Tag Archives for " productivitymaster "

Productivity is never an accident.

It takes a smart strategy, a solid structure and simple tactics.

The pathway to increase your productivity is the Productivity Mastery Program.

The Pathway to Productivity Mastery

We created the Productivity Mastery Program just for you. It offers a roadmap to transform your chaos and overwhelm to calm and efficient productivity in your work. It creates confidence and space for more freedom.

The pathway to productivity mastery is based on logical, progressive steps that build in lockstep together. This is the strategy.

The framework is the practical containers you have access to for the rest of your life. This is the solid foundation that ensures you are productive for the long-term. The structure we have designed in the Productivity Mastery Program is chaos proof.

The tactics we offer are simple yet powerful routines, rhythms and practices that quickly become your life-changing habits. Once fully entrenched, these productivity practices are engrained into your day-to-day actions and activities so that you never struggle again. These are the stones that complete the productivity mastery pathway.

The design, the framework and the stepping stones you take down the productivity mastery pathway lead you to achieving your biggest dreams. Your greatest vision. Your big hairy audacious goals. Your amazing success.

By working smarter with laser focus, you will experience an increase in abundance and satisfaction with your accomplishments. You will experience more time with your loved ones. Freedom to live your passions, leave a legacy, or take your career to the next level. You will reduce debilitating stress and crushing overwhelm for good. You will be calm in the face in chaos.

Are you ready to transform how you work?

That sounds amazing right? It is.

But there are some people who are scared to start down this pathway. They are "comfortable" in their frustration and disorganization "comfort zone", even though it's clearly not working for them. They continue to lose opportunities, credibility and sleep.

But that's not you.

You are reading this for a reason. I know you are tired of doing things (or not doing things) that aren't working for you. Deep down you know there's a better way but you're not sure what that is. 

Until today.

Today you have the opportunity to choose the path of productivity mastery.

Pathway to Productivity Mastery

Here is the Productivity Mastery Program pathway.

It's an exciting journey.

All you need to get started is your willingness to take the first step and a bit of elbow grease along the way so you cross the finish line of greater success and freedom.

The payoff for you in time, money and freedom is soooooo worth it. No one ever regrets getting more organized and productive, I promise.

Download the Productivity Mastery Guide

Find out how you can start down the transformative productivity mastery pathway by downloading your FREE Productivity Mastery Guide.

Don't miss out on the journey that leads to your freedom.

PS - Do you have a question for me? Are you excited to start on your Productivity Mastery Program journey?

Book my calendar and we can chat - no pressure. My passion is to help you find more freedom in your work, so let's see if we are a fit to work together.

Productivity Mastery

Overcome Productivity Overwhelm With These 5 Keys

Are you done with feeling so overwhelmed with your out of control email inbox, and the stacks of cluttered papers and sticky notes all over your desk?

Do you end your day with more tasks on your to-do list but you worked yourself to the bone?

Have you ever wished you could start your day with a well prepared routine, clear-headed, energized, and excited to make it happen?

Do you know what? You CAN.

Here are the 5 key productivity mastery secrets.

5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm

By following the 5 key steps in our Productivity Mastery program, you WILL....

• Create a vision for your life that you will be so excited for it will make you want to jump out of bed in the morning!
• Know exactly what you are busy about....and get it done.
• Take total control of the only thing we each have the exact same amount of every single day....time.
• Get your email inbox to zero and keep it that way so your email isn't running you, you are running your email.
• Unlock the secret potential of your future hidden in your daily habits.

Claim Your Exclusive Productivity Mastery 5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm E-Book HERE!

Now that you have seen the elements of the 5 keys to productivity success, I guarantee you will find the powerful information in the Productivity Mastery e-book extremely useful, helpful and transformational.

I want you to experience the freedom and success that getting organizing and more productive brings.

The whole reason my company exists is to support you to move from frustration and overwhelm to confident and in total control of your work.

To claim your copy of my exclusive Productivity Mastery 5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm e-book (valued at $49), use the link below to download your copy.

