Your calendar can be a tool that protects your focus, defends your productivity, and gives a sense of what you can accomplish in a week. Merge your to-do list with your calendar. Whenever you add something to your to-do list for the week, immediately add the time it will take to your schedule. It will give you an actual picture of what you can accomplish.

Use your calendar for productivity

A focus block is a period of work where you shut out everything, turn off your phone, and pay attention to one task. The key to success for a focus block:<ul><li>No notification sounds or pop-ups.</li><li>The block should have a specific goal in mind.</li><li>Focus on one subject/project, rather than one area to another doing shallow work.</li><li>Train the people around you not to interrupt except for an emergency.</li></ul>

Get deep work done with a focus block

Without lunch blocked off, people often find that they do meetings or eat from their desks. The same can be said for rest and fitness time. Ensure you protect yourself from working during these times by blocking off specific times for it. Having a schedule isn't about doing more work but getting what you want done in all areas of your life, not just your day job.

Block off meals, fitness, and rests in the calendar

Do a schedule prep. Lay out your focus blocks, fitness, meal times, and major tasks into your schedule. Leave lots of room for the unexpected and ensure you're not overcommitting.

Plan your week on Sunday

Try to keep your default meeting length to 15 or 30 minutes. When you constrain time, you focus more. Longer meetings should be the exception, not the rule. For internal meetings, allow people to book based on your calendar. For external meetings, give people access to open spots in your calendar.

Keep meetings short

Some people see their calendar as a weight around their necks. I see it as a tool that protects my focus, defends my productivity, and gives me a reasonable sense of what I can get done in a week…

productivity

Productivity

timemanagement

Time Management

6 Very Practical Calendar Tips for People Who Want to Take Control of Their Time

Having a great assistant can be a game-changer. But learning to delegate tasks can be time-consuming if you don't have a lot of experience. Tree tips can help you save time when delegating tasks to your assistant using a spreadsheet such as Excel or Google Sheets.

Making use of an assistant

Getting everyone on the same page can be challenging if your team has separate to-do lists. A master project list is helpful. Let your assistant own the project list and put everything they do on the list, even small tasks such as checking the mail or paying the light bill. The list can be helpful should your assistant go on vacation or if they are sick.

Create a master project list

If you have several things going on simultaneously, create tabs or sub-lists to keep it all straight. For example, tab names could be active projects, archived projects, ongoing/recurring projects, etc. Within each tab, you will have the project/task name, the date assigned, the date due, and other people involved. Break each list further by giving each one a priority rating. For example, number one for important items, number two items should only be started once number one items are complete, and number three items are as time allows.

Break it down into sub-lists

Use colour to highlight new updates within your master list. For example, your assistant could write all their updates in red, and once you've read them, you can change the colour to black. You can write your notes in a different colour so that your assistant knows that you left a response, and when they're done reading, they can change the colour back.

Colour code it

The goal of doing this is to minimize the number of meetings and back and forth questions.

3 Tips to Save Time When Delegating Tasks

<h3>Clothing choices are a critical component of how we think, behave, and interact with others.</h3> In the shift to remote work, some workers kept their office uniform while others picked comfortable home attire. After two years of working from home, there is still no solution for handling the work-from-home dress code.

Work-from-home dress code

Research shows that clothes influence how colleagues perceive each other and can change how employees think or feel about themselves. It is essential that companies and their workers think critically about the office dress code, and get it right. There's now clear guidance that companies, managers, and individual workers should consider in our new hybrid work reality.

Clothing influences how you are perceived

Enclothed cognition describes how clothing and its symbolic associations affect thought and behaviour. Research found that making small changes to one's wardrobe, such as putting on a lab coat in the lab or wearing a power suit in the office can improve attention or increase one's sense of power. Wearing a suit increases testosterone levels and wearing a nurse's uniform increases empathy.

Enclothed cognition

Research shows that home attire consistently improved authenticity and engagement because workers felt more like themselves and were more engaged and productive at work. Clothing needs to be consistent with the setting in which it is worn. The setting of work matters more for work engagement than the content of the work task. Research shows companies don't have to wonder if they need to end the office dress code. Instead, to help workers bring their best selves to work, managers should encourage workers to wear clothes that fit where their work is being completed.

At home attire

If you’re among those who can still work remotely at least part of the time, you need to reconsider your wardrobe.


remotework

Remote Work

career

Career

What to wear to maximize productivity when you’re working from home, according to science

When you ask most people how they are doing, they will respond by saying they're busy. Being busy is seen as a currency in our society. We've cultivated the myth that busyness is the same as value, which equals worth. While we're struggling to maintain this status, the stress of busyness is leading to major public health concerns. More concerning is that if we think of ourselves as busy, we make ourselves victims. "I have too many things to do that are out of my control. I feel overwhelmed."

