A Little More Productivity
Following on from my first post about Productivity, we’re now going to start at the very beginning, making more space in your psyche for a new way of being, thinking, having and creating.
Have you every noticed the giant ‘to do’ list living in your mind, using up your precious brain power? Little things like getting the car washed, sending thank-you cards, or doing your bookkeeping, or organize your taxes. They’re sometimes things that don’t have to be done, but would make a difference to the quality of your life if you completed them. Others are MUST DO tasks that simply are not fun, and need some time, and a bit more thought.
Every Little Thing
Your task here is to write every little (or big) thing that needs to be done on your list! Every task, idea, thought, plan, & goal that comes to mind. No matter how big, or how trivial an item might seem – get it on this list, stream of consciousness style. You’re not trying to organize anything here, just unload it all. This is a big time brain-dump!
I invite my group coaching clients to do this exercise at the very beginning of our groups, and it never fails to amaze me (and them) how long the list is. How many seemingly trivial, and often easy, tasks are on the list, that they can get done often during the weeks that the group is meeting. Sometimes the list includes tasks like dropping something off, picking things up, or other tasks that can be scheduled into a normal day with a little extra time, and just an ounce of planning.
“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Magic List
My clients often end up referring to it as their magic list. Once an item is on your list, it’s at least 50% more likely that it will get done. The morning after the first meeting of my last group coaching program, a client sent me the following message: “Shockingly, I’m already doing two things that I put on the list. One has been there for 5 years, and the other for a year! Magic list!”. Don’t underestimate what you might get from this exercise.
This is what I refer to as the MAGIC of coaching. Simply setting an intention sets your being in motion, wanting to get it completed, but there is somehow something else begun, that seems to conspire to help us get those tasks done, or those ideas on a path to completion, and increasing your productivity.
This is an Awareness Practice. Setting your mind free, and putting all of those annoyances, and irritations, and flashes of inspiration on the list. Get them out of your head, and somewhere they’ll be remembered and acted upon when the moment is right.
Where is Not Important
Your list doesn’t need to be in a special book, although I encourage you to create a place where you can find it easily, and add to it as new thoughts emerge. Things that we want done, or know need to be done tend to nudge at our minds, seeking to be remembered, if not yet put into action. Those nudges take up your precious psychic space. That’s your brain power being utilized in a the least productive way.
Keep this list with you. Whether it’s in a notebook, or on at least one of your portable devices, keep it handy. Rather than “I’ll get to that later”, when an idea strikes you, immediately add it to the list, and be sure to cross out those that are done. Thank your brain for the inspiration, by relieving it of its burden. As this becomes a habit, you’ll find you have more focus, as well as those little (& big) tasks getting completed, as if by magic.
Did you find this helpful? Tell us let us know in the comments below. Maybe you’ve tried this in the past and found tricks that lead to even more productivity. Please share with us in the comments, so we can all benefit from your wisdom.