As an added bonus for you, book a FREE 30-minute call directly in my calendar and I will help you work through one of your productivity frustrations from the 5 keys.

You are ready for this!

Additional Resources & Links

Productivity Mastery Key 1 - PRIORITIZE
Productivity Mastery Key 2 - TASK MANAGEMENT
Productivity Mastery Key 3 - COMMITMENTS
Productivity Mastery Key 4 - EMAIL INBOX CONTROL
Productivity Mastery Key 5 - ROUTINES
Top 10 Productivity Secrets 
Perfectionism is the Enemy of Productivity
FREE GUIDE: Keeping Your Home Organized Through Every Season
It's True You Can be Productive While Working From Home and Here's How

Have a Question For Me?

If you have a question for me, use the comment box below and I will respond to you within 48 hours (or sooner).

I am here for you.

Are you done with feeling so overwhelmed with your out of control email inbox, and the stacks of cluttered papers and sticky notes all over your desk?

Do you end your day with more tasks on your to-do list but you worked yourself to the bone?

Have you ever wished you could start your day with a well prepared routine, clear-headed, energized, and excited to make it happen?

You know what? You CAN.

Here's the secret keys.

5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm

By following the 5 key steps in our Productivity Mastery series, you WILL....

• Create a vision for your life that you will be so excited for it will make you want to jump out of bed in the morning!
• Know exactly what you are busy about....and get it done.
• Take total control of the only thing we each have the exact same amount of every single day....time.
• Get your email inbox to zero and keep it that way so your email isn't running you, you are running your email.
• Unlock the secret potential of your future hidden in your daily habits.

Productivity Mastery Key Five - ROUTINES

Weekly Planning Routine

Once a week, sit down and review/update all of your lists. It could be Friday afternoon (my recommendation), Sunday night or Monday morning.

Based on what you identify as your highest priorities for the upcoming week, *block the appropriate amount of time in your calendar to accomplish these tasks. Do not name the calendar with the specific tasks you have identified - only block "Project Time", "Client Care", "Accounting/Admin" and so on.

At the end of every day (my recommendation) or first thing every morning, quickly scan all of your lists and write on a sticky note or in your paper planner the 1-3 top most important tasks you must complete that day.

Another tip to stay super organized is your email inbox, paper inbox, paper filing systems and all tasks lists should mirror each other as much as possible.

If you have time in the day, scan your lists again to see what else you can cross off but if you don't have the time, you know you will or have accomplished what is most pressing.

Keep capturing tasks from all of your various sources (emails, incoming paper, meeting action items, verbal requests, customer phone calls, etc.) and grow or shrink your lists as you complete tasks, get new projects or as things change.

Your lists are dynamic and reflect the ebbs and flows of your work and home life.

*The calendar blocking technique is discussed in our blog Productivity Mastery Key Three - Commitments.

Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Setting Morning & Evening Routines

A productive day starts the night before.

Think about your current evening routines. What can you do the night before to make your day as stress-free and organized as possible?

End the day well. Review your master action list to pull out your top 1-3 priorities for tomorrow. Prepare the files you will need for tomorrow's projects or meetings. Review and block your calendar. Clear out your email inbox. Clean off your desk.

It is important to start your day as prepared as possible by planning ahead of the day and to clear the slate at the end of the day to give you a fresh start the next morning.

Being organized in advance keeps your stress levels down as you feel confident in your preparations.

You will set yourself up for increased productivity and calm with the morning and evening routines you establish.

Evaluate Routines

With the fast paced nature of business, shifting expectations, and changing priorities your daily routines, and productivity work practices must also change to keep up.

In fact they are changing right now whether you want them to or not!

This is why our last step is challenging what's working for you and what's not by examining your newly established routines, and productivity practices.

Think about these 3 things – what’s right, what’s wrong and what’s missing.

It is important to regularly assess and adapt your activities to make sure they are as effective as possible.

