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Change Your Habits: 30 Days to a more Productive and Successful Life

By on October 5, 2010 in Personal Growth, Success
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Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do the best.

- Marva Collins

Our habits make up the web that supports the fabric of our daily lives. We may often not even realize we have them, but trust me, they are there. Good and bad, we all repeat them in often unconscious patterns that shape the tone, productiveness and success of our lives. You cannot escape this reality. Whether you work in a corner office, are a stay at home mom or especially if you work from home or are a business owner, the quality and efficiency of your work depend on good habits. The good news is that habits can be changed with persistence and patience.

habits

If you want to change the quality and trajectory of your life, then you must cultivate better habits and cease old patterns.

Reality check – Have you identified the habits that are not serving you? Let’s be honest. We know when a habit is undermining our plans and progress.  We stay up too late, watch too much TV, eat unhealthy food, compulsively check email or haunt Facebook. We overspend and ignore our health. Whatever your destructive patterns are, you have to be willing to look at them honestly.

Why – Know your motivation. Is it better health, getting your home or office organized, losing weight, making more money or getting out of debt?  Is there a project you need to finish or a dream that you want to pursue? Motivation can be the determining factor in whether you succeed or not.

Stay positive – It is far easier to focus on cultivating a positive habit rather than trying to simply break an old one.

Some examples:

Instead of saying I need to cut out sugar, you might try I will eat fruit for dessert.

Instead of I want to cut back on spending, you might want to say I will save X amount per week.

Instead of trying to refrain from checking email first thing in the morning, you could cultivate a habit of using your first hour for either your most important work (which I doubt is email) or your self-care (exercise, reading, etc.)

*My ongoing struggle is to consistently get enough sleep and rise earlier. I know that sets the tone for my whole day and often makes the difference between a productive day and a stressful one. So that will be my habit change for October.

Join me in the 30 day challenge to a more productive life by changing your habits. I recommend you choose just one to start and stay consistent. As we progress through October I will share more tips and strategies for making your habits stick.

What habit will you choose to change?

Read more on changing habits and making them stick.

 

 

Looking for a coach in UK? Check out the Life Coach Directory
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Key Strategy – Review and Revise to Stay on Track

By on September 30, 2010 in Personal Growth, Success
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If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. ~Lawrence J. Peter

We’re entering the home stretch of the calendar year and the fiscal year for most of us. This is a good time to review and revise how far you’ve come and how you’d like to finish up your year. Consider this a check-point of sorts. Where do you stand on each of your goals? What kind of progress have you made both personally and professionally? Are you on track to finish the year where you want to be or do you need to do some revision?

Let’s get real. You are not going to be able to make up a year’s worth of effort in one quarter. If you’ve been slacking or got sidetracked by life’s demands, accept it and move on. You can only do what you can do.  Let it go and focus instead on what you can do over the next three months to move forward in your life or work success. The most important part of that is updating your “map.”

You have to know where you’re going in order to figure out how to get there.

Where am I on this goal or project?

Can I realistically achieve the desired result in the allotted time?

Do I need to revise either the outcome or the timetable?

What concrete actions need to be taken over the next three months?

Where can I get some help?

Why am I doing this anyway?

Once you have answered the basic questions, you have a destination or goal in front of you. Now it’s time to flesh out your “map.” Decide what specific actions need to be taken or habits need to be cultivated. Now get going! You still have time, but you have to make it count.

Lucky for you, we are going to be talking about habits in October!

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How to make Sure Your Time Management System is Working

By on September 24, 2010 in Success

“Time management is intended to save time, not waste time.”

Is your time management system failing?

Does it seem to take more effort than it is worth?

Does it regularly breakdown?

If your system is failing, then it’s time to re-evaluate.

First we need to assess why it’s not working:

Is your time management system is too complex? – This is actually the most common problem that causes systems to fail. Is it cumbersome or time-consuming? Do you use multiple tools or require a plan just to plan? If it takes more time to organize than it does to do the work then it is too complex.

Is it redundant? – Do you have multiple lists? Do you use more than one calendar?   Are you duplicating work? Use one central planning tool, list and calendar.

Is it portable? – Where do you keep your time management system?  Can you take it with you and have access to it at all times? You need to be able to capture ideas and retrieve information in real-time or your system fails.

Does it match your personality or work patterns? – If you are tech savvy, then en electronic organizing system is most efficient. If you are more comfortable with traditional pen and paper then carry your notebook and don’t force yourself to struggle with a PDA. The best time management system is the one that works for you!

Tips to keep in mind:

  • The simpler the better – Choose the simplest, most direct method to get the job done.
  • Keep it centralized – Whatever your system, keep it in one place.
  • Make it accessible – Make sure that you can get to your information and capture thoughts and tasks easily in real-time.
  • Choose your tools carefully – Select the tools that accomplish what you need without additional bells and whistles that will distract you.
  • You are the most important consideration – Your system must suit you, your personality, your work style and your way of thinking or processing information.

