Laura Stack - The Productivity Pro, Time Management, Getting Things Done, How to Be More Productive

Abandonment, outsourcing, discipline and other difficult productivity questions

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Time is your most valuable possession. What tasks do you devote the most energy to every day? You may be working hard to climb the big ladder of success, but you'll waste a lot of energy (and time) if you discover it's leaning on the wrong wall. An intense, personal commitment to achieving your goals gives you the vigor you need to move forward every day. 

Try these time management tips on for size.

1. Practice purposeful abandonment. If you have too much on your plate, get rid of anything that doesn't meet your objectives or have long-term consequences for your work. Your only other option is overwork and flagging energy.

2. Get some help. Don't try to do everything yourself, especially if you're running a business. Hire someone to deal with all the repetitive or minor tasks anyone can do, so you can get the important work done.

3. Focus on value. Work when you're at work: don't check your eBay listings, surf the Internet, or answer your private email. Otherwise, you're robbing yourself of your precious, irreplaceable minutes.

4. Outsource to a third party. If you're overloaded with tasks that someone else can do more cheaply, then by all means hire someone to do them. Specialist websites like Elance.com can be lifesavers in such a situation. 

5. Do one thing at a time. Even if you're good at multitasking, do just one thing at a time. Otherwise, you're giving each task less than the attention it deserves, and it'll take you longer to get things done.

6. Be disciplined. When you promise someone you'll complete a task by a certain timeframe, do you do it? Or does the deadline slip past, with you muttering to yourself, "Stupid. What's wrong with you?" Guilt sucks the energy right out of you, so avoid it by forcing yourself to get your work done on time.   

7. Make some progress. Don't just maintain the status quo; work to get something done every day. Understand the difference between maintenance and progress, and make sure there's some forward momentum to at least some of your tasks.

8. Realize that your to-do list is never going to end until you're dead. You're not going to get it all done; there will always be more things to do than time to do them in. It's called life. That's okay; what would you do with yourself if your to-do list did end? 

When you work on a task, your capacity to work on other tasks will slowly decline.  When your energy is depleted, you don’t work well until you catch your "second wind" and your energy is replenished.  So you must select tasks purposefully, making sure the most important things get the lion's share of your energy and attention.

© 2008 Laura Stack.  Laura Stack is a personal productivity expert, author, and professional speaker who helps busy workers Leave the Office Earlier® with Maximum Results in Minimum Time™. She is the president of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., a time management training firm specializing in productivity improvement in high-stress organizations.  Since 1992, Laura has presented keynotes and seminars on improving output, lowering stress, and saving time in today’s workplaces.  She is the bestselling author of three works published by Broadway Books: The Exhaustion Cure (2008), Find More Time (2006) and Leave the Office Earlier (2004).  Laura is a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, and Day-Timers®, Inc and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN, and the New York Times. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Sunoco, KPMG, Nationwide, and 3M.  To have Laura speak at your next event, call 303-471-7401.  Visit www.TheProductivityPro.com to sign up for her free monthly productivity newsletter.

Help! I free brain-dead---how can I possibly be productive?

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You eat well, you get enough sleep, you exercise every day, but your energy's at rock-bottom. Maybe it's toward the end of the work day. Maybe it's the end of the week.  Maybe it's the first day of your menstrual cycle. Maybe your biorhythms are at a natural ebb. Or maybe it's the dead of winter, and any sane mammal would be hibernating instead of driving to work while it's still dark out. Whatever the problem, here are a few quick fixes that can help you get back on track.

1. Recharge regularly. If you're staring at a computer all day, you're probably not moving much -- and lack of movement translates to lack of energy. Take a break and do something that gets you moving.

2. Get outside and get some sunshine. A lack of fresh air and sunshine deprives your body not only of fresh oxygen but also of Vitamin D, which is produced by sunlight falling on your skin. You need at least 10 minutes of sunlight a day.

3. Stretch at your desk. If your muscles are stiff, tight, and sore, that means they're too tense. The more tension in your muscles, the less power you have, because tenseness impedes oxygen and blood flow, resulting in lower energy.