Evaluation shouldn't just occur at the end of your Productivity Mastery journey. It's a continual process to ensure you are growing. learning, and tweaking your processes, and practices to maintain your hard earned productivity levels for the long term.

Structure equals FREEDOM!!

Congratulations!

You have now completed the Productivity Mastery 5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm and you are an unstoppable Productivity Master!

Making these powerful changes to how you work has a domino effect on living better overall.

All of the time and energy you have spent working on and mastering these 5 keys has contributed to your improved performance, reduced procrastination, and alleviated stress in the following ways:

• More productive, efficient, and much less frustrated at work.
• Workspace feels calmer, more spacious, and in control.
• Immense sense of pride and sense of achievement in what you have accomplished. You feel happier and healthier.
• You are no longer overwhelmed, weighed down or held back by inefficient work practices.
• Better prepared to face the future and the changes that will come.
• Less stressed as you have established solid priorities, practices, and routines that keep you calm and in control.
• More energy and time to spend with the people you love.
• Created space where you can experience the freedom to pursue your passions and creativity.

Claim Your Exclusive Productivity Mastery E-Book

I truly hope you found the information in this blog useful, helpful and transformational.

I want you to experience the freedom and success that getting organized and more productive brings.

The whole reason my company exists is to support you to move from frustration and overwhelm to confident and in total control of your work.

To claim your copy of my exclusive Productivity Mastery 5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm e-book (valued at $49), use the link below to download your copy of this valuable resource.

You are ready for this!

Additional Resources & Links

Productivity Mastery Key 1 - PRIORITIZE
Productivity Mastery Key 2 - TASK MANAGEMENT
Productivity Mastery Key 3 - COMMITMENTS
Productivity Mastery Key 4 - EMAIL INBOX CONTROL
Productivity Mastery Key 5 - ROUTINES
Top 10 Productivity Secrets
Perfectionism is the Enemy of Productivity
FREE GUIDE: Keeping Your Home Organized Through Every Season
It's True You Can be Productive While Working From Home and Here's How

Have a Question For Me?

If you have a question for me, use the comment box below and I will respond to you within 48 hours (or sooner).

I am here for you.

Are you done with feeling so overwhelmed with your out of control email inbox, and the stacks of cluttered papers and sticky notes all over your desk?

Do you end your day with more tasks on your to-do list but you worked yourself to the bone?

Have you ever wished you could start your day well prepared, clear-headed, energized, and excited to make it happen?

You know what? You CAN.

Here's the secret keys.

5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm

By following the 5 key steps in our Productivity Mastery series, you WILL....

• Create a vision for your life that you will be so excited for it will make you want to jump out of bed in the morning!
• Know exactly what you are busy about....and get it done.
• Take total control of the only thing we each have the exact same amount of every single day....time.
• Get your email inbox to zero and keep it that way so your email isn't running you, you are running your email.
• Unlock the secret potential of your future hidden in your daily habits.

Productivity Mastery Key Three - COMMITMENTS

Smart Calendar

Ok so it's not actually your calendar that's smart, it's how you set it up and use it that is smart! 

Here are the basics of calendar set up and what I teach my one-on-one coaching clients.

Fixed Calendar

Move to a fixed calendar by blocking your projects or recurring tasks when your brainpower is at its peak (and when it's not).

This could mean that your deepest thinking or focused project work is blocked in your calendar first thing in the morning.

Meetings, client calls or any other work that doesn't require your brain to be at its peak, gets booked later in the day, for example.

Theme Calendar Batching

Use themes in your calendar for recurring tasks to batch similar work such as "Marketing Mondays", "Catch-All Fridays" or "Writing Wednesdays".

This is a great way to get a lot of work done in one area as you are super focused on the specific task at hand. 

The other advantage to calendar batching is when you know the work you need to do in a certain area is already scheduled in your calendar for Monday for instance, you can confidently put that task aside until Monday. 

