Get it over and done with early - so you can relax support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
I use this trick all the time when I have to complete a big project: I greatly overestimate the amount of time that I need to do something. For example, a few weekends ago I was dreading completing this PowerPoint presentation, thinking that is was going to take me three solid days of work to do. I had blocked off 3 full days, had already canceled other plans, and was ready to devote a large block of time to this presentation. Once I started, however, I realized that as I was whistling through the presentation and once again had way overestimated the amount of time I needed to complete the presentation, so I had lots of time to add additional research, refine and edit the presentation. As a result, I not only got it done in much less time than I thought, I was able to spend more quality time perfecting it. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
You probably have a long list of tasks to do. Some say to do the easiest first, just get those over with. I say the opposite – do the worst first. Get them over with first, and the rest is easy. This is why I always want to be the first in line to do anything that I dread. Another trick when you are dreading something: focus on what you will do AFTER this thing that you are dreading. I used to hate going to the dentist when I was younger, but then when I focused and visualized my life in the afternoon after the visit, either having lunch or studying or working, the dread lessened. Focus on your life AFTER the event, whether you are speaking to a crowd, bungee jumping or making sales calls, it’s a great way of past something you are dreading. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
Who says that meetings have to be some increment of 30 minutes? If you have completed what you need to do, feel free to end the meeting early. In fact, you should try to always end meetings early. If you can estimate better, try to shrink it even further. If you can have the meeting in 15 minutes, or 10, then do so. Sometimes when you are in the middle of a string of back and forth emails, a quick 10-minute call can be just the thing you need to get the answers you need. Don’t stick to the clock, end meetings when the productive work is done. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
I use Asana for my personal and work todo lists and I religiously use that list, every day. Everything I need to do goes on the list. If it is not on the list it will not get done. Period. If someone wants me to do something, either they put it on the list for me, or I add it. If it’s not on the list, then IT DOESN’T EXIST. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
We all have gap time – prepare for it by having something to read or constructive to do at all times. I don’t mean watching Netflix or dumb Youtube videos. Why not listen to podcasts, or motivational speakers, or read a book on your Kindle app. I’ve been told that Stephen King is such an avid reader that people have seen him walking and reading a book, waiting in a line at the movie theater reading that book, closing the book only when the movie starts, and then reopening it the moment the lights come up. He doesn’t waste any time – he knows that every moment is important and precious – so should we. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
This one is not fun for the night owls, but it works. In fact, this combines a bunch of ideas in one – get up early enough and no one will bug you, you will be working when no one else is, and you’ll love it when you’ve almost completed a full days work by the time everyone else is just getting up. I used to be a total night owl, and then I got a project where I needed to be up at 430 every weekday for an east coast client. I got more done in those four and a half hours before 9 am than I ever had before – the peace and quiet and focus I could have were worth it. Of course, you’ll need to get to bed earlier (it’s tough for a night owl to hit the sack at 930, but it’s doable. Now if only someone could come up with a way to get 8 hours of sleep in 4… Of course, you can also always stay up later – however, you may not be as refreshed and ready to work after a full day. Might work for some of you. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
You can’t do it alone! We all need timers and reminders to do things. Setting a timer on a task (especially a large one which you are procrastinating on) will at least get you started on the task. When the timer goes off, you can decide to keep going or stop. Want to go for a 30-minute walk? Set a 15-minute timer when you leave and just keep walking straight ahead. When it goes off, turn around and head back. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
When you really need to focus on a task, create a “no communication” zone where you go to a place where you can work completely undisturbed by any incoming communications – whether it’s over your phone, computer, or in person. Block off the time, get into that cone of silence, and don’t stop until you get done what you need to get done. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
Everyone has times when they are at their best and most focused during the day – some people are night owls and do their best work at night – others do it first thing in the morning. Most people don’t hit their stride until 10 am – what is your prime time? When are you most productive and alert? At what time of the day do you feel so energized that you can just keep going and going? Figure out that time of day and use it to your advantage – do your most important work then, and leave the drudgery to the rest of the day. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
You probably have a long list of tasks to do. Some say to do the easiest first, just get those over with. I say the opposite – do the worst first. Get them over with first, and the rest is easy. This is why I always want to be the first in line to do anything that I dread. Another trick when you are dreading something: focus on what you will do AFTER this thing that you are dreading. I used to hate going to the dentist when I was younger, but then when I focused and visualized my life in the afternoon after the visit, either having lunch or studying or working, the dread lessened. Focus on your life AFTER the event, whether you are speaking to a crowd, bungee jumping, or making sales calls, it’s a great way of past something you are dreading. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
Look at the next task on your list. Do you really need to do that? Will it help you to progress forward towards your goals in life? Will it really take you to the next level? Is it something that you really need to do? If not, then you have full permission to just delete it. If you don’t have to do it, then simply don’t. Also, try not to spend too much time agonizing over your decision to do it or not – just make a judgment: is completing this task in line with my goals or not? If no, delete. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
Torn from the pages of Agile Software Development, the daily standup is a daily team meeting where everyone goes around the room (typically first thing in the morning) and reports (while standing) three things: 1) what you did yesterday? 2) what you plan on doing today? 3) if there is anything stopping you from doing what you plan to do today? Do this with yourself, in the morning, in the mirror, as soon as you wake up. You’ll find that it’s a great way to reset your intention for the day. Don’t read off a list of things, just focus on the one or two most important items that you must finish. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
Just learned this one the other day and as an avid reader, I am loving it. I don’t like not finishing books, no matter if they are fiction or nonfiction. Even if the book is not that good, I keep pushing through. Now, if I’ve read 50 pages of a book and I still don’t want to continue, it’s a natural place to stop. Most books today are oversized blog posts disguised as books anyways, they very rarely have enough content to fill their 200 odd pages and are full of filler. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
From the desk of Marie Kondo – your home is filled with gifts that you might feel like you don’t really want to get rid of, but the gift really was in the giving. The gift fulfilled its purpose of giving when it was given to you. If you don’t use it now, it doesn’t bring you joy now, then give it away to someone else. It’s just another thing you have to move (or walk around) while looking for something else. Return it, regift it, or Goodwill it. Let someone else get some joy out of it now. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
Every moment counts – why bring your mail in to read it when most of it is bound for recycling any way – save the trip. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
As above, it’s the same for the AM. Try to wake up at the same time every day – don’t use snooze, and get out of bed and stretch. Try to create a morning routine as well – maybe including exercise, meditation, planning, journaling, etc. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
I used to sleep in on the weekends and it really messes up your sleep schedule. Your body doesn’t really know the difference between the weekdays and the weekends. Do it a favor and try to go to bed at the same time every day. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to have a standard nighttime routine which cuts out all electronic devices at least 30 minutes before lights out. You can always read a paper book or Kindle for those last 30 minutes before you turn out the light. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
Everyone’s gotta eat: you can either grab fast food every day, or take a few minutes to plan and map out your week of meals, buy everything you need, and have it ready. Some people I know cook once a week, freeze their meals and eat over the course of the week. Or if that’s too much, subscribe to a meal service which can bring you healthy meals directly to your house. support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support
Most people use a web-based email solution, but those are terrible at mass deletion. Take my advice and if you are looking to perform mass cleanup of those emails, use a client. It doesn’t matter if you use Outlook, Thunderbird, Astro, or any other email client out there if you set up a client you should be able to rapidly delete a ton of emails. I use the “Sort By Sender” feature to very quickly group email into batches which then allows me to very rapidly determine if these emails come from a source I care about. It’s a great way to unsubscribe as well. Once you’ve highlighted the offending emails, just delete and they will disappear from webmail as well support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support