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Your Best Productivity Tips

By Michael Stelzner

Do you find yourself looking for distractions sometimes?

Ever feel like you’re running a doctors office? You have so much work that you need to keep folks waiting in the lobby.

For those of us that are writers, it seems we are in high demand these days.

This naturally creates a productivity challenge.

How can we run at full speed all the time AND keep our writing fresh?

Let me share two tips and ask you to add a third.

  • Fully unplug: Recently I went to the hub in my office and unplugged the Internet connection going to my computer. This removed any temptation to surf, check email or chat. Try it and thank me later!
  • Say no: Sometimes you need to pass on work to keep your existing clients/employer happy. This is hard to do, but will help you stay focused. If you cannot say no, at least extend the start and finish date.

Your turn… What do you do to increase your productivity?

FYI, I will be unplugged for the next 3 hours…

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This entry was posted on Monday, April 2nd, 2007 at 9:13 am and is filed under Freelance Writing, Writing White Papers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

  • Greg - I think I need a laptop. It must be nice to separate from the world yet still have the power to spell check. - Mike
  • Using the laptop to change my writing venue during the day. I tend to do more research & general administrative functions when sitting at my desk. I break out of this behavioral trap when I want to do more creative writing by taking the laptop into the living room or up into the bedroom. Coupled with Michael's advice to unplug from the net, it really helps me to focus on the writing, not all that other stuff....
  • Whitney - I like the reading idea. I put it in practice today. It really does work. Thanks for stopping in. - Mike
  • I write fiction, and writing even a couple of pages before I head to work is a good way to get past the start-of-the-work-day writing blocks we encounter. I also write a blog for an animal rescue; starting and finishing a post before I head to work never fails to jumpstart my writing -- for anything else -- for the rest of the day.

    Reading is a good way to clear the head. I'm talking 10 to 20 minutes...long enough to read an essay...things like "The Intellectual Devotional" or the essays in "The New Yorker" or "The Atlantic Monthly". Others read poetry, or selections from the Tao Te Ching. Use whatever usually works.

    Fruit smoothies made with silken tofu rev me up. Silken tofu has the consistency and taste of plain yogurt, but is lower in fat and sugar, and higher in protein. A good fruit smoothie shake has me running on a protein buzz for a good 3 hours or so.
  • Jonathan - Power naps really do work. It has been years since I have done any. Maybe I need to try them again. - Mike
  • I would think working outside would be even more of a distraction than web pages or answering e-mails!

    This may sound strange but I enjoy taking a short 1/2 hour nap during the day to increases my productivity. It comes on in the afternoon after the carb stupor kicks in.

    In fact, many studies are showing that naps increase worker productivity in the office. It may be early to start setting up a cot in your cubicle, though.

    Jonathan
  • Hey Joi - Some folks might think you are crazy, but there is wisdom to your suggestion! - Mike
  • well I drink lots of water so I have to go to the toilet (its a forced break from the computer - can't ignore the call!) When I take breaks I am more focused, but its so hard to take breaks, so um this 'natural' break taking system contributes to productivity! :)
  • Hey Tom - Here is San Diego it is an awesome 77 today. I wish I were not tied to a desktop. - Mike
  • Taking the laptop outside (now that the weather's nice up here in the mountains) with the wireless access turned off. Wow, I'm a writer...
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