Being “busy” wrongly demonstrates value

Messaging and language can shift how you think about things. If we view our schedule as "full" instead of "busy", we can regain control and reframe our entire day. Being "busy" means you're running nonstop. But "full" means it is rich, happy, and content.

Changing our perception

When you view your life as "full" instead of "busy", <ul><li>You become grateful for all the different roles you play.</li><li>You learn how to prioritize. You view everything on your to-do list and decide if it adds to your day being full or detracts from it.</li><li>You take back control of your life. When you live a full life, you're content.</li></ul>

How your mindset can change

There’s a better way to reframe busyness (a negative!) by using different words, this comms exec and self-described word geek says.


artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

You’d be a lot happier if you stop saying you’re so busy

this famous law states that:Work expands to fill the time available for its completion,It means, if you set three hours for writing an article, you will write it in three hours. And if you allocate a week for writing the same article, you will complete it in a week.When you allocate more time to do a task, your chances of wasting that extra time are high.To beat Parkinson’s Law and to be more productive, allocate lesser time to a task than you usually do. Focus on the essentials.

1. Beat Parkinson's Law:

2. Put Your Phone Out Of Your SightWhenever your mind is resisting a difficult task, it will look for a distraction. Your smartphone is the perfect distraction.Because your phone has the ability to distract your mind away from a difficult task to an endless stream of entertainment.Whenever you are starting a difficult task put your phone away from your sight, so you can concentrate on your task.

2. Put Your Phone Out Of Your Sight

There is no doubt that multitasking reduces the quality of your work.If you have more than one passion, distribute them over seven days instead of 24 hours.For example, you can do writing from Mon to Wed, graphic designing from Thu to Sat, and on Sun you can learn to play guitar.

3. Stop Multitasking

4. Stop Social MediaIf you know social media is interfering with your productivity, you should definitely give it a break.Try a seven-day social-media-free challenge.If you use special media, just for entertainment, then there are other less-distractive ways to get entertainment.You know you can keep in touch with your friends and family outside of social media too.

4. Stop Social Media

5. Get a Note-Taking appThe importance of note-taking cannot be overstated.To paraphrase David Allen, our mind is for creating ideas, not for storing them.You need some sort of storage where all your ideas/notes will sit, so you don’t have to start from a blank page.You can take notes in a paper notebook or a digital one. Although, a digital notebook offers more functionality and convenience because you can access your notes on any device anywhere in the world.

5. Get a Note-Taking App

This is how this method works:<ol><li>At the end of each day, write down the six most important tasks you need to accomplish tomorrow. tasks. Prioritize them in order of their importance.</li><li>The next day, concentrate only on the first task. Only move to the second task when you have finished the first one.</li><li>Approach the rest of your list in the same fashion. At the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day.</li></ol>

6. The Ivy Lee Method​

7. Morning vs AfternoonDo your most important tasks in the morning. Do less important things in the afternoon.Tasks that require high mental energy, for example, creating a new spreadsheet, writing an article, etc should be done in the morning when your mind is fresh.Set your afternoons for less important and trivial tasks, like reading news, sending emails, etc.In the end, hope you liked these hacks. Got something on your mind, write it down in the comments.

7. Morning vs Afternoon

In today’s fast-paced digital age, you have the tools to accomplish more in less time. But on the flip side, there are countless distractions that drift your attention away from your work and waste your precious time. Learning to focus on the tasks at hand and not give in to distractions is one of the valuable skills in the 21st century. By learning these simple hacks, you can learn to manage those distractions and sky-rocket your productivity.

It means, if you set three hours for writing an article, you will write it in three hours. And if you allocate a week for writing the same article, you will complete it in a week. Moreover, when you…

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

problemsolving

Problem Solving

Simple Productivity Hacks That Actually Work

You can choose different wording if you like, but I always write the date and time, and then "Today, I..." And then write down the most important things you accomplished that day.
You can write down as many or as few items as you like, but make sure to include the things that are most important to you. And be careful to only include the positive. Only include what you did get done.

Write: "Today, I..."

Again, you can choose different wording if you like. But the important thing is that you choose one priority for the upcoming day. Even though there may be several important things you have to do tomorrow, you must pick the single thing that matters to you most. 
It can be challenging to do but it's an important exercise because it forces you to think through what really matters most. What's the one thing that, if you get it right, you will feel that you've won the day?

Write: "Priority for tomorrow:"

Why? Because research suggests that the last thing you pay attention to before sleep will stay in your mind. This is the reason you should try to avoid reading the news at bedtime.
Giving yourself a jolt of positivity is useful any time of day, but it's a particularly powerful thing to do right before you go to sleep because that too will stick with you. It's sure to better your mood and increase your motivation, and that effect might even last through your mood the following day.

Make this the last thing you do before bed

Make it the last thing before you turn out the light.

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

habits

Habits

This 5-Minute Bedtime Routine Will Make You Happier and More Productive

Work longer, get less done. Parkinson's Law says that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. When you establish fixed hours to your work, you find unproductive ways to fill it. Work like a lion instead - sprint, rest, repeat.

