Summer vacation is over and it’s “Back To Work” time. What does that mean for most of us? Rushing from task to meeting to email to meeting to task? Do we try “multi-tasking” only to get lost in missing details and focus? Do we try concentrating on two or three things at a time?
I’m trying to keep two blogs current with almost daily thoughts and news. I’ve invested in a coffee cafe and am doing some marketing for it. (Need to get a return on my investment.) After a request from a pastor, I took on a staff role leading missions for my church. August and September are extremely busy months for assigning referees to soccer matches.
On top of it all, I pay my bills by doing research and analysis within the manufacturing technology market along with management and marketing consulting. A big job came my way. Its start was delayed. Its end date wasn’t. It needed to be done in August and September.
What I need is a focus on personal productivity.
More than ToDo List
The key to personal productivity survival lies in the ability to focus on one thing at a time. I write everything down I need to do. I’ve mentioned before I use an app called Nozbe (affiliate account, by the way). That way I don’t worry about forgetting something. But looking at the entire list is overwhelming.
Nozbe helps me follow the Getting Things Done lifestyle. It begins with “a mind like water.” I don’t force it to remember everything. I try to write down things I must remember to do or to follow up on. Then it enters into Nozbe.
Then I remember that old joke–how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
So, everyday, I scan my list. Every week I study and plan the week. Every month I take stock of what I’m doing versus what I want to become. That puts my list in perspective.
Daily, I just tackle one thing. Concentrate on only that. Usually 25 minutes then take a short break. That’s called the Pomodoro technique. Sometimes, like this analysis project, I dive into research so deeply that an hour or two pass without my even noticing the passage of time.
Then it’s time for a break. Then focus on the next task.
Find your life’s rhythm
I think I’m in good company. Many famous and successful people work that way. Focus, work, break (refreshment/meditation). Focus, work, break.
There is a refreshing rhythm to that pace. Sometimes the break can be 5 minutes of the Pomodoro technique. Sometimes maybe for a day or two.
Find your daily rhythm. Read. Meditate. Work. Play. Rest.
Accomplish more. Stress less. Focus on the important things.
