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Learn how to be productive, manage your time effectively, and achieve your goals while still enjoying life. Discover strategies for efficiency, prioritization, and achieving a state of flow at work.
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How to Get Your Work Done and Still Have the Time of Your Life! Joanna R. Branham, Facilitator
How Do You KNOW When You Are Being Productive? • Three very important questions to ask ourselves: • Are you productive—or just busy? • Do you plan your day? • Do you have goals?
Are you productive—or just busy? • Everybody likes to look busy. • Having lots of plates spinning at once doesn’t necessarily mean anything was accomplished. • Set your sights on realistic, attainable goals, and work towards them.
Do You Plan Your Day? • Planning is about keeping track of your projects and long-term goals and managing your priorities. • You can have a to-do-list and never look ahead. • PLAN
Do You Have Goals? • Our biggest goals, professionally and personally, are the things that we care most about in the world. • Your big goals in life are your highest priorities. • Write down your goals.
PRODUCTIVITY • Means having done everything I meant to do yesterday, keeping in control of today, and actively preparing for tomorrow.
BECOMING MORE EFFICIENT • Time management isn’t about finding more hours in the day – it’s about making the most of those you have! • Stop hunting for spare minutes and starting thinking about how to become more efficient.
Question 1: How can I complete this task in less time? • Make sure you aren’t over-researching, over-analyzing, or just plain over-thinking what you’re trying to do. • Some fish will grow to fit the size of their tank!
Question 2: What will help me do this faster? • What’s the number one technique for speeding things up? • F-O-C-U-S! • Give yourself 10 minutes to focus on the task at hand. • Don’t forget about technology.
Question 3: Can we create a process to simplify this task? • Struggling with the same or similar tasks over and over? • It’s time to GET A SYSTEM IN PLACE! • How do runners finish marathons? • One stride at a time.
Question 4: Does this task require such a high level of perfection? • Some tasks demand excellence. • Others might only need to be acceptable. • Perfect isn’t going to happen. • A perfectionist’s projects are often in a frustrating limbo.
Question 5: Can we skinny it down a bit? • Projects can snowball • Take a deep breath and get back on track. • Go back to your original intentions. • Step back and take another look at the big picture.
Question 6: What needs to happen to meet this deadline? • Break it down. • Be specific. • No deadline? Create your own. • By focusing on your more manageable, self-imposed deadlines, the project will naturally break down into manageable chunks.
USING “TO-DO” LISTS: No One Can Use Just One • Master To-Do List: Running list of everything I need to do. • Daily To-Do List: Essentially my daily plan, this captures everything I truly intend to get done that day.
ACHIEVING A STATE OF “FLOW” AT WORK • Being totally immersed in what you were experiencing or doing.
Benefits of FLOW • Output is increased. • You perform optimally and do your best work. • The time invested in projects is decreased. • Less rework. • Peace of mind is enhanced.
Characteristics of the non-flow states. • Continually stopping one task and starting another. • Not establishing a goal or “end” state • Constant disruptions and interruptions, which make it difficult to concentrate • Feeling overwhelmed • Low energy period
Characteristics of the FLOW state • A vested interest in the outcome • A strong belief that you can and will accomplish your goal • Total focus, with no interruptions • High energy period
Characteristics of the FLOW state • Passion/Fun/Enjoyment • Proper environmental conditions (temperature, smells, noise) • Minimal effort required (low learning curve)
How do you achieve this wonderful state of FLOW? • Master your job. • Prepare for and expect to achieve FOCUS. • Clear your desk. • Set aside some time. • Ensure no interruptions. • Take each step deliberately and with full attention.
RESOURCES • FLOW chart • Using your planner • Master lists • To-Do-Lists
Life Is To Be Lived! What’s Important! What’s Less Important!
Make it a productive day! Thank You!