"Getting Things Done"

To embrace the world of technology, I am taking an online course through SkillShare called "Get Stuff Done Like A Boss: Design Your Workflow and Double your Productivity in 21 Days."

The class is broken down into 5 different Phases: 1) Collecting Your Open Hoops, 2) Processing Tasks Using Next Physical Actions, 3) Organizing Tasks in a Trusted System, 4) Reviewing Projects and Areas of Responsibility, and 5) Doing Things. I will be documenting my process through the 5 stages, and in the end - I hope to have gathering a well-rounded work flow for productivity.

For the introduction, I learned to define the term "workflow" and was required to take the 'Getting Things Done' Diagnostic quiz. You'll see below my answers, and my shocking problem areas -  which are not so great.

I'll be honest, before I took the quiz I thought I would get a pretty decent score but I was surprised. I suppose that there is purpose behind this tutorial and that this much to be learned.

That ends the Introduction, the following posts will be updated with progress as I go through the final 5 steps of the class.

Read More

Why Social Media Isn't That Bad

You name it, you have it - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, LinkedIn... and there's more. For the lucky few who have escaped the abyss-like world of social media, you may be disconnected.. sure. But, I can bet you that you aren't refreshing Facebook around 25 times or day - and maybe even you are getting more done.

For some reason, I subconsciously just always (and I mean ALWAYS) go straight to Facebook. I don't even really know why - I just do. I'm not saying that it stops productivity, a bunch of social media tools are in fact very useful - social media networking sites are where I spot the trigger. Some people do spend their jobs analyzing Facebook Page views and how to market products, so that is a given they are benefiting from social media. But in terms of the workplace and school, while we want to foster that online creativity sometimes it's just enough to trigger a bigger problem of procrastination.

Social Networking has it's place for businesses: communication, file sharing, research, and for collaboration. It looks great - so what's the problem? The problem is that we start out to be productive while working on an important task. We then quickly check Facebook and somehow end up on YouTube looking at cat videos two hours later.

Technology places an important and irreplaceable role in our work environments (professional and academic). Forbes released an article April 2013 highlighting that in order to become a more productive employee, you need to be on social networks. Joe Nandhakumar, a professor at Warwick Business School reflected on his research, finding that employees who used different types of social media/digital forms for communication were more creative and collaborative at work - making them more productive.

Speaking from experience - while I do find myself on Facebook for no real apparent reason - 'appropriately' using social networks has helped not only myself but my business to be more productive. I currently run a business in photography and graphic designing, both of which are extremely visual and rely heavily on the Internet. I use sites like Instagram to see what other photographers are up to, I use Pinterest to gather inspiration for both myself and my clients, and I use Facebook to reach out to foster relationships with potential and existing clients. Our experiences with social media doesn't have to be bad, it can be productive and it can be controlled.

Check out the infographic below from Social Cast.

Read More

Busy vs. Effective - And No, They Aren't The Same Thing...

I came across an interesting article on one of my new favourite websites Inc.com, entitled '7 Habits of Highly Ineffective People.' At first I was expecting something along the lines of not communicating, not doing work, having an apathetic attitude, and etc. But, I am wrong - boy, am I ever wrong. Sometimes the illusion of productive is really an act, the illusion is when we are convinced that we busy - we are productive, but that's not the case.

The article lists the 7 habits that show how the fine productivity line can be crossed, "The problem might not have anything to do with the tools. It might be how you use them."


1. You always finish your task list. "Checking every item off your list is a sure sign you are being unproductive. (It might also imply you just enjoy completing your task list.) Truly productive people prioritize tasks and let things slide if they are not that important. They are not completists--they are productivists."

2. You always answer the phone. "A call is an interruption in most cases--it means you are suddenly multitasking, and that means you are slowing down. Finish your task, then call back."

3. You use the "touch once" principle. "Apparently, when it comes to document management or your email or social networking, it is more effective to deal with an issue as soon as it arrives. Someone hands you a contract, it's best to sign it then and there. Otherwise, the time invested in receiving the document, filing it, signing it, and handing it back in will multiply. "

4. You see communication as a one-way street. "In most cases, those who have the most trouble communicating are the ones doing all of the talking. You can't really understand what people want if you never shut up and listen to them. Worse, being a one-way communicator means people are less likely to give you a hand. Listen more, and you might gain a productivity ally."

5. You block all interruptions. "Interruptions can work like fuel for your brain. You are finishing up a task and then--wham!--someone barges into your office. Those serendipitous moments of the day can inspire new ideas. Also, being effective sometimes means letting interruptions steer you in a different, possibly better, direction. Just make sure you're selective about which interruptions you let dictate your next move."

6. You in it to win. "The idea of always "taking" for yourself turns out to be counterproductive, because you fail to realize the role other people play in order for you to succeed. Highly effective people direct their efforts toward a group win; they are part of an overall team effort. It takes a village to be productive."

7. You are solely focused on being effective. "It's a kind of tunnel vision that hampers my ability to see the bigger picture. In many ways, it is better to focus on relationships with co-workers, or on whether your company is offering a better service to the world, or even if you are getting home in time for supper. That more holistic view, in the end, can give you perspective on what's really important."

Now, I challenged myself with this one - For a few days I took these 7 steps and incorporated them into my daily routine. You know what? It worked. Now, I could be the one-off example, but give it a try - often we are our own worst enemy. I'm guilty of these: I think I do it all, I think I'm the only one to do it, I overwork myself and then I send up exhausted and all my productive efforts go down hill. 

My thoughts on the list of 7

1. I like to-do lists. I like notebooks that have lists. I like sticky notes so I can make lists. I like lists, a lot. To be honest, this one didn't work for me. Lists help me to get stuff done. I'm a creative person and my brain is constantly going - I'm lost in music, colours, and ideas and if I don't have a list... I don't do anything that I really need to do. Lists help me to prioritize, as long as I keep them realistic. The more I think I could do in a given day, the more likely I am to panic because not everything is done. It doesn't hurt to map out what you're doing, personally it keeps it in order and I'll know what I need to do. 

2. Well, I never answer the phone in the first place - but when I do it instantly knocks off my concentration. The challenge of being self-employed is that your 'office' hours, are just regular hours. With that, you can do pretty much anything in your time - as long as you get stuff done. However, there's a fine line and sometimes work needs to get done and answering the phone every single time isn't productive. I give myself breaks in my day, 15 minutes every 2 hours and within that I return my calls/messages if needed. Balance - it's all about balance!

3. Simple: If you say you're going to do it - do it right away... or you'll never do it. Just do it. 

4, 5, & 6. You never know when inspiration is going to hit - communication is never a bad thing, and sometimes your ideas come from the most unexpected places. Cutting off interruptions all together is a bit too far, it doesn't help to shut yourself off and just work. We are communal creatures: we need balance, and we need to be open. Listening is the first way to earn respect, from there we build trust and from there we find support. Once you open that communication channel, don't shy yourself away from it. There is no I in TEAM! It's not about you. The more you make it about you, the more your work will fall. To remind yourself of why you're doing the work you are doing is to ask yourself why you started in the first place. In most cases, community keeps that passion alive - to help, to create, to refine all come from a simple foundation: it's for community.

7. I really think that this point speaks for itself. If you try so hard to be one thing without thinking holistically, it probably won't end up very well. The 'silo' model for getting stuff done doesn't cut it anymore, you need to think things thoroughly, and you need to be realistic. The more you push yourself to be solely effective, you start to build your own barriers. Be mindful, be critical, and be realistic - that is exercising effectiveness.

Read More