Use Your Project and Master Tasks List to Block Your Calendar

Use your *project and master task lists to help you plan your weekly and daily calendar. Your master task list has everything on it you need to do broken out into categories, types, and prioritized. so you are able to quickly see what time in your calendar needs to be scheduled in.

Other than recurring tasks, booked appointments, meetings, birthdays or other reminders, don't schedule tasks in your calendar too far in advance.

I suggest only one week at a time. Your master task list is an ever-evolving thing and we all know how quickly priorities can change from week-to-week, day-to-day and even hour-to-hour.

Resist the urge to put every little task in your calendar. Only block it in bulk with generic titles such as "Project Work", "Research", "Client Care".

*We cover this topic in detail in our blog Productivity Mastery Key Five - Routines.

Don't Over-schedule Your Calendar

Leave "white space" in your calendar for travel time, all of those unexpected things that inevitably pop up, family time, fun time, downtime and self care.

We all tend to believe we can accomplish more than we actually can or our tasks won't take as long as they actually do.

When we leave breathing room in our schedules, this allows for those times when we need wiggle room.

This is your life and your calendar and you are now smartly in control of it!

"Un" Committing

Remember your vision? Now is one of the times to refer back to it.

Review your current calendar entries. 

• Is everything on your calendar an absolute necessity? 
• What commitments can you let go of?
• Are you making casual commitments you don't really mean?
• Does your calendar closely mirror what you have already identified as your most important work from your project and master task lists? 
• Is what you are committing too actually going to move you closer to your big vision?

Everything in your calendar should make you say "Heck, yes!".  Okay, maybe not every calendar entry will make you feel this way (I'm looking at you unnecessary work meetings!).

The point is that your time is precious and you must set clear boundaries around what you commit your precious time to and don't allow the agenda of others take precedence over your priorities.

Meaningful Meetings

Meetings are probably one of the worst productivity  and time wasters ever.

That being said, there are some meetings which are necessary and meaningful, but the vast majority of them are big time suckers. Meetings are literally where your productivity goes to die.

Before you consider setting up a meeting and adding to you and your team's calendar clutter, ask yourself:

• Do we really need a meeting? No? Well then don't.
• Could I email this information instead? Yes? Then don't hold the meeting!

If you have determined that a meeting is necessary, follow these steps to ensure your meeting is meaningful and productive.

1. Prepare an agenda.
2. Invite only those people who are crucial to the conversation.
3. Respect the time of others by starting and ending on time.
4. Keep the meeting as brief as possible - not all meetings need to be an hour.
5. If possible, book all meetings in the afternoon so your best brain power is used in the morning!
6. Assign meeting roles.
7. Capture all action items, deliverables and next steps.

Alternate Meeting Ideas

Try micro meetings (10 minutes or less), standing/walking meetings, quick in-person or virtual huddles where only 3 questions are addressed.

Your productivity will thank you.

Productivity Mastery Key Four - EMAIL CONTROL

Read our next blog in our 5-part series Productivity Mastery Key Four - Email Control as we discuss the fourth key to overcome your productivity overwhelm.

Email control....either run the day or the day runs you.

Claim Your Exclusive Productivity Mastery E-Book

I truly hope you found the information in this blog useful, helpful and transformational.

I want you to experience the freedom and success that getting organized and more productive brings.

The whole reason my company exists is to support you to move from frustration and overwhelm to confident and in total control of your work.

To claim your copy of my exclusive Productivity Mastery 5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm e-book (valued at $49), use the link below to download your copy of this valuable resource.

You are ready for this!

Additional Resources & Links

Productivity Mastery Key 1 - PRIORITIZE
Productivity Mastery Key 2 - TASK MANAGEMENT
Productivity Mastery Key 3 - COMMITMENTS
Productivity Mastery Key 4 - EMAIL INBOX CONTROL
Productivity Mastery Key 5 - ROUTINES
Top 10 Productivity Secrets 
Perfectionism is the Enemy of Productivity
FREE GUIDE: Keeping Your Home Organized Through Every Season
It's True You Can be Productive While Working From Home and Here's How

Have a Question For Me?

