Instead of procrastinating away on the internets, be productive toward something else — including taking care of yourself!
Productivity
The Hilarious Louis C.K. on Managing Life
I learned that sharks sleep parts of their brain, like rolling blackouts; they can’t fall asleep because they can’t stop moving or they’ll suffocate. So they sleep sections of their brain at a time. So I do kind of a version of that, where I shut down brain centers. I literally tell myself, “Don’t logistically problem-solve for the next three hours, but you can talk to folks. Driving my kid home from school—don’t think about all the professional things you have to do.
Louis C.K., on how he manages his crazy busy life, in an interview with the A.V. Club. Shark-y brain sleep it is!
photo: Wes Bryant
Jack White Talks Inspiration, Creativity and Work Ethic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MckHLBWuz7E
harvest:
Jack White, on inspiration, creativity, and work ethic:
Inspiration and work ethic — they ride right next to each other…. Not every day you’re gonna wake up and the clouds are gonna part and rays from heaven are gonna come down and you’re gonna write a song from it. Sometimes, you just get in there and just force yourself to work, and maybe something good will come out.
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
The Scientific Power of Naps
More naps = boosts in productivity, cognitive function, memory, and creativity!!
Sleeping and Science, FTW!
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
Perspectives on Procrastination
We are constantly trading off what we are doing now against what we might do in the future. As long as we are doing that in a reasonable way, it doesn’t matter that we are putting some things off.
Frank Partnoy reports on how experts in different fields view procrastination in Procrastination Rules. He describes how a journalist manages time by managing delay:
For projects that require different amounts of time, Guerrera makes separate lists. He describes a technique he and many other journalists use: “We have two sets of notebooks, a small one and a big one. The small one is for immediate day-to-day stories, the work we have to do right away. The big one is for big thoughts, features and stories that have some time. There’s an actual physical distinction between our immediate stories and the ones we can wait on. The physical form of two notebooks is our way of saying it’s too overwhelming to do both at the same time.”
Managing delay or, yes, procrastination, can be positive, reasonable behavior depending on what you’re actually trading off.
How Does Food Affect Productivity?
A 2005 study by the International Labour Organization found that nutrition habits do indeed directly influence work productivity. Mindflash’s infographic offers some great brain food suggestions. We’re always up for eating more dark chocolate, avocados, and blueberries – yum! Click here for a proper viewing size.
The Productive Habits of Alan Turing
Never heard of Alan Turing, the math genius, wartime decoding hero, and computer pioneer? Check out this Radiolab episode in addition to Matthew Lasar’s great overview of the seven Turing Qualities of productivity.
The highly productive habits of Alan Turing
- Try to see things as they are.
- Don’t get sidetracked by ideologies.
- Be practical.
- Break big problems down into smaller tasks.
- Just keep going.
- Be playful.
- Remember that it is people who matter.
Tips for Better Time Management
[T]ime management isn’t primarily about using minutes well, it’s about using yourself well. And using yourself well means spending most of your time in your sweet spot, which is at the intersection of your strengths, weaknesses, differences, and passions.
Peter Bregman found that many people “agree or strongly agree that they don’t spend enough time at work in their sweet spot, doing work they’re really good at and enjoy the most.”
Focusing at work isn’t just about concentrating on the tasks at hand, but also about focusing your talents. Stay in your sweet spot longer.
The Solution to Procrastination?
Don’t wait until you feel like doing something.
Boom. Oliver Burkeman’s one-sentence solution to procrastination.
Take Control Of Your Life
[W]e have one reservoir of willpower. It’s a highly limited resource, and it gets depleted by every act that requires its use.
Tony Schwartz, proponent of maintaining your energy levels for sustainable productivity, offers a Master Plan for Taking Control of Your Life back from all those temptations that ultimately deplete your tank of willpower.
His two tips related to eating and sleeping are great reminders to attend to your physical health in order to give your best during the day:
4. Sleep as much as you must to feel fully rested.
Enough with the “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” mentality. That just makes you a zombie.
And:
6. Eat energy rich foods in small doses at frequent intervals.
Schwartz recommends refueling at least every three hours. Skip the mocha choco latte yeah yeah and donuts, and snack on lean proteins and complex carbohydrates for longer lasting energy boosts. Here are some helpful meal and snack ideas.
Photo: Caro Wallis