’s not necessarily a bad place to be. Busy and not a lot to show for it at the end of the day however is not a desirable place. That kind of busy means that we didn’t work on the short list of “big rocks” we committed to ourselves were the things required to get us closer to our goals. An exhausting and busy day with little to show for it is easy to miss due to all the endorphins of activity masking the reality of a non-productive day.

A few tips to be productive and not just busy:

It’s your calendar, not everyone else’s to manage. Consider that a person at work you barely know comes up to you and asks “can I take 20 minutes of your time” to help with “whatever”; we usually say yes without giving it a second thought. The same person at work comes up to you, and remembers it’s someone you barely know, and asks you to give them $20. Would you reach for your wallet without hesitation, or would you slow down and ask “for what”, or any other qualifying questions? My guess is the latter.

You should honestly give the $20 to someone faster than a non-renewable resource like time. Think about it.

Your schedule, your rules!

The second tip is don’t work without breaks. I have always had terrible ADD, and could in the past find myself distracted and realize I went off track on a task without even realizing it. We can only maintain the highest level of focus for so long. One way to manage your time is to consider using something like a Pomodoro clock which provides scheduled mental breaks. If unfamiliar, it simply starts with 25 minutes of total uninterrupted focus followed by a 5 minute mental break where you can do whatever you like. This break repeats itself 2 to 3 times before providing a one time 25 minute break. After this longer break it resets to the 25 minutes on and 5 off cadence.

Mental breaks are true growth and productivity accelerators!

Lastly, we all have people we talk to or engage with that we consider some level of friend or colleague. Sometimes it’s imperative to determine are the people you associate with closest to you, or are they the type of people that are closer to your goals?

We are the product of the people we associate with, make smart choices when trying to get work done!

1 Quote:

” Productivity isn’t about being a workhorse. Keeping busy or burning the midnight oil…It’s more about priorities, planning, and fiercely protecting your time.”

– Gary Keller

Author and Founder of Keller Williams Realty. Considered one of the most influential names in real estate.

1 Question:

Can you look at your calendar today and see what can be eliminated in the coming days that doesn’t align with your goals? Can you take your time back?

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