7 Surprising Secrets to Getting More Done
The more you get done the further you go. But flopping around like a headless chicken isn’t the answer.
7 surprising secrets to getting more done:
#1. Get boring. Develop predictable routines. It takes more discipline to function in freeform. Do the same thing at 6 a.m. everyday. I learned this when my travel schedule began interrupting my morning writing routine. Writing in the evening is misery.
Predictability saves energy. Routines enable focus.
#2. Build a team of doers. Organizations need more doers than dreamers. Don’t tell me what you hope to do. Tell me what you’ve done.
Dreamers are like salt. A little goes a long way.
#3. Tap into fear. Don’t ignore your dread of falling short or screwing up. It may not be the most noble motivation, but it’s a great kick in the pants when timelines are short and people are counting on you.
Don’t count on people who don’t care if they let people down. People with self-respect care.
#4. Find a work buddy. Work with someone who works like you. Find a morning person, if you like to start early, for example.
#5. Eliminate distractions. Turn off email. Close the door.
Eliminate distractions during your most productive time of the day.
#6. Be your own boss, even if you have one. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do. My head will explode if I hear one more person excuse poor performance with, “I was waiting…”
#7. Tap into joy. Fear may work in the short-term, but joy keeps pulling. Align with inner motivations. Write lists, if you enjoy checking things off? Use a whiteboard and bright colors.
I love working with ideas and solving pressing issues. When these two things are present, work isn’t work.
Bonus: Don’t work when you rest.
Stop working to get more done.
Which of these ideas is most useful to you?
What suggestions for getting more done might you add?
…and remember the Calvin Coolidge quote: ” We cannot do everything at once at once, but we can do something at once.”
Thanks Gerry. That makes my head spin. 🙂
Dan, you might appreciate this link to a conference presentation on “The Psychology of Kanban:
It covers most of the content in the authors’ book on Personal Kanban that describes how to visualize work and limit work in process — techniques for limiting distractions and getting work done.
Thanks Paul. It’s great when people extend the conversation.
I recommend working in 90 minute blocks with no distractions where you focus on ONE THING / ONE PRIORITY. Do 4 of these sessions in a day and you will amaze yourself in terms of what you achieve and get done. It gives you either 4 sessions of peak performance on one massive priority, or the option of pushing up to 4 priority areas along in one day. You can break down each 90 minute block into smaller chunks if you want, but make sure you’re not adding distraction or switching to different areas, as that breaks flow and productivity.
Thanks Kevin. Simple is workable. 🙂 My attention span is shorter than 90 min. BUT, the principle works even for people like me.
And after each uninterrupted 90-minute block, don’t forget to take a break and renew! Managing your energy is even more important than managing your time.
Dan, as usual, all the quotes are good but I’ll pick “Tap Into Joy” as my favorite. In one of your recent posts you mentioned doing things you enjoy so that you can get energy as you give and that really struck me as did today’s post. It would be too long to describe here but these are incredibly relevant to me at this season of my life/career. Thanks so much for your daily investment in me.
Thanks Paul. It means a lot to me to read your comment. I’m learning to monitor joy more and more. It’s great to be pulled through the day rather than feeling like you’re pushing through.
Best for the journey.
I know I need to do #1 more (boring routines) but #3 (find a buddy) really appeals to my heart. I’ve recently found an accountability partner and we did our first follow up last Friday. Now I am stepping it up and emailing him at the end of each day with how I felt I stuck to my top 3 things. How many distractions did I let consume more time than appropriate? Did I give myself permission to rest as well? Those can be hard to balance when you have a history of negative perfectionism.
Thanks James. Love the accountability partner idea with pre-set questions. I imagine you designed your own questions. If you want to get more done, create accountability. 🙂
Are you a mind reader, Dan?
I have NO MEETINGS on my calendar and planned to be super-productive today but found myself chasing “shiny objects” and it’s not even 9:30 yet….
Becoming distracted and trying to get back on track is a a daily battle! I pulled this out to help me and then read your post. Thought it might help someone else out there…
http://caps.ucsd.edu/Downloads/tx_forms/koch/pomodoro_handouts/ThePomodoroTechnique_v1-3.pdf
I love this Link too, “The Psychology of Kanban:
No surprise that these are uncomplicated and easy to execute. I’m a Keep It Simple kind of person and there is nothing like the positive reinforcement of seeing immediate results from a change in routine or behavior. Thanks!
“Bonus: Don’t work when you rest” is the most useful for me. I’ve been letting the “rest” time go for far too long. Not taking a real break means I am not as productive as I could be. This reinforces my decision to take some long weekends, during which I really don’t check email, voicemail, or “tie up just one more thing.”
I’m having trouble getting my head around #3, “Tap into your fear,” as it’s written. Yes indeed, recognize your fear, determine where it’s really coming from, and then put it aside. I don’t see how fear can be motivational or a sign of self-respect. Fear is not the same thing as caring.Fear is often tied to limiting beliefs and is usually paralysing. By acknowledging to yourself that you want to do a great job (“done is better than perfect”), understanding how your contribution can make a difference, and assuming your fair share of responsibility are, in my opinion, more productive options than using fear to get the job done. Replace fear with flow!
I’m retiring very soon and I’m concerned that I may not handle my time well. I love the 90 minute idea. I can make a plan and focus on something for 90 minutes four times a day – most days anyway.
For more information regarding managing your energy and timing breaks every 90 minutes, check out Tony Schwartz and his program called The Energy Project.
I love #6. This is a common ailment in my new workplace as the boss we have is not the best at communication or delegation…making for an office of squatters ultimately. Time to take control of my own wheel. 🙂
Eliminating distractions (#5) is the tactic I use, particularly when I am dealing with tight deadlines. I recently left an organization that relies heavily on Instant Messaging and considers it to be a way to improve productivity; I disagree, particularly when it interrupts a meeting or a team work session.
“Tap into Joy” So true…sometimes being able to SEE the progress helps motivate you to continue or stay focused. BTW…love you on periscope!
Hey Dan! Great list as always.
May I add:
1) Get things off your mind and onto paper. Use your mind for processing information, not for holding it.
2) Learn to say NO to others. When you say NO to others, you say YES to yourself.
3) Do one thing at a time. Slow down if you have to. If you rush through your To-Do you’re likely to be much less productive.