{"id":12552,"date":"2013-02-21T22:51:46","date_gmt":"2013-02-22T06:51:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=12552"},"modified":"2015-08-04T16:40:45","modified_gmt":"2015-08-05T00:40:45","slug":"7-unexpected-principles-to-finding-your-most-productive-self","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/7-unexpected-principles-to-finding-your-most-productive-self\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Unexpected Principles to Finding Your Most Productive Self"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cEither you run the day or the day runs you\u201d<\/em> Jim Rohn<\/p>\n

Have you ever tried a productivity system like creating massive to-do lists, not-to-do lists, GTD<\/em>, the 4-Hour Workweek<\/em> …only to find out this doesn’t quite work for you?<\/p>\n

Worst of all, do you have a sense of overwhelm and anxiety when you think of your priorities for the day?<\/p>\n

Sometimes we\u2019d like the day to have 25 hours.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not MORE hours.
\nIt\u2019 s being MORE disciplined with your time.<\/p>\n

To prove the point to myself, I had the idea of putting myself in my favorite athlete\u2019s shoes for a week and see if I\u2019d have a more productive week.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0\u00a0Why Think Like an Athlete?
\n<\/strong>
\nWho epitomize achievement through discipline?
\nWho push body and mind, often since childhood, to reach excellence at the highest levels of human performance?
\nWho make sacrifices beyond imagination?
\nAthletes do.<\/p>\n

I picked Clara Hughes, Olympic medalist speed skater as my model and started building a work routine just like hers:<\/p>\n

Get up early, stretch, workout, eat, workout, recover, study, workout, nap, work…
\nOnce I got used to her skates, I started feeling a change in my attitude towards work – I was getting more disciplined and focused.
\nThe IOC (International Olympic Committee\u2019s site<\/a>) even offered me some helpful tips on time management:<\/p>\n

\u00ab Time management skills<\/em><\/strong> are essential skills for effective elite athletes.
\nAthletes who master these techniques<\/strong> routinely are the highest achievers, even those under intense pressure, in all walks of life, from sport to business.<\/em><\/p>\n

Firstly, it is important to identify and concentrate on the things that matter most<\/strong>. This ensures that you achieve the greatest benefit possible with the limited amount of time available to you. \u00bb<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how these tips apply to your daily work:
\n2. \u00a0\u00a0Find your Big Rocks
\n<\/strong>
\nYou probably don\u2019t have time to do everything that\u2019s on your to-do list.
\nSo how do you choose?
\nThere\u2019s a simple rule but you might not like it:
\nYou say NO to all the things that will not have a direct impact on your business.<\/p>\n

Clara Hughes acknowledges: \u201cWhat\u2019s most difficult for me is saying no. \u00a0I often feel that I\u2019m letting people down. \u00a0I\u2019ve had to learn how to recognize my limits and respect these limits\u201d<\/p>\n

3. <\/em>Keep Track of your time<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00b7 For a week, try writing down each activity you work on.
\nI know it sounds tedious but it\u2019s a fast and easy way to find out whether you\u2019re spending time on your Small Rocks or your Big Rocks.\u00a0 All you need is a pad of paper to jot down the time you start an activity and the time you finish it.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 \u00a0Decide on what you want to do with the small stuff: eliminate, delay, replace.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 \u00a0Procrastinating? \u00a0In his book, Art of Procrastination<\/em>, John Perry, a philosopher at Stanford University talks about \u201cstructured procrastination<\/a>\u201d. It makes sense to follow a classic advice: Just get started. \u00a0To do so: <\/strong>Chunk down your projects to chewable bites.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 \u00a0Tired? Start observing your work patterns. \u00a0Are you a morning person? A night owl? Athletes schedule downtime and restorative breaks after each intensive practice.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to find out how efficiently you are managing your energy, take this free audit<\/a>.\u00a0 Author Tony Schwartz founded Renewa<\/em>l to help businesses like Google and Coca-Coal renew their energy to be more productive.<\/p>\n

Working in 90-minute intervals turns out to be a prescription for maximizing productivity.<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/strong>\u00b7 If you\u2019re still in a rut why not try an egg timer to pace you and get you started?<\/p>\n

Turn the dial and listen to the minutes ticking away as a mantra.
\nWhen you do this rotational movement, you send a signal to your brain: JUST DO IT!
\nYou are now designing your very own personal productivity routine that fits your unique needs. \u00a0But you still need to tweak it a little more.<\/p>\n

4. Set yourself free and automate your process.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who wants to work like an automat?
\nWe tend to associate automation with boredom and lack of creativity.
\nBut automating your work routine is different.
\nIt allows you to dramatically reduce time spent on making decisions that drain your brain.\u00a0 Automation takes care of ongoing questions about when to look up your emails, when to answer the phone, how long to surf the Internet.
\nThose synaptic pathways in your brain are going to get worn in because of repetition.
\nYou create a habit of working on your Big Rocks.
\nBy now, do you need to relax?<\/em>
\n5. Relax to be more productive <\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>\u00b7 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Stop every 60-90 minutes
\n\u00b7 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Breathe.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Move.
\n\u00b7 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Walk your dog.<\/p>\n

\u00b7 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Try Downward\u00a0 <\/strong>Facing Dog<\/a> yoga pose for better focus.<\/p>\n

That\u2019ll get your creative juices running again.
\nEven better, this is where cross-pollination miracles happen.
\nAnd if you\u2019re taking a break, why not fuel your brain too?<\/p>\n

6. Eat and Drink <\/strong>
\nYou don\u2019t need 12,000 calories per day like Michael Phelps but make room for a balanced diet.\u00a0 Drink – your brain needs it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s so obvious we tend to ignore the advice.
\n7. Waste Your Time \u2013 but Waste it With Pleasure
\n<\/strong>
\nHey. We\u2019re humans. Doing nothing is important too.
\nFor ice dancing skater Marie-France Dubreuil, \u201cthe biggest obstacle to finding balance is my obsession with my work, I would continue thinking about training at the end of day. I had to learn to stay present in the moment<\/strong>.\u201d
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

So you\u2019re saying this is too simple?
\nWell, that\u2019s why it\u2019s so easy to dismiss.
\n<\/strong>
\nYou see you don’t have to be an athlete to apply these principles.
\nAll you need is to approach time with an open-mind and some imagination.
\nOne system does not fit all.
\nPlay around with your new work routine until it\u2019s a second skin.
\nThe ultimate reward is getting the results you\u2019ve been chasing all along.
\nAnd keeping your passion alive!
\n———<\/p>\n

Laure Cohen coaches business people on ways to sharpen their business acumen and hone their social skills.\u00a0 Find out more on how to stand out from the crowd in record time in her blog http:\/\/www.SheMeansSuccess.com<\/a>.\u00a0 Tweet her @laurecoh.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever tried a productivity system like creating massive to-do lists, not-to-do lists, GTD, the 4-Hour Workweek …only to find out this doesn’t quite work for you?<\/p>\n

Worst of all, do you have a sense of overwhelm and anxiety when you think of your priorities for the day? Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12163,"featured_media":12554,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[17,6],"tags":[4641,4631,66,4639,4629,4070,1270],"yoast_head":"\n7 Unexpected Principles to Finding Your Most Productive Self<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you ever tried a productivity system like creating massive to-do lists, not-to-do lists, GTD, the 4-Hour Workweek ...only to find out this doesn't quite work for you?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/7-unexpected-principles-to-finding-your-most-productive-self\/\" \/>\n<meta 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