The home of all things productivity…
But before that, I want to let you in on the Productivity Myth.
The productivity myth is the perception that everyone else is more productive than we are.
You see, I’m yet to meet a person who is perpetually productive.
But I continuously talk to people who are hard on themselves because the still watch TV/Netflix, because they have lazy couch time, because they think they should be doing more.
To me, productivity isn’t about working 16 hours a day, and it’s not about being productive all the time.
Instead, it’s about using your work time effectively.
I’d much rather work an hour or 2, and get a huge amount of work done, than faff around on my laptop for an 8 hour “work” day, and not actually achieve anything.
So the tools, links and worksheets on this page are to help you be more productive.
Not because I think you should be working more… the complete opposite. I want you to be able to work less.
Some notes to get the most out of this page:
– Find what works for you. There is lots of information here. Some of it will work for you, some of it won’t, and that’s ok.
– Be realistic about your time. If you only get an hour or 2 to work in a day, then rework your to-do list to match. Overwhelm comes from looking at 8 hours worth of work, and wondering how on earth it will all fit in the next 30min.
– Be productive, not just busy. Sure, you can sit at your computer for an hour, use the tools below, set tasks and smash them out… but if those tasks are just busy work (eg. social media) and not asset generating or income generating, then you are still going to struggle to meet your goals.
Ok, that’s enough of the mum in me… on with the links.
Worksheets and information
Learn all about batching.
Download the Batching Worksheet here. Learn all about batching tasks, and how it can help you get through more tasks, more quickly.
Tools and software
These are some of the tools and software that I use (or have used) to keep track of my to-do lists, to focus more, and to keep on time.
Asana
Asana is a project management system which allows you to keep track of all the things you want to do, craete checklists, set reminders and deadlines and much, much more. The FREE version is more than enough to get you on your way and super organised.
I used it for several years, but have just switched back to using Trello instead.
Trello
I like to think of Trello like my virtual pinboard. Rather than sticking post it notes all over my desk and/or wall, I stick them here. It’s a visual project management tool which allows you to create lists, add images and checklists, set reminders and much more.
I also have the app on my phone so that I can track tasks on the go.
Focus at will
Focus at will is a platform full of music that is specifically designed to help you focus.
They are much better at explaining it than I am, but this has been a life saver when I have big projects to work through or large documents to write. (This is best used with headphones in, and works best when you are home alone… don’t try and use this with the kids around)
Pomodoro timer
The pomodoro method involves breaking your day into 25min blocks with 5 min breaks. You focus on a specific tasks (like writing a book) or a specific set of tasks (like clearing email) for the 25min period, then you take a small break and move on to the next task.
If the pomodoro method doesn’t quite work for you, try setting your own timer for a different time. For example, if I’ve been avoiding a task, I set a 10 or 15 min timer and simply start. It’s amazing how much you can smash out in 10 min if you are trying, and once you have started it is much easier to keep going.