An effective time management system should save you time and effort. It should help you make the most efficient use of your time. It should not be a struggle to use. It should feel comfortable. Maybe not initially, but after using it for a bit, if it’s still uncomfortable – re-assess, tweak it or ditch it and start over.

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How Better Learning Leads to Higher Productivity

By on September 21, 2010 in Success

I see and I forget. I hear and I remember. I do and I understand. – Confucius

Are you familiar with the Cone of Learning Theory developed by Edgar Dale? In a nutshell the theory explains that the more active someone is in the learning of a new skill or knowledge, the more they will retain and be able to apply. Passive learning just does not have the same level of effectiveness. You might be tempted to say, what does learning theory have to do with me?

Are you a coach or consultant who needs to teach clients or teams new skills?

Are you in a leadership position that requires instructing employees or students?

Do you ever try to learn a new skill or improve an old one yourself?

Most likely unless you are living in a cave with no desire to move beyond your current level of homeostasis, the answer is yes. Of course you want growth, learning and development.

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Cone of Learning Theory in practical terms:

  • We remember 10% of what we read – We may be able to define or list new information but that’s all.
  • We retain 20% of what we hear – We might be able to describe or explain concepts.
  • We remember 30% of what we see – We may be able to demonstrate a skill or information to another.
  • We can retain 50% of what we both see and hear – This is a jump to the next level. We are probably able to apply and put into practice new knowledge at this level.
  • We usually remember 70% of what we say – Another leap at this level. We can participate in discussions, collaborate with others and start to design strategies.
  • We are in most cases able to retain 90% of what we both say and do – This is the most effective style of learning. At this point we should be able to autonomously apply knowledge on our own, teach others, analyze effectiveness and start to create new interpretations and applications for the information.

How can you use this in your own life or business? When designing workshops, lessons, training sessions or your own learning habits try to apply the most effective method possible. Read or listen to information, find a visual, then repeat it out loud and try to practice yourself while following along. It’s not always possible to implement the most efficient learning style depending on the circumstances, but just keep the principles in mind as you go. Happy learning!

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20 Strategies to Recharge and Refocus to Increase Your Productivity

By on September 14, 2010 in Personal Growth, Success

Did you know that taking time to rest and recharge are possibly the most valuable productivity and success strategies you can practice?

What do you do to recharge and boost your energy and focus?

Here are some suggestions on steps you can take to restore your energy and revitalize your focus in no particular order. Choose one or several and practice them this week:

  • Meditate – start with a few minutes and work your way up to whatever is comfortable for you
  • Take a walk out in nature – try a park, the woods or near the water
  • Spend time with friends – share, connect and receive and offer support
  • Read a book that inspires you or stretches your imagination
  • Get active – go running, cycling, swimming, tennis, golf
  • Do yoga or Pilates – a regular practice helps both body and mind
  • Practice Pranayama breathing – or try another kind of deep breathing practice
  • Get more sleep – take a nap or go to bed early one night per week
  • Drink lots of pure water and eat really fresh food – try a visit to the local farmer’s market
  • Take in some culture – attend the theatre to watch a performance or a symphony
  • Get outside – take pictures, draw or just sit and soak in the beauty of nature
  • Have fun – play games, tell jokes
  • Treat yourself to your favorite indulgence – a fine glass of wine, a soothing cup of tea, a delicious coffee creation, a scrumptious bakery delight
  • Do something thrilling – cliff diving, bungee jumping, hang gliding, sky diving
  • Get some “bodywork” – schedule a massage, facial, Reiki, reflexology treatment or acupuncture
  • Learn a new sport or activity – try dance lessons, rock climbing, quilting, scrap-booking, bird-watching; the possibilities are endless
  • Spend some time in solitude
  • Listen to music – whatever kind appeals to you. Rock music can be relaxing and energizing for some and classical tunes can be an energy booster
  • Dance – Just get up and let yourself go
  • Brain dump – Get everything out of your head and turn off the worry machine
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Manage Your Energy

By on August 5, 2010 in Personal Growth

Learning how to manage your energy goes along with the post I wrote a few days ago explaining the importance of knowing yourself and what works for you. Another part of that strategy is also knowing and managing your energy cycle, levels and preferences. Then the next step is figuring out how to use that knowledge to your advantage to help you work smarter, be more effective and have more free time.