If you have a question for me, use the comment box below and I will respond to you within 48 hours (or sooner).

I am here for you.

Are you done with feeling so overwhelmed with your out of control email inbox, and the stacks of cluttered papers and sticky notes all over your desk?

Do you end your day with more tasks on your to-do list but you worked yourself to the bone?

Have you ever wished you could start your day well prepared, clear-headed, energized, and excited to make it happen?

You know what? You CAN.

Here's the secret keys.

5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm

By following the 5 key steps in our Productivity Mastery series, you WILL....

• Create a vision for your life that you will be so excited for it will make you want to jump out of bed in the morning!
• Know exactly what you are busy about....and get it done.
• Take total control of the only thing we each have the exact same amount of every single day....time.
• Get your email inbox to zero and keep it that way so your email isn't running you, you are running your email.
• Unlock the secret potential of your future hidden in your daily habits.

Productivity Mastery Key Five - EMAIL CONTROL

Email Inbox Control - Clean Up

Mass Deleting & Filing

The fact is, at least 80% of your emails do not require any real significant action on your part so get comfortable using the delete button.

A word of caution however....be ruthless but not reckless with deleting. DO NOT read each email in its entirety - at this stage you are focusing on weeding out all of the unnecessary noise and the emails you don't need to do anything with.

Sort & delete emails by FROM

Sort & delete emails by SUBJECT

Sort & file emails by DATE

Processing Emails One by One

Now that you have mass filed and deleted, you should only have about 20% of your email backlog left. This is where you sit down and process each email one by one. 

Email Inbox Control - Set Up

Set Up Processing Folders

Action Folder

Read Folder

Holding Folder

*Check out our blogs Productivity Mastery Key One - Prioritize and Productivity Mastery Key Two - Task Management.

Set Up Reference Folders

Set up reference folders into larger buckets with NO sub-folders (and definitely no sub-sub-folders).

A smaller number of folders ensures you make quicker decisions about where to file an email when you are processing your inbox plus it leaves fewer options and makes it easier to look for an email in the future.

Email Inbox Control - Processing Emails

Process Emails 1-3x a Day

Your email inbox is where new emails land and are waiting for you to process them, that's it.

*Schedule in your calendar 1-3 times a day to keep your inbox at zero. Resist the urge to check your emails at any other time unless you are expecting an urgent message. We only do this to procrastinate on work, when our brains have decision fatigue or to look busy. 

Clear the handful of emails that have accumulated in your inbox since the last time you checked and you will always be at zero!

*Read our blog Productivity Mastery Key Three - Commitments to learn how to set up your calendar so you never miss a beat.

Either run the day or the day runs you.

Productivity Mastery Key Five - ROUTINES

Read our next blog in our 5-part series Productivity Mastery Key Five - Routines as we discuss the final key to overcome your productivity overwhelm.

The secret of your future is hidden in your daily habits.

Claim Your Exclusive Productivity Mastery E-Book

I truly hope you found the information in this blog useful, helpful and transformational.

I want you to experience the freedom and success that getting organizing and more productive brings.

The whole reason my company exists is to support you to move from frustration and overwhelm to confident and in total control of your work.

To claim your copy of my exclusive Productivity Mastery 5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm e-book (valued at $49), use the link below to download your copy of this valuable resource.

You are ready for this!

Additional Resources & Links

Productivity Mastery Key 1 - PRIORITIZE
Productivity Mastery Key 2 - TASK MANAGEMENT
Productivity Mastery Key 3 - COMMITMENTS
Productivity Mastery Key 4 - EMAIL INBOX CONTROL
Productivity Mastery Key 5 - ROUTINES
Top 10 Productivity Secrets 
Perfectionism is the Enemy of Productivity
FREE GUIDE: Keeping Your Home Organized Through Every Season
It's True You Can be Productive While Working From Home and Here's How

Have a Question For Me?

