When your list is longer than your day, you need a fresh approach to the way you work. Yes, you can get by managing your work the way you always have but managing is not thriving. And we all deserve to thrive. It may be counterintuitive but if you want to do more, you need to subtract. Simplify to amplify, so you can focus on what matters most.
Do you struggle with balancing your need to be responsive with your (equally important) need to protect focus time in your day? Remember: your great work requires focus and attention. It’s important to build this time into your day - and protect it as you would any other meeting or appointment in your calendar. Here are three strategies you can use to help you avoid slipping down the spiral of distraction.
Reading does so much more than expand our knowledge. Research has shown reading can make us more confident, empathetic, and better decision makers. Reading even helps to fight depression and prevent stress and dementia, while improving overall life satisfaction. Still, it can be a challenge to make time in our busy lives for reading, so here are some strategies to help you with this - and an invite to join me on my summer reading challenge!
When it comes to achieving our big goals and focusing on our top priorities, mastering habits is key. Our habits help us bridge the gap between our intentions and our actions and enable us to do activities automatically. After all, activities we do only occasionally are infinitely more challenging. Any task we haven't done recently is akin to a change. And as we all know, change is hard. Here are 5 ways you can use habits to inspire your own new beginning, invest in your wellbeing and productivity, and help you make time in your day for what matters most.
We know change is good for us, especially when we are making changes to improve our overall health and wellbeing. But knowing does not equal doing. Why? Gaining a better understanding of why it is so hard to change, will help us bridge the gap between our intentions and our actions.
Progress is a powerful, yet underestimated, source of motivation. When you find yourself procrastinating, you may be waiting for inspiration or an extra burst of energy. Instead, find small wins — the kind that are so small you can’t fail. Small wins can give you the push you need to quickly break through. Small wins are the perfect complement to your bold goals.
At this point, the dust swirled up by a fury of new year’s resolution activities has settled. And even though 2020 is (finally) in our rear-view mirror, it’s natural to feel a little blurry-eyed looking forward to 2021. So, with one final headshake, let’s reset and consider how we can all bring our best to work this year and beyond. Our team at Clear Concept has been pursuing the answer to this question for the last two decades and have found three key drivers help us show up at our best, regardless of what is swirling around us.
We have an abundance of choice when it comes to setting goals and dreaming up our next great achievement. This is a gift. But if you’re anything like me, this gift can sometimes lead to over-committing yourself. This is when you turn to your Main Action Plan, the foundation of productivity. At Clear Concept, we call this productivity tool your MAP because it’s your guide to prioritizing and getting things done. Here is how you can use your own MAP to keep yourself on track and do your best work.
Our natural talent will only take us so far when it comes to achieving the amazing results we are capable of. Our effort - and persistence - counts even more. Here is a great example of the power of persistence.
Don't underestimate the power of small steps in leading us to our big goals. Breaking big tasks into smaller, attainable steps is key to getting started. Once we achieve some early success, our momentum grows and this leads to meaningful progress. Whether we are preparing for a big presentation, undertaking a home renovation or trying to be more fit, here are 6 reasons why small steps are the best way to tackle our big goals.