4. Strike a pose. Lack of flexibility can lead to lower energy. However, studies show that people who practice yoga are less anxious, have more efficient heart and respiratory function, and are more resistant to stress.

5. Engage in some silliness. If you take life too seriously, you're setting yourself up for stress, depression, and physical ailments that can sap your energy. Instead, start a silly hobby, tell your co-worker a joke, or read a Calvin and Hobbes book.

6. Try some aromatherapy. Recharge your energy by jolting your sense of smell. Keep small bottles of invigorating scented oils like lavender, lemon oil, orange, and spearmint at your desk, and take a whiff when you're feeling down.

7. Try some ancient exercises. One way to avoid modern-world burnout is to be willing to try something old. Ear rubs, acupressure, and deep breathing can all help you release some of that pent-up pressure that can lead to energy loss.

8. Feel good in your skin. Ditch clothing that makes you uncomfortable; that'll only lead to irritation and associated energy loss. Wear sensible shoes, avoid ties, try colorful clothing, and if you're a woman, go braless occasionally -- every hour you wear a bra makes it more likely you'll end up with breast cancer.

So open your mind and get out the door; take a deep breath and strike a pose; or act like a kid and laugh 'til it hurts.  These tricks also come in handy for an energy boost during your mid-afternoon break, or when you're trying to get off the caffeine roller coaster. 

© 2008 Laura Stack.  Laura Stack is a personal productivity expert, author, and professional speaker who helps busy workers Leave the Office Earlier® with Maximum Results in Minimum Time™. She is the president of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., a time management training firm specializing in productivity improvement in high-stress organizations.  Since 1992, Laura has presented keynotes and seminars on improving output, lowering stress, and saving time in today’s workplaces.  She is the bestselling author of three works published by Broadway Books: The Exhaustion Cure (2008), Find More Time (2006) and Leave the Office Earlier (2004).  Laura is a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, and Day-Timers®, Inc and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN, and the New York Times. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Sunoco, KPMG, Nationwide, and 3M.  To have Laura speak at your next event, call 303-471-7401.  Visit www.TheProductivityPro.com to sign up for her free monthly productivity newsletter.

What to do when you feel your energy slipping away...

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PACING:  Plug Me In

Even if you start out the day with plenty of fuel, you may eventually feel that energy slipping away. You can be zipping along just fine, then -- Boom! -- you hit what sports enthusiasts call "the wall." How well you handle your energy budget will determine whether you break through the wall and move on to the rest of your day, or just bounce off and slog through the mental mud. Try these tips to stay on the straight and narrow.

1. Stand instead of sit. You're not designed to sit for hours on end. Work regular physical movement into your work day, especially if most of your work is conducted at a desk. At the very least, stand up and stretch occasionally.

2. Give yourself a break. Failing to take breaks can affect your short-term energy and long-term health. Take a few minutes off from the grind occasionally so your body can restore your strength and energy.

3. Walk around on your breaks. Instead of drinking coffee and reading the paper while on break, walk around a bit. This lets your body process glucose better, giving you a burst of energy that'll kick in about the time you get back to work.

4. Try creative desk energy renewal strategies. Jobs requiring an intense focus can be intensely draining. Take an occasional break and renew yourself through meditation, deep breathing, prayer, stretching -- whatever works for you.

5. Find an encouragement partner.  If you're stuck with a boring task, find someone you can call up when you're temporarily burnt out. You can perform the same function for your partner; encouraging them can keep you on track, too.

6. Watch your posture. Don't slouch. Doing so uses up more energy than sitting up straight, and can also stress your musculature and skeleton. Getting a good, ergonomic chair can go a long way towards maintaining your proper energy level.

7. Pace yourself. Remember, you're not a machine; don't squander your energy early in the day, or you'll fade by mid-afternoon. Rest is as important as hard work for achieving anything of consequence in a decent amount of time.

