For too many mornings of my life I’ve felt a little (or a lot) overwhelmed. Many things that needed to be done would be clamoring, “Me, me! Work on this right here!” It’s hard to choose when they’re all vying for attention like that. After reading many books, articles, and blog posts and after trying… Continue Reading
Sometimes, when I look at my to-do list, I feel a little overwhelmed. There are a lot of items, and I can be unsure where to start. Do you ever feel like that? Here’s what I tried this week, which you might like, too. Big focus areas. Before taking action on anything, I listed a… Continue Reading
Let’s say that you are designing training in a ridiculously short timeline (say, 3 days to get ready for a 1/2-day course or 3 weeks to put together a 3-week course). There are many ways to save time and still have respectable, professional-looking course materials. Of course you’ll do a great (but quick) job with… Continue Reading
Years ago, I took a job at a Fortune 500 company that was, at the time, a darling of the press. When I showed up for my first day, I found I was missing some basic things that I needed to be productive: for example, a computer. What did this company do? They built computers.… Continue Reading
Let’s say you have something to do, and you’re not feeling motivated to work on it. Here’s usually why: It doesn’t fit my goals It isn’t interesting It’s so easy, I’ll just do it later It’s so hard, I can’t get it done (well enough, on time, or maybe ever) I’m too distracted It’s not… Continue Reading
Not that this would ever happen to you, but sometimes I find myself with some project that really needs doing, that has needed doing for a while now, and that just won’t get done. Part 2 | Hopelessly Behind? Catch Up Anyway The fix: catch up with a (2+1)✕5 Schedule (your numbers may vary). For… Continue Reading
Let’s say, just for the sake of realism, that there are more things to do in your day than you can get done. Or maybe you just don’t feel like doing the stuff on your list. How to fix? Part 1 | Fend Off the Distractions List your distractions, for example: being sidetracked with email,… Continue Reading
Looking at nature is good for you. Good for mental and physical restoration. Better memory. Better health. More satisfaction in life. It’s good for productivity, too. Photo © Jeanne Farrington What’s amazing is that any of the following can reduce stress, improve mood, and increase productivity: A walk in a nature preserve A view of… Continue Reading
When I was in college, I couldn’t study in the library. The silence-that-wasn’t-really silence amplified sibilant whispers, scratching pens and rustling papers. So distracting. I found that continuous sounds that blended together were far better for studying. Not too long ago, after noticing that it was easier to be creative in a coffee shop than… Continue Reading
From Columbus, Georgia. I just changed the time zone on my computer clock: 6:09 a.m. seems like such a better time to be up & writing than 3:09, which is the time it is at home. For some reason I was awake most of the night. Jet lag, probably. So I made sure, when I… Continue Reading
