Productivity Hacks

Achieving higher productivity is not always a result of technology or improved work processes. Eating the right foods and getting plenty of rest and exercise are the best productivity hacks I can recommend anyone!  

• Drink Green Tea: I drink two cups of green tea every morning and feel fantastic the entire day! I used to drink coffee. Loved the stuff. I just woke up one morning and no longer wanted coffee. Since drinking green tea, I find consistent and prolonged energy levels throughout the day. 
• ONLY Drink Water: I do not drink anything else except water and green tea. Nothing. You don't need to either. 
• Avoid Processed Foods: Processed food is very unhealthy. You don't need. go fresh - you'll feel much better!
• Avoid Carbohydrates: It's a personal choice but again, I feel much better without carbs.
• Avoid Gluten: Again, it's personal but I find my energy levels are much higher without gluten.
• Avoid Alcohol: I drink a glass of red wine maybe once or twice a year. I feel absolutely amazing without alcohol!
• Exercise Daily: You've heard it many times before. Exercise helps release a chemical in the brain called "endorphins" which help create a positive mood and high energy levels. 

Five Productivity Hacks

My top 5 productivity hacks to mitigate micro-annoyances that keep you from staying on schedule and getting more things down in less time.

1. Use a Kanban board to assist with project and task management. Try a free online tool like https://kanbanflow.com/

2. Switch off your mobile, email and internet connectivity when working on a priority one project or task in order to avoid interruptions and distractions. If you want to actually get things done, just shut down everything and focus on the tasks at hand. "Manage your mobile, don't let it manage you." - Richard Branson

3. Use the two minute rule. If a task can be completed in 2 minutes or less, then complete it.

4. Reserve one day per month for “administrative” work where you can organize and delete files, docs, and emails. It's a general catch-up / clean up day. 

5. Take a 10-minute break in the middle of a task. Stand-up, walk around and move your body! This will not only help boost your energy levels and rest your strained eyes, but it will hel p  clear the mind! You'll be a lot more focused when you return to finish the task.

The Importance of Being Heard Correctly!

This is a true story. In the early 1990's I was living and working in The Haague, The Netherlands when a good friend invited me to visit her for the weekend in Berlin. I thought, sure, no problem -  I'll just catch a short train ride from Holland across the boarder into east Germany. 

I purchased my tickets online pleased that I only had to worry about one train change in Maastricht. As we approached the station I knew I only had 10 short minutes to change trains. But were was my track? Feeling anxious and slightly disoriented, I politely asked the conductor about which track was the train for Berlin departing from? Track 7. 

Whew. I made it. No problem. Sitting comfortably in my assigned seat, the train departed and I was once again on my way to Berlin. 

About 90 minutes into the journey, the train conductor came around to collect tickets. He looked at my ticket, then at me, then my ticket once again and asked "Where is your final destination?" I answered "Berlin" of course. He looked at me puzzled and and said, "This train is headed to BELIN not BERLIN!"

Yikes! I was on the wrong train headed in the wrong direction! And to make matters even worse, there was no planned stop so I could disembark and go back to Maastricht and even if there was, I missed my train! 

I ended up travelling to Groningham in the north of the Netherlands. The train conducotr explained my situation to the station staff who took pity on a poor, confused, and highly entertaining young American traveller.  I was escorted to the train scheduled to depart in the morning at 7AM back to Maastricht and told I could sleep in the wagon car. Well, at least it was warm, I had a place to sleep, and I was sure I was on the right train!

As this was pre-mobile days, I phoned my friends in Berlin on a fixed line from Groningham to notify them of my mistake. Happy to report that I did eventually make it to Berlin and had a very enjoyable weekend.  

 Don't assume the person you're talking too understands what your'e trying to say. They may shake their head in acknowledgement but how they interpret your words may be very different than what you are trying to say. People selectively hear parts of a conversation or focus only on certain words, but miss the meaning entirely. Why? Because most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand.

My top 5 tips to ensure you make it to Berlin and not Belin:

1. Ask probing questions to confirm the recipient understands what your'e saying.
2. Ask the person to repeat your question or comment.
3. Use visual ques or props if appropriate to reinforce your message.
4. Anticipate potential ways your message could be misinterpreted.
5. Ask more than one person the same question and compare answers.