8. Respect your biological cycles. No matter what you do, you'll go through energy cycles during the day. Circadian rhythms, sleep cycles, hormone cycles, and similar biological clocks can all conspire to rob you of energy. Instead of trying to work through the low cycles, take a few minutes off to revamp your energy level.

No matter how often you might wish otherwise, you're not a robot and can't go non-stop, especially if you're desk-bound for most of the day. Occasional breaks are necessary for mental and physical health. You need to get up and stretch your legs, to get your heart pumping and your blood circulating -- or you just may start feeling rusty!

© 2008 Laura Stack.  Laura Stack is a personal productivity expert, author, and professional speaker who helps busy workers Leave the Office Earlier® with Maximum Results in Minimum Time™. She is the president of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., a time management training firm specializing in productivity improvement in high-stress organizations.  Since 1992, Laura has presented keynotes and seminars on improving output, lowering stress, and saving time in today’s workplaces.  She is the bestselling author of three works published by Broadway Books: The Exhaustion Cure (2008), Find More Time (2006) and Leave the Office Earlier (2004).  Laura is a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, and Day-Timers®, Inc and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN, and the New York Times. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Sunoco, KPMG, Nationwide, and 3M.  To have Laura speak at your next event, call 303-471-7401.  Visit www.TheProductivityPro.com to sign up for her free monthly productivity newsletter.

How will sugar, water, and stimulants affect my work during the day?

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Poor nutrition can be as draining as the wrong diet, and the consequences can sneak up on you. If you're constantly dragging, and you suffer headaches or an inability to get enough sleep despite following proper sleep habits, you may be suffering from a nutritional deficiency.

Sometimes, all you have to do to power up your energy is to recognize the symptoms of nutritional imbalances, and then to take steps to address them. These tips can help you with that.

1. Get a good balance of essential nutrients. Things can go wrong with your body if you don't make sure it gets all it needs to function right. Check your symptoms, and eat more of what you might be lacking. Vitamins may be in order, too.

2. Replace favorite foods with metabolism-boosting substitutes. Too much sugar can activate your appetite instead of control it. Try an egg-white omelet in the morning instead of cereal, or a protein shake in the afternoon.

3. Hydrate yourself. If you feel like you're drained dry, maybe you are. While technically not a nutrient, we don't get all the water we need from the food we eat, so supplementation is essential.

4. Steer clear of stimulants. There's no doubt that stimulants perk you up, but they do it in a way that you have to pay for later. Even legal stimulants trigger a "fight-or-flight" reflex that releases stress hormones, followed by a big energy slump.

5. Limit your alcohol consumption. Will the occasional beer or glass of wine with dinner hurt you? Not really, but alcohol is a depressant; too much at any one time can negatively impact your energy level for a day or more.

6. Stop smoking! Not only does the kickback from nicotine cause a short-term energy loss, in the long term, smoking can damage your lungs, decreasing your ability to take in oxygen -- a vital energy fuel.

7. Focus on convenience. If you're working hard to increase your energy level through good nutritional habits, make it easier to succeed. Start by limiting the worst energy stealers in your environment, and make it convenient to eat right.

8. Clear your house of junk. Get rid of those temptations! Keep sugary and high-fat snacks out of your cupboard, both at work and at home, and clear out the liquor cabinet, too. Don't forget to throw out the cigarettes while you're at it.

Your body needs certain food and nutrients for repair, growth, and energy. If you're not getting all you need, you'll eventually run down. So learn to overcome your poor nutritional habits, or you'll pay the metabolic price.

© 2008 Laura Stack. Laura Stack is a personal productivity expert, author, and professional speaker who helps busy workers Leave the Office Earlier® with Maximum Results in Minimum Time™. She is the president of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., a time management training firm specializing in productivity improvement in high-stress organizations. Since 1992, Laura has presented keynotes and seminars on improving output, lowering stress, and saving time in today’s workplaces. She is the bestselling author of three works published by Broadway Books: The Exhaustion Cure (2008), Find More Time (2006) and Leave the Office Earlier (2004). Laura is a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, and Day-Timers®, Inc and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN, and the New York Times. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Sunoco, KPMG, Nationwide, and 3M. To have Laura speak at your next event, call 303-471-7401. Visit www.TheProductivityPro.com <http://www.theproductivitypro.com/> to sign up for her free monthly productivity newsletter.