If you have a question for me, use the comment box below and I will respond to you within 48 hours (or sooner).

I am here for you.

Are you done with feeling so overwhelmed with your out of control email inbox, and the stacks of cluttered papers and sticky notes all over your desk?

Do you end your day with more tasks on your to-do list but you worked yourself to the bone?

Have you ever wished you could start your day well prepared, clear-headed, energized, and excited to make it happen?

You know what? You CAN.

Here's the secret keys.

5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm

By following the 5 key steps in our Productivity Mastery series, you WILL....

• Create a vision for your life that you will be so excited for it will make you want to jump out of bed in the morning!
• Know exactly what you are busy about....and get it done.
• Take total control of the only thing we each have the exact same amount of every single day....time.
• Get your email inbox to zero and keep it that way so your email isn't running you, you are running your email.
• Unlock the secret potential of your future hidden in your daily habits.

Productivity Mastery Key Two - TASK MANAGEMENT

Task Management Key Concept - One-Track Mind

It is technically impossible for your brain to multi-task so don't even try. Trust me, it doesn't work and it causes more issues than it solves.

Use one task management system for all areas of your life - work, life, kids, home projects and so on.

Trying to keep a handle on all of your various tasks when they are scattered around everywhere or from memory is just not effective. 

That being said, you should take breaks and switch the project or content you are working on occasionally to keep your brain active. 

What is is not recommended is to try and do two or three or six things at once. You will not be effective, productive or accurate with any of them.

You need one master action/task list to draw from when planning your weekly and daily tasks and blocking your calendar covered in our blog Productivity Mastery Key Three - Commitments.

ONE well thought out, comprehensive and powerfully crafted master list driving your day-to-day work is what will move the needle on your goals, outcomes and your success!

Task Management - List Types

Project List

A project is something that has more that 3-4 tasks involved to complete it so it is these specific items that go on your project list.

A separate project list is important because it shows you the scale of exactly what’s on your plate.

It also helps with scheduling your calendar as you can determine if you have 5 hours in your calendar to work on projects or 5 minutes to knock off some quick to do's.

When it comes to naming your projects, name them something inspirational or what you would like the end result to be.

Keep the items on your project list high level. Don’t get too detailed as you will flesh out all of the finer details over time when you sit down to plan your week. 

If you get too detailed with your lists, things will change over the coming days, weeks and months so adding too much detail at this point is a waste of time. 

Think bigger picture here.

Master Task List

Your master task list is all of your other tasks not related to a project and need more than 2-5 minutes to complete. There should be one action per line but again, resist the urge to be too detailed.

You can categorize your master task list even further such as location, people, attention level needed, calls to make, etc.

There are many ways to categorize tasks - it depends on your tasks and what works best for your life and work style.

Do not include recurring or repeating tasks, deadlines, reminders, doctor appointments or special occasions on your master task list. These get set up in your calendar and a reminder will automatically pop up.

The only caveat to this rule is for example, when a family members birthday is coming up. You can list on you master task list "Birthday card for mom", "make dinner reservations", etc. when the appropriate time comes.

Pending or Holding List

A pending or holding list is your list tracking all of the things you have delegated or are waiting for an answer on.

It could be a response or a decision you are waiting for or you need to follow up on a sales call or an outstanding payment from a client. 

Watch/Read/Listen To List

An optional list I find handy is a watch/read/listen to list.  

A friend might suggest a great Netflix series, your mentor recommends a business book to read or you hear a song on the radio and want to download it to your playlist.

Idea Parking Lot

An idea parking lot is where you put all those great ideas you have whose time has not come so you don't lose them.

Good lists will keep you focused on the right things at the right time.

Expert tip - makes notes on the go by sending yourself a voice note, jot it down on the notepad on your phone, send yourself an email or use an idea capture app like Braintoss (I use this app daily). Then when you get back to your desk, act on your note or put it in your task list to do later.

