Start by imagining your Ideal Day. Set aside an hour and allow yourself to daydream. Imagine what one ideal day in your ideal life would be like. Picture yourself 5-10 years down the road – and imagine your day from the moment you wake to the moment you fall asleep. Picture it in vivid Technicolor detail – with colors, sounds, smells, and touch. Examine at every detail – where you are, what the room looks like (if you are inside), what it feels like, what it smells like, who is with you (if anyone), and what you are doing. Take note of every meal you eat, every person you speak with. Write it all down.

 

Ideal Day posts

http://unclutterer.com/2009/02/18/planning-your-perfect-day

http://www.simpleproductivityblog.com/what-would-your-ideal-day-look-like

http://www.bwcoaching.com/IdealDay_article.htm

 

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)

 

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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

 

 

 

 

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3. Reflective Days

(aka Santa Monica Aug-Oct 08)

 

All morning:

Recopy yesterday's meditation notes into my notebook

Study ACIM / courses

Meditate

 

 

 

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"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.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Through the day:

- Brain breaks

- Keep moving

- Drink water