[ThursdayClub] Your Best Foot
Good morning and happy Fri-YAY!
This month we are talking focus and productivity and the first part of that path is KNOWING you are an individual and YOU need to figure out what works best for you. You can read all my tips and tricks, read the 4-Hour Workweek (affiliate link) til your eyes blur – but unless you can find a system that works for you and then stick to it – well, it’s all a waste of time and that surely is NOT productive.
That being said, if you want to master your to-do list and feel good about the work you put in each day you will need to spend some time figuring YOU out. No way around it – it may seem like wasted time, but alas it is not. This is all part of the personal development journey and working on YOU!
This took me a long time – because forever I thought I was broken. When in fact I just have ADD – it’s also one of my superpowers!
I get distracted easily – yet distractions make me more productive. It seems like a contradiction but for me, it’s how I roll.
Here’s how you figure out what works for you – it will take some trial and error but the time spent will serve you in the long run.
For one week keep a daily log of your activity. I know it sounds crazy, but trust me on this it’s worth it. Grab your journal and jot it down, create a spreadsheet whatever works for you
- What time do you wake up – how do you feel? Refreshed, anxious, tired? Same with going to bed – what do you do before – do you wind down etc.
- What do you do for activity – gym, walking, etc. – When do you do it – how long, how do you feel before and after.
- When do you work – and where are you working – what are your surroundings? Try to be specific here. Are you at a desk, in a cubical, sitting in your living room – is it neat, is it messy, do you have a window?
- What does your to-do list look like – how much are you getting done – I want real numbers here.
NEXT
- CHANGE ONE THING FROM Above – for at least 3-4 days in a row. See how it affects your work. Only do one at a time. Track your results. Are you more focused, less focused, or the same?
- If less focused and less productive – go back to the original and change something else.
- If more focused and more productive – keep doing it to see if it’s sustainable and really is working!
- If the same – this isn’t something that is super important to your productivity.
This will take a while to figure out – but it’s all about being super intentional. Your MIND, BODY, and ENVIRONMENT all need to gel in harmony if you want to be hyper-focused. If you’ve ever done an elimination diet – it’s the same process. You change one thing at a time to see how it affects you until you’ve gone through all the variables and figured out the right diet!
If you read my email yesterday, I chatted a bit about my power zone – being outside, surrounded by distractions, a detailed list of what MUST get done today and what I neglected to add is the EAT THE DAMN FROG – that is doing the most important thing first or often something you don’t want to do. Just get it over with.
In the end, this is more about being happy than being a ninja with your to-do list. When you get shit done on your list, you feel accomplished. When you feel accomplished you feel better about yourself. When you feel better about yourself you tend to get more done AND create better habits.
It’s a happy little circle.
Lastly – if working in a cubicle isn’t productive for you, doesn’t make you happy – and that’s your job, start looking for a new one. You know my rule – if you have Sunday night angst over Monday morning work you are NOT doing what serves you and serves your soul.
Let me know how this week goes!!
Cheers!
CD