Time Famine Is A Social Construct

For some reason, I'm into weird intangible crap like memory, one's existence, and time. When people say they are too busy or don't have the time, it always interests me how they spend it. And it always makes me reflect on how I'm spending mine. 

Trello has a really great blog and this post really captured my attention (especially the heading, which is the title of this post - Time Famine Is A Social Construct):
How To Create More Time: A Strategy For Finally Getting Ahead Of Your To-Do List
This post covers a lot of really great stuff, including:

• The scientific reason why you constantly feel behind
• The counterintuitive secret to attaining a sense of time affluence
• Tactics for embracing more strategic thinking
• Strategies for more productive focus time

Tracking 1:1 meetings with Trello

It's performance appraisal time at my place of work! I'm always looking for different ways to track work and stay on task. While I think I've got my own little jam going, I thought this 1-on-1 Meeting Agenda Trello Board was pretty neat and an interesting way to track work with teammates and people that report to you.

Productivity Preachin': Just START already!

That's it. Just start. You have a huge, complex, wily project on your hands...don't fret - START. Have a conversation. Set a meeting (with an agenda, of course!)

You have a report due in 24 hours. You not starting is not helping. Free write about it. Outline. Doodle and think. Ponder it in silence. Record some random thoughts on your phone about the subject - perhaps start trying to capture the essence of the project - its goals and a rough timeline.

Don't worry. Your first draft, initial ideas, your concept - it will likely all be garbage on the first pass. A little saying I made up (who knows when or for what), but it goes "You gotta' sift through a lot of shit to find a diamond." Drafts are drafts. They are temporary. They aren't permanent. They are a start.

Just start. I can appreciate the planners, but sometimes you literally have to start, maybe endure a little risk and perhaps fail, but you learn and try again. You can't plan your way out of life, man.

Start. Procrastination is not a good look. Don't be a busta'.

Start.

Productivity Preachin': Pinterest

Okay, you might be thinking, "What the heck is she talking about? How has Pinterest ever been productive?"

Well, for people like myself who don't have a creative bone in their body, Pinterest has all the answers. I just moved into my first home and I don't know what's going on. I have some thoughts on colors - but people have thought out handy tips, storage ideas and DIY for days. Normally Pinterest is too visual for me, but for something as visual as decorating, or, more specifically, making a house a home, it is just right.

My boards are divided into each room of the house. I put all the pins that are relevant in each one. For example, I put this post in multiple rooms/boards - it's about the IKEA RÅSKOG Cart and 10 Ways to use it around the house. 

Productivity Preachin': Boomerang for Gmail

I don't mind paying for something that I value. Boomerang for Gmail has been one of my absolutely all-time favorite productivity tools. To them I say - TAKE MY MONEY.

Someone mentioned Boomerang to me casually a few months ago. I looked into it. Used it a couple times. Then, I met my free scheduled email limit. Gasp! I knew I had to have it. The strange thing is, I never realized how handy it is to be able to schedule your emails or have your UN-replied to emails returned to you, or boomeranged, if you will. It is such a great tool and I cannot praise its magnificence enough.

Two thumbs way wayy wayyy up.

Check it out: http://www.boomeranggmail.com/

Book Review: Getting Things Done

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book a lot, even though there were some rough patches. By page 40, I actually put the book down and started implementing some of the common sense tactics that David Allen describes. He does mention that he repeats a lot and while that's true, I felt that helped. The Getting Things Done (GTD) system is really, really great. Once I started practicing the method, I noticed better results, less stress and more control over my work.

One thing I will share is that while I gave this four stars, I think a lot of people might find it boring. Even I was a little bored at some parts and I LOVE reading about productivity. It's a really great system and if you can keep with it, I do suggest finishing it, because there are a couple really strong chapters at the end.