Personal energy considerations:

  • Are you a morning person or a night owl?
  • Do you get a lunch time or mid-afternoon energy slump?
  • What is your optimal length of focus or work period? For some people it’s 30 minutes spurts with short breaks in between, for others it’s 60 or 90 minutes and for a rare few it’s 3 or 4 hours.
  • How often do you need to eat to maintain your concentration and energy? For health purposes you should eat every 3-4 hours, but perhaps a snack every 2 works better for you.
  • Does the type of food you eat matter? Perhaps pasta isn’t a good lunch if it makes you want to take a nap!

You may not know the answers to these questions and you are not alone. The best method to use to get a better “map” if you will of your energy cycle is to track your workday activities with energy notes for a week. You should already have some type of calendar that you use for work and/or home. Simply make brief notes as you go through your week about the type of task you are doing and how you are feeling each hour. When you look back at the end of the week, you will see a pattern that you can use to help you schedule tasks, meetings, breaks and other activities during the times that are more appropriate for you.

For example, I have discovered that I am a morning person and that my brain gets fuzzy late at night. However, when I first wake up it takes me a while to calm my mind and focus; it’s usually like a whirling vortex of ideas and task. This is not a good time for me to write a blog post or do project work. It is a great time for me to scan social media, read RSS feeds, answer quick emails (things that only need a few minutes focus) or alternatively to exercise which helps to calm my mind. My energy and focus “curve” slowly climbs throughout the morning and peaks late morning. So 10AM-12PM is great project/writing time. This is why I frequently get caught up in a project and do not want to stop to eat lunch. I will keep working until 1 or 2 some days and then I am starving. So, the lesson for me here is not only when to schedule high focus activities, but also to make sure I take a mid-morning break and have a good snack in case lunch is later. I am almost useless many days late afternoon, so I best get everything done before 3PM or else it has to wait until mid-evening. I do get another spurt of energy between 6-8PM, which I like to use for those household chores, being active with the kids or occasionally writing or other business tasks that I may not have time for during the traditional work day (i.e. finances, marketing, technology issues.) The other things I discovered are that I work better in 90 minute blocks of time (30 minutes is too disruptive for me) and that I need to eat every 2 – 3 hours.

To read more on the other Golden Rules of Productivity, click here.

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Create Your Own Network

By on July 29, 2010 in Success

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want or what you need! Chances are good that you will get it and you might just help someone else out in the process.

My quick story: My regular readers know that my husband is deployed to the Middle East; that’s just background information. Last week I received an email from our local family services coordinator at the base that went out to all of the spouses/partners of the deployed service members. It’s great that we have communication from the base, but what was lacking was a community of support for the wives. No support network existed, so I suggested to the base that we start one, offered my assistance and they agreed.  Now we have our own network; a private Facebook group where we can share thoughts, concerns and ask for help from one another. We are growing quickly and are slowly developing a broader reach and a valuable connection. Who knows what may come of this; parenting help, career assistance, sharing of skills, mentoring and of course friendship.

Another result of this project was that I decided that more sharing of information and support was needed by military spouses as a whole and knew that I could fill that need. So, out of this experience came not only a new support network, but a new website – GuardWife.com – and a book on deployment from the family’s perspective is in progress.

Lessons learned:

  • Speak up and ask for what you want!
  • Chances are good that someone else needs the same resource that you are looking for.
  • If the network doesn’t exist; create it yourself.
  • If you find a need out there that is not being met; FILL IT!

You may be able to make money from your innovations and ideas or maybe not. You never know where they will lead you. The important thing is that your need will be filled and you will most likely have added to your network and helped others along the way.

If you want to read more on stepping outside your comfort zone, read Key Questions: What Are Your Limitations?

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Absolute Minimums are a Must to Improve Productivity

By on July 23, 2010 in Personal Growth, Success

If you consistently accomplish your absolute minimum in each of your critical core concentration areas each day you will make significant progress toward you goals over time.

Remember, slow and steady wins the race. You can always do more than the minimum and I hope you will, but even small amounts of advancement add up. Too often we get caught up in the mental trap of believing that if we can’t commit a substantial amount of time and energy then we might as well not bother to take action at all. That is a myth.

Take a look at what you have identified as your current critical areas of focus and determine what your absolute minimums are.

What is the least amount of time, effort or action you need to take to see progress?

Each person will have different answers and only you as an individual can reasonably define what they are. It is also helpful to note which focus area they address. To get you started, here is an example based on my current focus list, of the absolute minimums that I must do with consistency; both to achieve progress towards my goals and also to feel satisfied with my life and work:

  • Exercise a minimum of 20 minutes daily – physical health
  • Write one hour – career
  • Email my husband daily summary & encouragement – family
  • Work a minimum of 6 hours each day during the summer – career
  • Social media (10 Twitter posts and 1 Facebook post daily, update LinkedIn status weekly) – career
  • Connect with at least one child each day (one on one time, phone call or email/text communication) – family
  • Take 30 minutes of alone time (crucial to my sanity) – mental health
  • Check in with my Facebook community (especially group for spouses of deployed military members) – friends

Your list may be very different and it should be since your life situation is dissimilar to mine. This list will then become a structure for new habits you want to implement. The amount and complexity is up to you, but remember to keep it reasonable or you won’t be able to maintain your momentum.

