Productivity
Taking Productivity Systems to Excess
It is my observation that productivity ‘systems’ appeal most to people with a certain kind of mindset: process-oriented, rigorous, ordered. Other types of personality can certainly see the benefits of a certain approach, but in my experience they’re less likely to take it on board fully or to adhere to it slavishly. More for them [...]
You Today, You Tomorrow
Procrastination. Now I know you don’t indulge, but you know people who do. Putting off what you’ve told yourself you ought to be doing or have done. That doesn’t mean putting things off is always procrastination. It’s easy to tell. When you tell yourself you’re going to put whatever it is off (again), do you [...]
Tactical Mediocrity
I’ve been playing with a concept I call tactical mediocrity. My definition: A conscious decision not to develop your level of accomplishment or explore your potential in a given field. You don’t want to be the best, or even great, because of all the crap that comes with it: pressure, scrutiny, attention, responsibility. You just [...]
The Power of Positive Engagement
Ever had trouble motivating yourself for something? Ever done battle with procrastination? Ever struggled even to get out of bed in the morning? Yeah, me too. Honestly I don’t think anyone can beat those ogres all the time. We’re human. We’re fallible. Big deal. So I’m going to look at something that will get you [...]
Are productivity systems for everyone?
Is it only certain types of people who benefit from the productivity systems such as Getting Things Done (GTD) that people like me know and love? Or is it that while everyone can enjoy the benefit, but not everyone can see that benefit? I ask this because the response I get when I talk about [...]
New Beginnings
I’ve got a new job. As of next month I’m going to be a productivity trainer. Just like David Allen. In fact almost exactly like David Allen. That excites me very much. It’s a huge change of direction in my career. I’m giving up the warmth and security of the civil service for a completely [...]
Why increasing personal productivity isn’t just for overworked executives
Many people know they have to be at their desk for eight hours a day regardless of how quickly they get things done. They have no incentive to become more productive because they know their only reward will be more work or staring blankly at an empty screen. They might as well just string things [...]
How You Conspire to Beat the Procrastination Busters
photo credit: atconc I have plenty of personal projects and goals I want to pursue in addition to my paid employment, but the time I can spend on them is relatively scant and must be shared with my other non-work activities. Sound familiar? At the end of the day or at the weekend when I [...]
How to Benefit from Your Finite Capacity for Worry
photo credit: javiekitela Do you find that you’ve always got something on your mind or something to worry about? Have you ever noticed that the fewer worries you have, the more time you devote to each? I seem to have a finite capacity for worrying or debating things with myself. If there are lots of [...]
Great so I’m an early riser, but my partner isn’t…
photo credit: JF Sebastian The strapline here at pantsonfaster.com is “productivity in the real world”. That’s because some of the productivity advice I see around the place is fine in theory, but not so easy in practice. In this post I’m going to take a simple example. I’ve read plenty of posts about why any [...]
