Face it, living in the 21st century makes us frazzled! We run all over town attending lunches and events, work long hours, start one too many side projects and manage to somehow spend time with the people we care about. No wonder we constantly search for better ways to manage our time.
Last month at our September luncheon we heard from the Queen of Productivity and Chief Trainer at RegainYourTime.com, Maura Thomas. She explained that in today’s society the key to a more productive life isn’t about time management (time management is about using calendars and clocks) productivity comes from control.
Regain Your Time
Productivity stems from:
- Controlling your information
- Controlling your technology
- Controlling your own behavior
Control Your Information
There are constant and unrelenting demands for your attention in the 21st century.
Historically, there has always been more information than any one person could ever absorb in a lifetime. Now though, that information is pushed to you in a way that requires your 24/7 attention. Information is ambient- its everywhere!
We are living in an age of screens, designed to steal your attention. Today is the Attention Age, not the Information Age. Employers aren’t looking for multitaskers anymore, they are looking for people who are focused and diligent.
Control Your Technology
It’s ok to unplug form time to time.
Really.
Just try it and see. Take a timer and shut down your computer for 15 minutes and enjoy a cup of tea. Or, create a dedicated technology-free day each week.
How we spend our time is much less important than it used to be. We have all been guilty of leaving a cellphone on the table during a luncheon or coffee meeting. (I know I have!) As an adult we may have a responsibility to respond, but not to be reactive every minute of every day.
Next time, try turning it off. The world can wait.
Control Your Own Behavior
We are inherently eager to check new things as human. We’ve conditioned ourselves this way and we feed into our own desires through technology and constant connectivity. Our attention and experience is fragmented.
Maura tells us, “Life is made up of your experiences.” If your attention determines your life, then your attention determines your experiences. Don’t let others control your attention and thereby control your life.
Maura suggests, “Find a balance between ‘flow’ and ‘distraction.’ We are our true selves we get what we need done, and we get it done better when we are in our own flow.”
Other Tips for Empowered Productivity
- Remove distractions
- Shut off ringers
- Shut off the internet
- Use a timer
- Reward yourself
The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed try one of these tips for productivity.
My favorite piece of advice, “You can only manage what you see, and you can only see whats outside of your brain.” Manage the distractions outside of your brain and become a more productive version of yourself!
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