The Critical Importance of Sleep to Your Productivity

SLEEP: Learn to Love the Last Letter of the Alphabet

You might be surprised to learn that there's a simple treatment that boosts energy levels, improves memory, increases your ability to concentrate, strengthens your immune system, and decreases your risk of death and injury in accidents. Amazingly, it costs absolutely nothing, and is available to anyone. It's called "sleep." Ever heard of it?

Quality, restful, undisturbed sleep is one of the keys to maximizing your daytime energy level, but it may take a little tinkering to find what's right for you. Here are a few tips that can help.

1. Catch the right number of Z's. Experiment with finding the amount of sleep that's right for you, and stick with it religiously -- even on the weekends and holidays!

2. Nap wisely. If you absolutely have to take a nap, limit it to one hour -- and don't nap at all if you suffer from insomnia.

3. Treat sleep disorders. If you can't get any rest, have yourself tested for sleep disorders. There are over 100, and each can interfere with your physical and emotional well being.

4. Lose weight. Obesity and poor sleep patterns go hand-in-hand, and just make each other worse. Your only real choice is to nip obesity in the bud.

5. Reset your body clock. Faulty circadian rhythms can foul up the timing of your normal sleep/wake cycle. The fix? Work to reset your body clock naturally.

6. Create the right sleep environment. Your bedroom should be your sleeping sanctuary, not a place to read, knit, or watch TV. If your body associates bed with sleep, you'll get to sleep more quickly and sleep better.

7. Eat, drink, and be sleepy. Never go to bed hungry, but don't go to bed right after dinner either. In addition, you should watch your intake of alcohol, water, and stimulants late in the evening.

8. Sleep well when traveling.  Look for hotels, like the Crowne Plaza chain, that understand the need for great sleep and provide for it. If you plan to travel several time zones away, try resetting your body clock in advance.

Never underestimate the value of a good night's sleep. If you don't get enough sleep, you'll suffer fatigue, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and irritability the next day. While the body can dig into its reserves for a few days, inadequate sleep will eventually reduce your effectiveness at anything you attempt to do.

© 2008 Laura Stack.  Laura Stack is a personal productivity expert, author, and professional speaker who helps busy workers Leave the Office Earlier® with Maximum Results in Minimum Time™. She is the president of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., a time management training firm specializing in productivity improvement in high-stress organizations.  Since 1992, Laura has presented keynotes and seminars on improving output, lowering stress, and saving time in today’s workplaces.  She is the bestselling author of three works published by Broadway Books: The Exhaustion Cure (2008), Find More Time (2006) and Leave the Office Earlier (2004).  Laura is a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, and Day-Timers®, Inc and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN, and the New York Times. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Sunoco, KPMG, Nationwide, and 3M.  To have Laura speak at your next event, call 303-471-7401.  Visit www.TheProductivityPro.com to sign up for her free monthly productivity newsletter.

Time management is dead: The new reality of productivity

We’ve all been there. There’s mail piled up on the corner of your desk. You have 37 unread e-mails. The phone is ringing (not that phone – the other phone). And you’ll be lucky if you can get through three of the fifteen items on your to-do list.

Oh – and you have four hours of meetings ahead of you.

It didn’t used to be this way. The world has changed in the last decade or so. Has your approach to time management changed with it?

If you find yourself stressed out and frustrated every time you try to hunker down and take control of your time, there’s a good chance that’s because you need a new way to think about time management. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to force yourself to work within a system that just isn’t compatible with the pace of your day or the nature of your work. Just like electronic organizers are perfect for some and others swear by paper planners, even the best time management system will fail if it doesn’t jive with the way you get through each day.

If you’re looking for a productivity system that is compatible with real life, consider 4-A Time Management. By focusing on four key elements of productivity you can create a flexible, customized productivity strategy that is compatible with the fast paced demands of today.