Task Management Concept - Eat the Frog

This is a concept I use myself when I procrastinate on a project or task.

Mark Twain famously said that if the first thing you do in the morning is eat a frog, you can go through the rest of your day knowing the worst is behind you.

Your "frog" is that task you are putting off. When you "eat the frog" first thing, you are actually retraining your brain over time to beat procrastination.

Overcoming procrastination is important because when you tackle those ugly projects every single day, you WILL accomplish your goals and ultimately realize your vision for your life.

My business coach, mentor and dear friend, Shane Fielder, Founder of Samurai Innovation always says "Small steps, done imperfectly, lead to monumental results." So true, Shane, so true.

Eventually your ugly frogs will start to taste like chicken.

Task Management Killer - Distractions

Distractions will knock you off your productivity game every single time. It is critical to your productivity to ruthlessly eliminate and manage distractions.

Social media, YouTube and Google are all designed to keep you hooked and going down rabbit hole after rabbit hole.

While it's fine to check your Instagram or watch a how-to video on YouTube in your leisure/break time, if you need to focus on getting your important work done, these distractions are huge time wasters.

All those incessant dings, pings, pop-ups and notifications are another way we squirrel. Turn them off.

Work in a dedicated space. If you don't have a separate office, that's ok. All you really need is a flat work surface, a bit of storage space, access to an electrical plug, task lighting and a good chair. Set yourself up in a your bedroom, the basement or in any corner of your house that is away from the hustle and bustle.

Put your phone on airplane mode (it's okay to let calls go to voicemail). Block your calendar. Disable all pop-up notifications. Close the 23 open browser windows on your computer. Shut your office door. Make sure the kids are busy or looked after.

Now What?

• Every project and task from all of your various sources is on one list.
• All of your tasks are categorized and prioritized.
• You have organized your tasks into 3 - 5 different list types.
• Next step is to put these killer lists to work for you by setting up your calendar and focusing on your planning routines!
• Read the next posts in this blog series to master your productivity!

Productivity Mastery Key Three - COMMITMENTS

Read our next blog in our 5-part series Productivity Mastery Key Three - Commitments as we discuss the third key to overcome your productivity overwhelm.

Commitments.....your time isn't the main thing, it's the only thing.

Claim Your Exclusive Productivity Mastery E-Book

I truly hope you found the information in this blog useful, helpful and transformational.

I want you to experience the freedom and success that getting organizing and more productive brings.

The whole reason my company exists is to support you to move from frustration and overwhelm to confident and in total control of your work.

To claim your copy of my exclusive Productivity Mastery 5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm e-book (valued at $49), use the link below to download your copy of this valuable resource.

You are ready for this!

Additional Resources & Links

Productivity Mastery Key 1 - PRIORITIZE
Productivity Mastery Key 2 - TASK MANAGEMENT
Productivity Mastery Key 3 - COMMITMENTS
Productivity Mastery Key 4 - EMAIL INBOX CONTROL
Productivity Mastery Key 5 - ROUTINES
Top 10 Productivity Secrets 
Perfectionism is the Enemy of Productivity
FREE GUIDE: Keeping Your Home Organized Through Every Season
It's True You Can be Productive While Working From Home and Here's How

Have a Question For Me?

If you have a question for me, use the comment box below and I will respond to you within 48 hours (or sooner).

I am here for you.

Are you done with feeling so overwhelmed with your out of control email inbox and the stacks of cluttered papers and sticky notes all over your desk?

Do you end your day with more tasks on your to-do list but you worked yourself to the bone?

Have you ever wished you could start your day well prepared, clear-headed, energized, and excited to make it happen?

You know what? You CAN.

Here are the secret keys.

5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm

By following the 5 key steps in our Productivity Mastery series, you WILL....

• Create a vision for your life that you will be so excited for it will make you want to jump out of bed in the morning!
• Know exactly what you are busy about....and get it done.
• Take total control of the only thing we each have the exact same amount of every single day....time.
• Get your email inbox to zero and keep it that way so your email isn't running you, you are running your email.
• Unlock the secret potential of your future hidden in your daily habits.