The Productivity Paradox

In order to grow, sometimes you need to shrink. Growth is never linear. One step back, two steps forward is a recipe for consistent, long-term success.

The Shrinking Paradox

The thing we fear the most is often the thing we most need to do. Fears - when avoided - become limiters on our growth and life. Make a habit of getting closer to your fears. Then take the leap - you may just find growth on the other side.

The Fear Paradox

You have to put in more effort to make something appear effortless. Effortless performances are often the result of a large volume of effortful, gritty practice.

The Effort Paradox

You have to fail more to succeed more. Our greatest moments of growth often stem directly from our greatest failures. Don't fear failure, just learn to fail smart and fast.

The Failure Paradox

The more you learn, the more you are exposed to the immense unknown. This should be empowering, not frightening. Embrace your own ignorance. Embrace lifelong learning.

The Wisdom Paradox

You have to lose money in order to make money. Sometimes you have to pay to learn.

The Money Paradox

The following are some of the most powerful paradoxes of life. Time to ponder ....

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Some Paradoxes (Part 1)

We tend to get distracted by what’s going on inside of us rather than by what is going on around us. An internal trigger is an uncomfortable emotion we want to escape and the reason for going off track. We can use journaling to examine the internal triggers that lead us away from what we plan to do.

How to manage distraction

A study found that journaling is a valuable tool for managing stress and anxiety. Journaling diminishes avoidant thoughts about negative events and may free the mind up for other mental activities. If you feel anxious about something in your life, it is more helpful to befriend it than avoid it. Journaling about the discomfort can help keep it in check. Every morning, write about your internal triggers and frustration. Exploring your negative feelings with curiosity can help to give you peace of mind.

Journaling to improve focus

To start, incorporate the behaviour you would want into your day. That may mean making time for journaling and reducing any external triggers that may lead to distractions, such as social media notifications. <ul><li>Think of journaling as your minimum enjoyable action. It is simple, small, and enjoyable behaviour that leads you to the journey you want to take. </li><li>Consider an accountability partner to help keep you on track.</li></ul>

Tips for starting a journal routine

When something is weighing on your mind, taking a minute to write it down can help you to stay focused throughout the day.

Even when something is weighing on your mind, taking a minute to write it out can help you get the most out of your day. Here’s how...

How a Morning Brain Dump Helps You Stay on Track All Day

In his book Peak, psychologist Anders Ericsson downplays the importance of native-born genius and emphasizes the importance of deliberate practice to perfect some skills. However, after much-continued work and mastering technical skills, there are moments when the mind takes flight. We call this inspiration.

Inspiration

Inspiration doesn't make sense when we think of it logically. Inspiration feels uncontrollable and irresistible. When one becomes inspired, it feels like time changes its pace. The senses are amplified, and you may experience goosebumps or a feeling of being overawed by beauty. You may feel a burst of energy and an awareness of being capable of more than you thought.

Moments of inspiration

According to Vladimir Nabokov, inspiration comes in phases. <ol><li>Prefatory glow is the feeling of wellbeing that removes awareness of physical discomfort.</li><li>An instant vision or lighting bolt of inspiration that forms the nucleus of a work that will grow from it over a long period.</li></ol>

Inspiration comes in phases

<ul><li>Inspired work stands separate from normal life. Inspiration is not driven by money or status but the work itself takes hold of a person.</li><li>Inspiration is not earned. It is a gift.</li><li>Inspiration is not something you can control.</li><li>Inspiration is not controlled by one person. Inspiration has a tendency to raise a sense of possibility in others. In turn, the inspired person performs his own feats and inspires others.</li><li>Inspiration is fleeting and cannot be contained.</li><li>Inspiration demands a certain posture of awe and mystery.</li></ul>

Features of inspiration

That moment when mind and spirit take flight stands apart from normal life.

creativity

Creativity

What Is Inspiration?

when we read “Productivity increased in September” we’re confused. Those macro trends have nothing to do with how productive a person is. To me, productivity is a personal measure. Especially in the 21st century where most of us work independently. We’re no longer machine operators. We’re skilled knowledge workers who manage their own time and energy.

The Best Definition Of Productivity  

Based on the above, there are two types of productivity:Workforce productivity: The total amount of goods and services workers produce in a certain period.Personal productivity: The relevant output of an individual in a certain period.

Types Of Productivity

Productivity is the #1 measure that defines growth in the economy and one’s living standards (higher income, better benefits, more free time).

Productivity tools can make your life a lot simpler. They help you to save time, improve focus, and improve the overall quality of our work. However too much technology often decreases our productivity

Welcome to this productivity guide. The purpose of this guide is twofold. First, I will define what productivity is. Too often, we try to improve productivity without knowing what it is. Second, I…

What Is Productivity? A Definition & Proven Ways To Improve It

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