Activity. When there are 117 things that could be done next, how are we supposed to prioritize? In this new era of productivity, it is pretty much impossible to successfully schedule your day in advance. You might set out a clear list of objectives and a bulletproof timetable, but we all know that one unexpected phone call can cause the whole plan to collapse in on itself – priorities change, a crisis pops up, a deadline is moved up a week; these things happen.

Since you can’t plan for everything, it is important that you have a crystal clear understanding of what your priorities are. If something happens that is beyond your control and these priorities need to be adjusted – fine – but until then, you should have a game plan.

Evaluate your to-do list to see which tasks will yield the greatest benefit. The old A-B-C method probably won’t work if the flow of your day changes often. You need a new method of deciding where to spend your valuable time.

Think about the average amount of time that you can work uninterrupted. Which of your tasks will benefit most from that undivided attention? Which require a lot more or much less? Make a plan to work on the bigger, more time-intensive projects when you know you’re least likely to be disturbed. Save the little ones for those windows between meetings and phone calls when you won’t get much else done.

If one of your important projects is just too intimidating for you to ever make any headway, break it down into smaller, manageable steps. I guarantee that nine times out of ten, once you get started you’ll forget why you put it off for so long to begin with.

Availability. The best laid plans won’t stand a chance if you don’t find a way to control your availability. Your time is your most valuable asset. Don’t just give it away to anyone who asks! You’ll never have complete control over your availability, but it’s important to know how to carve out blocks of distraction-free time that is conducive to productivity.

Meetings are notorious for eating up massive blocks of time. Learn to say “no.” It’s pretty likely that you don’t need to be at all of the meetings that you’re attending. Can you send someone in your place? Ask for the minutes to be forwarded? Address the situation with a quick phone call? Evaluate whether the meetings you attend are really necessary.

When you’re not in those meetings, schedule time to work. In some jobs this is easier to do than others. It might just be a matter of shutting your office door and setting your phone to voicemail. Or working from home or heading to Starbucks with your laptop. You might need a clear signal for your co-workers, like using a do-not-disturb sign or putting on head phones when you need to work uninterrupted.

Whatever your solution – don’t abuse it. If you try to make yourself constantly unavailable, you will quickly find that others lose respect for your “I’m busy” signal.

Then you’re right back where you started, whether you’re up against an important deadline or not.

Accessibility. You’ve already decided that you aren’t going to give everyone around constant access to your time. The next step is to make sure that you have easy access to the information, tools, and resources you need to be productive.

Invest the time necessary to make sure the things you need on a regular basis are at your fingertips. Things you access frequently should be filed on your desktop in an organizer or in a drawer that’s at arm’s reach. Put the files you only use occasionally where they are accessible at your desk, but give the easiest access to those things that you reference regularly. Archive files you rarely need in the bottom drawers or in files away from your desk.

Perhaps the most important and overlooked thing you can do to get organized is to structure your electronic files. In an age where most files are electronic, it’s easy to lose them to the vacuum of cyber storage. File electronic documents similar to the way you would paper ones. Don’t just plop everything in “My Documents” or on your desktop and leave it for lost. Set up folders and sub folders that have intuitive titles that you’ll easily navigate. Use dates and enough detail in file names that you won’t have to open multiple documents when you’re looking for something specific. In short, do the initial work of saving the files in an organized manner to make referencing them an easy task.

Stopping to hunt for what you need not only wastes time, but it destroys your rhythm and forces you to break your concentration. It’s well worth it to organize as you go.

Attention. The most effective time management system in the world won’t do a thing to improve your productivity if you don’t focus on the task at hand. For many of us, the problem isn’t a lack of willpower; it’s having the restraint to refuse distractions.

This means closing Outlook when you’re not working on e-mail and trying to check it only a few times a day. Resist the urge to open messages as they come in. This also means letting the voicemail light stay on until you’ve finished what you’re doing. Treat your project time like an appointment with a coworker. Ignore the phone, the e-mail, and the urge to go get a cup of coffee.