View all my reviews

Some notes:

• Choose one project that is new or stuck or could simply use some improvement. Think of your purpose. Think of what a successful outcome would look like ... Brainstorm potential steps. Organize your ideas. Decide on next actions. Are you any clearer about where you want to go and how to get there? p. 63
• "I always wanted to be somebody. I should have been more specific." ~Lily Tomlin p. 71
• The more novel the situation, the more control required. p. 188
• Checklists at all levels: job duties, annual goals, weekly reviews, training, people to stay in touch with, year end (FY and CY). p. 189 
• Get clear, current or creative. p. 195
• Things that have your attention need your intention engaged. p. 268
• You can create the right placeholder for any type of potentially meaningful data. p. 294

Year of Gratitude - Day 159 - Control + F

On this Monday, I want to shout out to Control + F, or the find function. When I think about what has made me a more efficient researcher, worker, whatever, I definitely look to this old friend.

Read more: Why Using Control+F May Be the Most Important Computing Skill in The Atlantic

Year of Gratitude - Day 128 - Online Tally Counter

Yes, I am actually grateful for this. It is extremely helpful when I'm doing a manual count of some nature online.

http://textmechanic.com/Online-Tally-Counter.html

Year of Gratitude - Day 77 - Trello

Today I heard a presentation on Trello and, wow was I impressed! I really, really like this as a productivity tool and immediately started using it for work and personal projects. It takes like two seconds getting used to and then you're off. Very easy, clean and easy to collaborate with others.

Check it out:

Year of Gratitude - Day 65 - Scotch tape, packing tape, masking tape, duct tape, etc.

I don't know how the heck people lived without tape, but I'm grateful for this most glorious invention. Now that I do events I'm ESPECIALLY grateful for it in all its forms.

Year of Gratitude - Day 32 - Google Drive

It is unlikely that this will be the only post on why I love Google. In this particular post, I praise the glory of Google Drive. I am using it regularly for work and have used it personally for a long time. The more I use it as my primary digital work space, the more comfortable I am and I also use it very effectively. It makes collaboration easier.

My one problem is sometimes my internet stinks and then using the Google Drive becomes problematic. Nonetheless, super happy to have this tool at my disposal.

Year of Gratitude - Day 24 - GoTasks App

It really is the little things sometimes. I don't save passwords in my phone, so getting to my tasks for work is pain. However, just found this app for iPhone that works pretty seamlessly and quick. Google Task users celebrate!

GoTasks

Year of Gratitude - Day 22 - Spritzlet

Sadly, I'm a pretty slow reader. I know that reading more and practicing will speed it up, but sometimes I try other techniques. For my online reading, I have discovered Spritzlet. It's a speed reading technology that presents words in a way the eye doesn't move and therefore waste time. Some feedback I've heard about this tool is that people can read the words blazing by at 500 words per minute, but they can't retain what they just read. I don't find that problem and am happy I have found a resource to speed up my online news reading.

How was your meeting?

One day I asked a colleague: "How was your meeting?" A shrug was followed by a single word: "Routine." We chatted a moment longer and then I headed home, but that word, "routine," really stuck in my mind. Meeting for meeting's sake is one of my ultimate pet peeves. If there's a hell, it's a long meeting with no agenda, time frame, or purpose. On the drive home I thought about when I call meetings. Here's what I came up:

• A decision needed to be made, especially a decision that effected the entire team and their workload. I heard this first on the Manager Tools podcast, which is absolutely first rate and should be MANDATORY LISTENING for managers at all levels. The Manager Tools blog is totally sweet also.
  
• Complex projects. Sometimes all the detail in an email can't stand up to a good ol' conversation with colleagues armed with paper, pencils, dry erase boards, drawings and ideas. My team always has good, productive discussions that enable us to go into a big project with the right approach.
  
• Collaboration with other departments. Though I supplement all of my meetings with other departments with heavy notes and agendas, sometimes this is another case in which verbal communication is better than digital communication. However, I'm really trying to follow up after meetings at least by writing the minutes in my work journal - but GEEZ that's a whole ton of work! In the end it's worth it, but still.
• One-on-one meetings. This is another awesome tip from the Manager Tools folks. It's great to sit down and just hear what the employees need to talk about. I haven't done that in a while, but look forward to scheduling some of those throughout summer.

Don't let your meetings be routine. Make them count. Make them important. Make them something we CAN'T do without. Make them so that people are excited or intrigued by what's happening at them.

And if we can do without a meeting, than by all means cancel it!