My Most Productive Day

 

I'm practicing productivity awareness - when am I most productive?  What are the prior conditions that lead to productivity?  How do I avoid the 'activity' trap - just doing lots of work, or stuff, that doesn't lead to some beneficial outcome?   (Which does not have to be just a "work" outcome - an outcome could include fun, freedom, relaxation or any other result you want to achieve that day).

 

The main changes from a legacy workday are:

a) I start on my top priority immediately after waking up, before the day's distractions start coming in. 

b) I break one long workday into two working chunks - morning and afternoon - separated by a 2-3 hour non-work chunk (usually includes a workout, reflection, errands...) 

 

Versions

There are three versions (so far) of the day -

1. Independent Production: when I'm producing something that doesn't require collaboration (such as a document / blog post), and it's more efficient to stay away from an office environment.

2. Collaborative Day: when I have goals that require a lot of collaboration in an office.

3. Reflective Days (Santa Monica Aug-Oct)

 

---

 

MY IDEALLY PRODUCTIVE DAY - INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION

7a - Wake up, get tea. Eat something (fruit, or a greenshake) if I'm hungry.

       Check email

       Pick a priority to start working on (I've done my '3 goals for the day' the night before)

 

7:15a Start writing or producing

 

8am: 5-15 meditation (I might change this to 9am)

          Then keep producing

 

10am: 5-15 min meditation (esp if I didn't do the 8am one)

            then breakfast (gratitude/appreciation practice)

            Maybe a quick shower

            Keep producing

 

1p-3p:  Gym (yoga class or row/cycle/swim)

             Errands, lunch (gratitude/appreciation practice)

 

3p-7p: Produce (includes email followup)

            Take brain breaks/ drink water or tea / walk regularly

 

7p - 8p: Wrap up, reflect, take notes. 

             Plan "3 Goals" for tomorrow (If I can only do 3 things today...)

 

8p & 10p - two times to meditation (choose 1)

8:30p: Socialize with friends; or read @ home

 

12p/1a: final emails, read in bed

 

 

 

MY IDEALLY PRODUCTIVE DAY - COLLABORATION

Basicallythe same as above, except that I don't immediately start working on wakeup, but rather go to the gym.  I get into the office an hour later than I normally would (10am), but only take an hour after lunch to reflect/etc.

 

7:30a: wake, make tea / drink water

 

7:45a: Meditate; Intentions

 

8am: go to the gym

 

10am: in the office

 

10a - 2p: collaborate / produce

 

2p-3p: longer brain break (write, reflect, take notes, summarize...)

      Errands

 

3p-on: as above

 

 

 

 

---

 

3. Reflective Days

(aka Santa Monica Aug-Oct 08)

 

All morning:

Recopy yesterday's meditation notes into my notebook

Study ACIM / courses

Meditate

 

 

 

---

 

"Hygiene" Conditions that lead to productivity:

* Morning routine: intentions, meditation, guideworks, 3 goals...

* Clear goals for the day

* Organized Outlook folders / outlook is turned off regulary (UPDATE: switched to GMAIL, much better!)

* I keep moving / taking brain breaks / drinking water or tea

* Bose noise-canceling headphones (shuts out distractions, with or without music)

    or earplugs

* Great work chair / desk setup - reduce distractions, clutter.

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

Writing: I'm most creative/productive very early or very late (when it's quiet)

 

Through the day:

- Brain breaks

- Keep moving

- Drink water