Of course, avoiding email and the phone might be much easier than avoiding the distractions that come from coworkers. If you’ve already put your “do not disturb” signal in place, be it headphones or a closed office door, and you’re still being interrupted, it’s time to tactfully redirect the person distracting you.

Acknowledge the issue and let them know you’re in the thick of an important project. Ask if you may give them a call in an hour when they may have your undivided attention.

Just remember – it’s better to be like a postage stamp and stick with something all the way to the end than it is to be a butterfly that flits from task to task!

So forget managing your time – it can’t be managed. Manage yourself with these 4 A’s and you’ll increase the likelihood you’ll have a productive day.

Make it a productive day! ™

www.TheProductivityPro.com

Beat the Bandits that Rob Your Time

Pests are the time-wasters and robbers that keep you from being able to accomplish your goals, the "termites" that eat away at your personal foundations. Getting rid of them may seem difficult at first, but it's amazing how good we are at eliminating time-wasters when forced to. Try these pointers and see what you can accomplish.

1. Confront problems head-on and make decisions quickly. Indecisiveness is a big time-waster and a major pest in your quest to be productive. The ability to make quick decisions is the hallmark of a good leader and efficient person.

2. Complete the tasks you start. Don't let projects stall; make a running list keeping track of them so you know what's due next, and break them down into smaller pieces to get them done easier.

3. Keep interruptions from wasting your time. Tame the telephone, and if you need to, go into hiding to get things done. If you work at home, explain to your friends and family what you do, and ask them to limit the interruptions.

4. Create shortcuts to get things done quickly. Find ways to streamline and simplify your life. Even little things like keeping an on-going shopping list, taking kitchen shortcuts, and catching up on news online instead of reading the paper can shave valuable minutes off your daily routine.

5. Combine activities and routines. Get work done while accomplishing other necessary tasks. For example, you can catch up on phone calls while folding laundry, or combine exercise with family time by going on family walks.

6. Make good use of down time. If you're waiting for something to happen, don't just twiddle your thumbs: try to complete a little task. Pay a bill, knit, tidy up the car, make dinner reservations -- whatever occurs to you.

7. Turn off the technology. You don't have to be electronically available 24/7. For the sake of your own sanity, unplug during your down time, and be fully present in whatever you're doing, especially if you're with loved ones.

8. Know and avoid your biggest timewasters and distractions. Identify your favorite pests, whether they're television, computer games, or talking on the phone too much, and get a handle on them. You don't have to cut them out completely, but set some rules on how often you'll indulge.

9. Make productive use of driving or commuting time. Get some work done while commuting, especially if you're a passenger. If you're driving, you can still make phone calls (with a hands-free setup, of course!), use a voice recorder, or listen to books on tape.

10. Eliminate aggravation and save time when traveling or flying. Take steps to make travel as pleasant an experience as possible. Simplify your packing regime, arrive early, and take advantage of options like driving services that, while expensive, are worthwhile in the long run.

Don't be so controlled by daily events that your productivity goes into the toilet. Learn to eliminate the obstacles in your path, all the wasted pieces of time that fritter away your day. I guarantee that you'll be amazed and invigorated by what you're able to accomplish.

© 2008 Laura Stack.  Laura Stack is a personal productivity expert, professional speaker, and author who helps busy workers Leave the Office Earlier® with Maximum Results in Minimum Time™. She is the president of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., a time management training company in Denver, Colorado, that caters to high-stress industries. Laura’s newest productivity book, The Exhaustion Cure (Broadway Books), hits bookstores in May 2008.  Laura is a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, and Day-Timers®, Inc and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN, and the New York Times. Her clients include Cisco, Sunoco, KPMG, Nationwide, and MolsonCoors.  Contact her at www.TheProductivityPro.com. 

Your Personal Productivity Personality and Self-Sabotage

Have you ever considered that your biggest obstacle to finding more time might be YOU? The way you react to the world may be the reason you stay overwhelmed. To fix this you need to look at your behavior, habits, and choices, and then figure out which ones to adjust in order to support your desired direction in life. Here are a few tips that can help you do just that.

