Reading Time: 3 minutesChecklists: A Buffer Against Human Error As a part-time National Park Service ranger at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, I lead public tours of a decommissioned Launch Control Facility. Two missile officers sat in a hardened capsule 31 feet under the ground and controlled 10 Minuteman missiles. As you can imagine, these were highly …
Reading Time: 3 minutesDon’t Get Stuck in Over-Preparation, and Never Taking Action For creatives, there’s always the danger of getting stuck in over-preparation and never taking action. In a recent newsletter article titled “Beyond Over-Preparation: How to Start Before You Feel Ready,” Anne-Laure Le Cuff writes about researching rare Asian teas to prepare for launching a new business. …
Reading Time: 3 minutesAs part of David Spark’s Productivity System, as described in his Productivity Field Guide, I do quarterly reviews. In these reviews, I examine my life roles, look at what I did the past quarter, and plan my work for the next quarter. Using a template, I ask a series of questions about each of my …
Reading Time: 4 minutesWhy Proactivity Matters: Shaping Your Day Instead of Reacting to It I’ve had a morning routine for several years. I read from several sources, think about what I’ve read, and journal. A recent quote completely reframed how I think about my morning routine. Tsh Oxenreider, in her book One Bite at a Time, wrote: “Instead …
Reading Time: 5 minutesIntroduction: Exploring Two Proven Planning Techniques Have you ever felt your rigid planning system traps you, but total flexibility leaves you unfocused? I’ve been there too. After much experimentation, I’ve found a way to get the best of both worlds. On some days, rigid time blocking my day worked, while on others, the flexibility of …
Reading Time: 6 minutesAfter years of managing my daily tasks, notes, and time blocking across multiple apps, I tested NotePlan, a tool that promised to be an all-in-one solution. Over the last two weeks, I’ve immersed myself in its features, testing them in my daily routines. My journey with NotePlan began unexpectedly while listening to episode 756 of …
Reading Time: 3 minutesEach generation thinks of itself as superior to all that came before. More modern, more sophisticated, more knowledgeable, and dealing with much more complex issues than any in the history of humanity. We tend to consider productivity a Modern concern and development. We talk about how, in our modern age, people face all kinds of …
Reading Time: 4 minutesAll time blocks are not the same. As our quote today says, “One unit of time is very different from another unit of time…all hours are not created equal.” Mind Management, Not Time Management, by David Kadavy. Our energy levels and mental states vary by the hour and the day. I am better at some …
Reading Time: 3 minutesIn productivity writing, “limiting beliefs” are often perceived as something negative to be overcome. For example, one writer, Ben Brearley, indicates that in time management, limiting beliefs “really damage productivity.” While it’s true that we can hold ourselves back with limiting beliefs based on negative self-talk and fear of failure, I believe there’s a flip …
Reading Time: 4 minutesUsing computer applications can help you to be more productive and to live an intentional life. I use mind mapping in the MindNode app to think graphically through my blog post topics and make decisions. I use my calendar and task manager apps to help me plan my week and remember events and tasks when …