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5 Productivity Habits Highly Successful People Demonstrate
/in Life Coach in NJ, NJ Life Coach, Organized Life /by Patricia Diesel5 Productivity Habits
Highly Successful People Demonstrate
I have heard it said, (actually it was from Brendon Burchard, one of the top performance coaches in the world) that there are two types of people in this world – “People who say ‘I don’t know how’ and so therefore they stop” and “People who say ‘I don’t know how’ and they go and find out how.”
We could perceive that one type is successful while the other is unsuccessful if we were going to view this from a standpoint of productivity. Speaking of productivity, I have also heard that highly successful people have a common trait. They are consistent in producing. But beyond that, there are (according to Brendon Burchard) five habits that people demonstrate who are truly productive…let’s take a look.
Habit #1: Raise Your Ambitions
“You are only productive to the degree of motivation stirred by your ambitions.”
~ Brendon Burchard
So what does this quote mean? It asks; What are you fired up about? What are your dreams? If you can’t answer this, then perhaps it’s time to ask the bigger question…What is your purpose in this life? You can then work your way up from there. We all need to feel connected to something that breeds life in us. Can you remember when you were connected in the past to a dream and how excited you were? I can tell you this, if you are feeling unproductive, it’s probably due to unclear ambitions. So go ahead – go for it! Remember this…raising your ambition doesn’t have to be about having more money, fancy cars, etc. It can be about service, such as being a better dad or a better boss. Even monks strive to deepen their meditation to their source….think about it!
Habit #2: Own Your Morning
Now, let’s be truthful here. If your morning is running on chaos, your day will be trapped in reaction mode – yes? Of course it will be. I learned a few statistics from Brendon on this matter. I learned that we can gain 30% of our productivity if we choose not to check our email in the first 60 minutes of waking up. It seems that 85% of us grab our phone upon rising, perhaps before we even give our significant other a morning kiss. Amazing isn’t it? I mean seriously, be honest … do you do this? If you do, well guess what – you’re the ultimate reactionary!
Let’s take back control of our morning by simply putting some things into place that can help immediately:
- Activate your body in the morning – you’re more resilient if you workout – try yoga/breathing/basic movements – stretch 15/20 minutes.
- Eat a healthy breakfast – don’t skip this important meal. Work on this – trust me, it will serve you well.
- Set your intention and an exact work schedule. For example, let’s say you are writing a book – well, set a time for how long you will write for and stick to it – remember, productivity needs a deadline.
Habit #3: Work the Needle Movers
In other words, identify the things that need the most attention and work on them. Did you know that 80% of what we work on doesn’t matter and it’s only the 20% that actually does? Perhaps this tells us a little story on what we are focusing on. Yes, you heard me, we need to focus on what is important – otherwise it will become a distraction if you choose those tasks outside of it.
I found this little tip to be extremely helpful:
Prioritize impact, not ease. This simply means to attack the stuff that will have the most impact towards tomorrow, the next day, and your vision.
Habit #4: Demonstrate, Then Delegate
Well this has always been a big one for me. I am a firm believer that before we can turn our work over to another – we first must master it. Meaning, we need to know the ins and outs of all of our work and feel confident that we understand all of it before we delegate. How else can we expect another to do the type of job we expect of them? If we don’t, we just set ourselves up for failure.
Habit # 5: Use Performance Enhancers
I know, what you must be thinking…caffeine…right? No, no, not at all. There are three top performance enhancers that can help us focus and be more productive.
- Sleep – It’s so important. Did you know that recent studies show that if you sleep 6 hours or less a night, that after the 10th day you are considered legally drunk?
- Meditation – It’s proven to lower stress and puts the brain in a better state. It also allows the brain to recover better as you transition from one task to another. It’s important to note that any time you do anything big you need to recover with hydration, movement, and a mental break.
- Plan – Yes, you heard it right. Listen, it’s important to plan your day, otherwise you will just be thinking through your stuff. As Brendon says, “If you plan your day, you’ll be a weapon in your day” – awesome, right?
5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Clearing Your Clutter
/in Chronic Disorganization, Hoarding, Office Clutter, Organized Life, Share Your Struggle /by Patricia DieselSo often I hear clients say they would do just about anything to stop the harassing effects of their clutter.
After countless attempts trying to purge and being defeated, some people associate their lost battles with a feeling of being assaulted. All they know at this point is they want the chaos of the clutter to stop.
Introducing a list of questions at this point helps put things into perspective about not only their current circumstances but also about how the clutter came to be and what is needed to make it go away.
It’s more appealing to look at de-cluttering as a fun and enlightening concept rather than another grueling task. The goal is to de-clutter in a fashion that feels comfortable and natural.
If your clutter is having an emotional impact on you, begin by asking yourself the following questions. Allow yourself the luxury of taking the necessary time to answer completely and honestly, you may be surprised what your answers reveal.
What has prevented me from de-cluttering in the past?
- Time
- Motivation
- Energy
- A plan
- Commitment
- Distractions
- Other
What do I find is the hardest thing about de-cluttering?
- I don’t trust myself
- Insecure with my decisions
- I double-check myself
- I remember what I like
- Fear of letting go
- Afraid I can’t get it back
- I may need it
- Don’t want to deal with it
- Other
What would make it easier for me to de-clutter?
- To know it’s OK to let it go
- The idea that I can find it again
- Someone to help me
- A reward system
- A plan I can follow
- Thoughts of being clutter free
- Other
How much time am I willing to commit to de-cluttering?
- One day
- One week
- One month
- Six months
- One year
- However long it takes
- Other
What does de-cluttering represent to me?
- Freedom
- Simplicity
- Excitement
- Work
- Exhaustion
- Confusion
- Other
After reviewing the answers to the questions above, you can easily begin to see what you need to put into action in order to begin taking action toward living an organized life. The easiest way to begin making organization part of your routine is to begin incorporating changes slowly. Create small wins for yourself so you can easily feel a sense of accomplishment and treat yourself to celebrate your win. This will begin creating a positive behavior pattern. In time, organization will become a part of your life, not something that overwhelms you.
-Patricia Diesel
Keep It Simple Now