1. Control perfectionism. Realize that some things are good enough as they are. Instead of worrying about making things perfect, learn to leave well enough alone. Obsessing over small details can be deadly to your productivity.

2. Refuse requests when appropriate. You don't have to say "yes" to everything, whether that involves accepting extra work or baking brownies for a kid's party. Set boundaries about what you'll accept, and learn to say no to yourself, too.

3. Ask for help you need it. You're not a superhero; you can't do everything alone.  Surround yourself with a team of helpers, and don't be afraid to delegate things that other people can do.

4. Avoid procrastinating. You know what you should be doing, so get out there and do it. If you put it off until tomorrow, you'll just end up working harder at the last minute -- and both your energy and quality of work will suffer.

5. Know and honor your energy levels throughout the day. Nobody has an unlimited supply of energy, so you'll have to learn how your personal energy levels ebb and flow in order to get through the day effectively.

6. Communicate clearly to avoid confusion and rework. Good interpersonal communication will help you reduce unnecessary problems and wasted time. Share information, state your expectations up front, and be specific.

7. Consistently meet and usually beat deadlines. If you get things done on time -- or preferably early -- you'll save yourself unnecessary stress, and your work will generally be of higher quality than if you waited until the last minute.

8. Focus on completing one task before getting distracted by another. When you turn your full attention to a task, your output is increased, you perform better, less rework is required, and your peace of mind is enhanced.

9. Maintain a positive attitude. Accept the responsibility for your own stress levels. While you can't control everything, you can look for the good in every experience, and learn to avoid "stinking thinking" in all its many forms.

10. Stop trying to please all the people all of the time. Stop caring so much about what other people think. Being a people-pleaser is a debilitating pattern of behavior that can cause stress and ruin the productive pursuit of your own goals. As singer Ricky Nelson once pointed out, "You can't please everyone, so you have to please yourself."

So take charge of your life. Learn to focus, stop beating around the bush, and don't be too proud to ask for and accept help if you need it. Most of all, kick the guilt habit. Guilt is a junk emotion that keeps you from unlocking your true potential. Stop "shoulding" on yourself, and get on with your life! 

© 2008 Laura Stack.  Laura Stack is a personal productivity expert, professional speaker, and author who helps busy workers Leave the Office Earlier® with Maximum Results in Minimum Time™. She is the president of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., a time management training company in Denver, Colorado, that caters to high-stress industries. Laura’s newest productivity book, The Exhaustion Cure (Broadway Books), hits bookstores in May 2008.  Laura is a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, and Day-Timers®, Inc and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN, and the New York Times. Her clients include Cisco, Sunoco, KPMG, Nationwide, and MolsonCoors.  Contact her at www.TheProductivityPro.com. 

How to Concentrate: Act Like a Postage Stamp and Stick To It!

Nowadays, so many things compete for your attention in the workplace that it can be hard to concentrate on what's important. If you need to improve your ability to stay on target and focus on the task at hand, implement the tips outlined below.

1. Set up your office for maximum productivity and minimum distractions. You need privacy to concentrate and discuss sensitive issues. Don't just take what you're given; reorganize it into a configuration that works best for you.

2. Avoid wasting time by daydreaming. Daydreaming can be a real productivity bandit -- but as long as you don't use it to procrastinate, it can be very helpful. Harness its creative powers, and use it for thinking time that can lead to productive ideas.

3. Remember things more easily. Busy people need good memory skills to help them remember details. Sharpening your memory can be as simple as using good memory tools: always writing things down, keeping running lists, leaving yourself voicemails, etc.

4. Focus on priority projects without getting distracted. Be like a postage stamp: stick to one thing until it gets to its intended destination. Learn to juggle multiple tasks and projects effectively, but don't flit around from one item to another without completing anything.

5. Focus on one thing at a time. Don't "multi-task" or attempt to do too many things at once. Start by focusing one on item instead. Don't interrupt yourself, and prioritize your tasks so you know what needs to be done first.

