Four Ultimate Productivity Hacks

We all have 24 hours each day.  At least eight hours of that time is spent with some form of work. That amount differs for each individual depending on what type of work they are doing.  Some entrepreneurs can have longer hours because they love what they do so much, it doesn’t feel like work.  Others though, feel overwhelmed by everything they have set out to do in a day.

Within that time frame set aside for work, everyone wants to make the best possible use of their time. Especially entrepreneurs, as the more effectively they use their time, the more success they experience.  We label this productivity.

The biggest thing that gets in the way of productivity these days are distractions. Smartphones or any type of personal technology,  emails,  phone calls, social media, instant messaging, browsing, noise and interruptions from other people/family are examples of some of the current external distractions.

Distractions can be internal as well. Feeling sleep deprived, dehydration, physical discomfort, self-doubt, worry or anxiety, fear or other emotional states, resistance, and especially not being clear on our vision/mission/goals are examples of internal distractions.

In our North American culture, not only are we less productive, we are estranged from our creativity and our spiritual journey with all the distractions. Or another way of looking at it is we are keeping ourselves distracted so we won’t look at the spiritual side of ourselves. Distractions can be a great excuse.

Since total health to me means physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, then I am going to suggest four productivity hacks that will keep you more balanced while being productive.

1. Meditation is an important habit for improving focus, clarity and attention span, as well as having a calming effect. Benefits include: being mindful of your breathing, relieving stress, trauma and anxiety, calming the amygdala (the fight or flight trigger), counteracting aging, improving concentration, relieving depression, reducing insomnia, improving the immune system, increasing energy, improving communication skills, enhancing empathy, improving health, and refreshing the mind. Great moments of inspiration and creativity can come from those still spaces during meditation where you can hear your inner guidance.
2. Gratitude connects you with creative thought and brings you closer to the source energy. Gratitude aligns you with abundance and increases your faith.
3. Hydration – water is important for the brain. It improves blood flow and oxygen to the brain, improves memory, counteracts mental fatigue, and maintains the balance of body fluids. Water also energizes muscles and keep joints more lubricated, helps your skin look good, improves the quality of sleep, keeps your bowels moving and aids kidney function, and eliminates toxins. Bottom line, when you are hydrated you have more energy and it boosts your creativity.
4. Exercise boosts energy, improves mood, reduces stress, releases endorphins, improves self-confidence, boosts brainpower, sharpens your memory and increases your creativity.

If you would like more productivity hacks, then check out http://30lawsofflow.com/going-for-the-flow/. Or if you would like to schedule a zero cost “rapid change” session go to  http://charleneday.com/

To your success,

Charlene

Productivity – Do You Feel Productive In Your Business?

As entrepreneurs, it is important to feel like we have accomplished something on the days when we are working. But I hear from many entrepreneurs there are good days and there are very unproductive days.

So, what is happening on those unproductive days? Distractions are the biggest complaint. Facebook, emails, text messages, phone calls, other people’s requests and our very own thoughts taking us on wild rides.

What I am going to suggest first will rise above all these distractions. Do you know where you are going this year? Do you have a plan? Do you have a destination? Are you committed to it? Does it motivate you to get out of bed each day and excite you and scare you at the same time?

If the answer is “no” to any of these questions, then that is the best place to start. What are your top goals for the year and why are they important to you? If your “why” does not make you cry, in other words, create emotion in you, then it is probably not your real “why”. Once you have the real motivation inside of you, then no matter how unproductive the day, you will just get right back into the swing of things the next day. It gives you the strength to carry on.

The next aspect to look at is systems. What systems do you have in place? Because we are creatures of habit, we end up living our lives based on old habits or programming approximately 95% of the time. The old habits (old programs) are running the show, so our lives are created mostly from our subconscious programming of our old habits. It is like an internal map or blueprint that has to match the outside world. If we are not cultivating new productive habits, the old ones run automatically (even without our knowing it). This is when we feel in a rut.
What new productive habits have you made into “a system” or a daily ritual? We need a structure so habitual it happens automatically. This takes time to set this up and put it into place. We used to think it took 21 days for a new habit to be developed but new research is showing that it takes an average of 66 days to create a new habit.
I highly recommend the system I set up in The 30 Laws of Flow called Going For The Flow.  There you will find various levels of support to set up daily rituals to enhance your productivity. You will receive daily the following: a Universal or Cosmic Law to contemplate, a meditation to read, time for gratitude, exercise options, a hydration plan, a life insight, a mindful practice, and a success strategy. You can choose which ones you need to implement for your routine to help you with your productivity.

Unfortunately on your own, since we are emotional beings and highly distractible, it is not going to work. You need an accountability partner or a coach. Remember you are a creature of habit and you end up living your life based on old habits or programming approximately 95% of the time. So you need that outside motivation to keep you on track. Just take a look at your past performance on your own and that will give you a clue.

I invite you to step outside your comfort zone (the place where all the old habits reside), and start creating the productive days where at the end of your day, you are satisfied with all you’ve accomplished and feel your time was well spent. You are fulfilling your life’s purpose.

To your success.
Charlene