Time Management

“How would you describe yourself?”

How many times have you been asked that question in job interviews over the years? And how many times have you made the following claim?

“I’m a hardworking multitasker.”

It’s understandable. Being a good multitasker is a sign that you’re productive, right?

Not necessarily.

There are a lot of aspects of productivity that we take for granted because we have been told over and over that they’re valid. But the truth may surprise you. For example, does being a good multitasker really mean you’re more productive than your single-tasking coworkers?

Science …

Productivity is a bit of an obsession for me. I’m always trying to streamline my time and get more done. Sometimes, it feels as if I spend more time trying to be productive than I do actually being productive.

Everyone goes through that.

I started to wonder what other people do to get around that — people who seem to squeeze every drop of productivity from their day. I decided to do some research, and picked up a lot of great tips and tricks I never would have thought of.

Check it out – here are the top 10 secrets …

Tell me if this sounds familiar.

It’s 8:00 a.m.

Monday morning.

You arrive at the office and notice you have a bunch of emails and voicemails waiting for you.

Great. More fires to put out.

You look at your physical inbox and notice several unfamiliar folders sitting in it. At best, each one represents a new action item you need to address for someone.

At worst, a new project.

Then, just as you’re about to roll up your sleeves and dig in, a coworker drops by. He wants to tell you about his evening. Unfortunately, a 60-second summary isn’t on …

Everyone battles procrastination.

It’s a uniquely human trait. We’ll always put off today the task that can be done tomorrow.

If there’s a big enough incentive to act now, we’ll do so. For example, if you develop acute pancreatitis, you’ll probably (hopefully!) jump to action and head to the hospital. Your incentive is to end the pain and avoid permanent damage to your body.

But if the incentive isn’t big enough, we wait until it is.

A perfect example is cleaning the house. It’s not a life and death situation. No one is going to die if you neglect to …

Ever wonder where all your time went?

Ever shut down your computer or closed your laptop at the end of the day and thought to yourself, “Good grief! I didn’t accomplish nearly as much as I had hoped to!”

I’m guessing the answer is yes. If it’s any consolation, you’re in good company. Most people aren’t able to accurately account for their time. They let it slip through their fingers.

That’s unfortunate. Wasted time means less time to do what you really want. It also means less income and more stress. That’s no way to live life, especially when it’s …

$100,000.

That’s what being an info-junkie cost me. If I’m being honest, it probably cost me a lot more.

If you’re on my email list, you already know the story. (If you’re not on my list, fill in your name and email address over on the right to get the good stuff!)

I’m willing to bet that you’re a junkie too. You collect a mountain of information and read every detail before you take action.

On the one hand, that level of preparation improves the quality and thoroughness of your output. If you’re writing a book on golf and …