6. Make lists and record everything you need to do. To keep from dropping the ball, capture every thought using either paper or electronic methods. This pulls what you need to do out of your memory and relieves your brain of the burden of repeatedly thinking about everything you need to remember.

7. Read quickly and maintain concentration. Learn to benefit from new reading techniques designed to boost productivity, and toss whatever's boring or useless to you. Getting through your reading more quickly frees up time for other priorities.

8. Recognize signs of brain overload. If you have no idea what to do first or where to begin, learn how to get your mind focused again. For example, create structure and deadlines for your work, jealously guard your attention from distractions, or try some deep breathing exercises.

9. Get absorbed in a task. Become fully present-focused. Learn to "get in the zone" and achieve a state of momentum where time seems to fly. Start by mastering your job, ensure no interruptions, and always strive to be in the moment.

10. Concentrate on a task that bores you or doesn't really interest you. Even tedious tasks must be completed. Get them done early so the rest of the day is more enjoyable, reward yourself for getting the job done, and vary your activities.

You can't get your work done if you're distracted. Learn to trim away all the minor things competing for your attention, and fine-tune your concentration to a laser-like focus. You'll be surprised at how much you get done -- and how much time you'll have to spend on what's really important.

© 2008 Laura Stack.  Laura Stack is a personal productivity expert, professional speaker, and author who helps busy workers Leave the Office Earlier® with Maximum Results in Minimum Time™. She is the president of The Productivity Pro®, Inc., a time management training company in Denver, Colorado, that caters to high-stress industries. Laura’s newest productivity book, The Exhaustion Cure (Broadway Books), hits bookstores in May 2008.  Laura is a spokesperson for Microsoft, 3M, and Day-Timers®, Inc and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN, and the New York Times. Her clients include Cisco, Sunoco, KPMG, Nationwide, and MolsonCoors.  Contact her at www.TheProductivityPro.com. 

How to Leave Work Early and Enjoy Your Valentine’s Day

Hectic work schedules have probably ruined more Valentine Day celebrations than we care to think about. It is easy to schedule business dinners for February 14th without a second thought…until the day before…when it finally hits us. More so than expensive jewelry or chocolates, many people are satisfied with having the undivided attention of a loved one for the evening. Laura Stack, Day-Timers Expert on Productivity and author of Leave the Office Earlier, has these tips to help you create an unforgettable Valentine’s Day.

1. Plan before you leave work. Double-check your planner and organize activities for the next day before you leave the office on Valentine’s Day.  Getting tomorrow’s tasks out of your head and on to paper will help you leave work at work, so that you can be fully present with your significant other on this important night.

2. Make any last-minute essential calls on the way home. Make it your goal to complete your work by the time you arrive to meet your Valentine. While you’re on your way home, finish any leftover “business” conversations.  When you see your loved one in person, you will be ready to focus on the romance. If you make a call list before leaving the office, it will help ensure you don’t forget anyone.

3. Get a babysitter. If you have children, and your goal is to give extra attention to your loved one, this is not the evening to let the children tag along. Even if you are not the one who usually makes these arrangements, surprise your loved one by taking the initiative and booking a sitter yourself. This is a busy night for babysitters, so plan ahead by booking at least a week in advance.

4. Find something that relaxes both of you. Since Valentine’s Day falls on a weekday, by the time you are finally together, you will each have dealt with the pressures of work.  So find a way to relax before your special ‘date’ to decompress.  Draw a nice bath for two or get a couples’ massage.  That can set the stage for a perfect Valentine’s night.

5. Be present.  If you spend the evening in, avoid the tendency to multi-task at home. Some people don’t feel productive when they’re not doing four things at once, but all of your attention should be directed to your Valentine.

6. Turn off the phone.  One thing that is sure to ruin the mood on Valentine’s night is a ringing cell phone, especially if the caller ID shows it is a colleague, leaving you curious and distracted. Make it easy on everyone and turn the phone off for the whole night. Your Valentine will love you for it.

www.TheProductivityPro.com