Productivity Mastery Key One - PRIORITIZE

Vision and Purpose

The first step when prioritizing is to create a vision. Your vision is the dream hidden in your heart that is born from your soul's deepest purpose.

Your vision should come from your heart, not your head (don't worry, we have lot's of brainy stuff coming up!).

Creating a vision for your life is critical as it anchors everything you do from here on in to become a productivity master.

Living the life of a productivity master means you have goals, direction, solid decision-making skills and you have identified your most important work. But until you know exactly where you want to be, what kind of life you deeply desire, what gets you so excited to jump out of bed in the morning you will never master your day-to-day productivity.

When you are finished creating your vision, you should be able to smell it, taste it and see it in fine detail.

Meaningful Work

In order to know what your meaningful work actually is, you must first determine what you are spending your time doing.

Record everything you do in a week, including all distractions and repetitive tasks.

Once you are finished recording your "week-in-the-life-of" it's time for a total brain dump. 

List every single project, task, to-do, reminder, etc. from ALL of your sources such as your current task list, goal list, emails, paper inbox, meeting notes, sticky notes, all papers in the dark corners of your desk drawer, your calendar and so on. Use an old fashioned paper and pen (my personal favourite), phone, computer, app - whatever works best for you. 

Anything that can be completed in two minutes or less should be done immediately. By the time you write and sort all of these little tasks on your master action list, you could have gotten them done!

Be specific when listing your tasks - don't just list "plan team meeting". Make it specific such as "write agenda for team meeting, book boardroom, send meeting invite to team", etc. This may seem tedious at first but trust me, your effort will be rewarded later.

This will give you a clear mind and your unconscious mind will stop nagging you with reminders about everything you need to get done. It's quite remarkable how stress relieving this process truly is. You still have a lot to do, but knowing you have captured all your tasks and have a plan to get it done is a total game changer.

Prioritize and Categorize

The next step is to prioritize all of your tasks from most to least urgent and most to least important.

Now that you have your comprehensive list written down and have prioritized each task, categorize all of your tasks. Make your categories work for you and your unique work/life situation.

Examples of List Categories

Location - Do certain tasks need to be done or relate to a specific place such as your home, office, WFH office, running around, calls/deeper thinking, other job/side hustle?

Attention Level Needed - Categorize tasks based on the brainpower needed for proactive attention (thinking/strategizing), active attention (project work) and inactive attention (meetings/calls).

People & Conversations - These are tasks relating to questions, conversations or follow up with your boss, direct reports, clients.

In our next blog Productivity Mastery Key Two - Task Management we detail how to break down and set up killer lists. You'll be so organized you won't even believe it!

Automate, Delegate or Eliminate

Read our next blog in our 5-part series Productivity Mastery Key Two - Task Management as we discuss the second key to overcome your productivity overwhelm.

Task management, oh yeah.

Claim Your Exclusive Productivity Mastery E-Book

I truly hope you found the information in this blog useful, helpful and transformational.

I want you to experience the freedom and success that getting organizing and more productive brings.

The whole reason my company exists is to support you to move from frustration and overwhelm to confident and in total control of your work.

To claim your copy of my exclusive Productivity Mastery 5 Keys to Overcome Productivity Overwhelm e-book (valued at $49), use the link below to download your copy of this valuable resource.

You are ready for this!

Additional Resources & Links

Productivity Mastery Key 1 - PRIORITIZE
Productivity Mastery Key 2 - TASK MANAGEMENT
Productivity Mastery Key 3 - COMMITMENTS
Productivity Mastery Key 4 - EMAIL INBOX CONTROL
Productivity Mastery Key 5 - ROUTINES
Top 10 Productivity Secrets 
Perfectionism is the Enemy of Productivity
FREE GUIDE: Keeping Your Home Organized Through Every Season
It's True You Can be Productive While Working From Home and Here's How

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