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Time Wasters: Top 5 things I Don’t Do That Increase Productivity

By on July 13, 2010 in Success

timeI don’t watch TV – Well ok, I watch a little, but in all honesty it is usually limited to 2 or 3 evening shows during the week and a movie with the kids on Friday night (which I often read during anyway.) If I have to exercise indoors, I will put on Morning Joe. That means I average 5 hours of TV watching per week; considerably less than the average American who watches 28 hours. Look at all of the time wasted!

I don’t play games on the internet – I limit computer usage to work, email and one hour of social media per day (that would be less if it was not necessary for business.) I do not surf the internet, play solitaire or Farmville on Facebook. That is not a productive use of my time.

I do not spend time gossiping around the water cooler (or over the “hedge row”)- This one is an easy one for me since I work from home and my water cooler conversations are limited to 140 characters on our Twitter account! Bonus: It also allows you to stay out of office or neighborhood drama.

I do not watch the news or read a daily newspaper – I know that’s blasphemous for some. Rest assured that I still know what’s going on in the world and my community. I do subscribe to RSS feeds and Twitter accounts from a couple of national news outlets and a couple of local ones as well. That allows me to get the news in real time and scroll through quicker to the items that interest me. I do subscribe to the Sunday paper which I thoroughly enjoy and immerse myself in the delight of the printed news, lifestyle and comics once a week.

I do not over-commit myself – I have learned to say no to activities that do not add value or are not the best use of my skills and time. For example I do not volunteer to work all school events, but I do the bookkeeping for the school PTO (It is easy for me with my business background and I can do it around my schedule, therefore it’s a good fit.) As an add on to this, I do not allow my children to over commit either, which makes for less stress and teaches them the value of making choices.

There were others that are on my list of “Don’ts,” but did not make the top 5. Watch for more time wasters in a future post…

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Know Yourself – Critical Productivity Success Strategy

By on July 7, 2010 in Success

Do you really know yourself? Have you thoroughly identified, examined and analyzed your thought patterns, activity routines, preferences, abilities and comfort zones? Probably not. Most people never take the time to truly understand how and why they do what they do. Are they afraid of what they will find? Do they judge themselves too harshly? Find too many areas that fall short?

What if we look at it in another way? What if instead of judging,  berating and spending time and effort trying to improve and change everything that you or current business wisdom thinks is wrong;  you instead just decide to go with what you’ve got and learn to make it work for you? Why do we have to label everything good or bad? How about, it just is! This does not mean that you stop striving for efficiency, growth, knowledge and success, but just don’t place quite so much focus on it.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked, but often most critical component of maximizing your productivity and business and personal success is finding and using what works best for you as an individual or your company as an entity. The news is full of both people and organizations that seem to break all the rules, yet in spite of or maybe because of their quirks still become wildly successful and seem incredibly content. What if your comfort zone isn’t such a bad place to spend maybe 80% of your time?

What’s comfortable for you?

Some preferences or styles to consider:

  • Time
  • Temperature
  • Pace
  • Atmosphere
  • Work style
  • Life style
  • Social style
  • Communication preferences

For example, my husband prefers to run outside in any weather, at 4AM, in 45 degrees at a moderate pace; while I prefer to run outside as long as it is reasonably nice, at 7AM, in 60 degrees at a good clip, but I take walk breaks if I need them. Both work.

I prefer to work at a very fast, focused pace in a solitary environment with music in the background or on my iPod to shut out the world. I also work in comfortable clothes and sometimes in my pajamas and slippers. Others work at a slower, but steady pace and prefer noise or co-workers around them. Many people feel better working in professional attire and make-up.  I’ll admit that the “experts” including me on occasion have been proponents of “dressing for success” and I still agree on the whole, but if you are one of the few for whom that doesn’t feel right then by all means ignore that piece of advice.  Many a best-selling novel or million dollar deal has been made while wearing flannels!

Do you prefer to start work early at 5AM, keep office hours starting at 9 or are you most productive in the evening?

Do you separate each job, client or project and draw a clear boundary between each as well as your private life or do you intersperse all types of work, play and family and that seems to work for you?

Do you prefer to communicate in person, via phone or by email? All are valid and have different advantages and disadvantages.

The key to this strategy is to know what is most effective for you. If something is not working for you, i.e. you really could get more done if you got up and started working before the kids woke, but you stay up too late watching TV and don’t get out of bed, then by all means CHANGE IT! But if you enjoy conducting business in your bathrobe at noon in your bunny slippers, then just don’t use video conferencing please!

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