Has technology given you more free time or less? Are you feeling overwhelmed by too much multitasking, information overload and an overcrowded schedule? Do you feel guilty when you’re not doing something productive?

It seems like most of us live our lives based on the clock. We wake up at a certain time, work on a schedule and scrutinize our performance on how long it takes us to accomplish things. If we get more done in less time, we feel good about it. But when something takes longer than we anticipated, we feel disappointed with our performance.

The productivity equals happiness illusion

I think we can all agree that the clock is not the problem. The problem is that we tend to base our worth on how productive we are. We’ve been programmed to believe there is a finish line out there somewhere and once we reach it we will be done. And what does being done represent? Being done represents being happy and relaxed, right?

Being done is only an illusion because we always find more to do. In fact, we usually want more to do because a balanced amount of productivity feels good. There is absolutely nothing wrong with productivity. There is only a problem when we start basing our happiness on our rate of achievement.

The time equals money, which equals happiness trap

In a work by the hour society it is easy to see how the saying time equals money came about. At a set hourly wage, the more hours you work the more money you will make. We can also relate to the fact that a certain amount of money is required to meet our material needs with a reasonable degree of comfort.

Somehow though, the perceived value of money eclipsed the real value of time. Let’s splash a little reality on that idea right now. Time is the most valuable commodity there is. Its value cannot be measured in dollars and cents because time is the fundamental unit of life. Money is just a unit of trade that we have assigned a certain value.

When we exchange our time for money we are actually trading a portion of our life for the things that money can buy. Once we go beyond the basic creature comforts, we are trading our life for bells and whistles that have no actual intrinsic value. That is not happiness, it is slavery. This is where the real value of productivity comes in.

Realistic productivity can actually buy you time

The trick here is to see productivity as a way to compress the time required to meet our goals without using it as an excuse for endlessly doing more. More is not the answer. If we view time as the most valuable commodity, then our goal should be to do enough, not more.

This doesn’t mean filling every waking moment with some activity or appointment. It means raising our level of efficiency to the point where we have more time to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  If I can earn a comfortable living in four hours a day instead of eight, then I have successfully bought myself an extra four more hours for actual living.

I think it’s important that we reject the idea of living our lives based on some arbitrary monetary value. Rather than searching for happiness in productivity or an ever increasing income, we would do well to learn to find satisfaction in the present moment.

5 ways to regain control of your time

1. Maintain a balanced view. Having goals means that there are bound to be times when we make certain sacrifices with regard to our time. But balance means that we will take steps to make sure that those sacrifices don’t define our lives. Make sure to offset those times by also allowing time for meaningful periods of full participation in the life you already have.

2. Keep your perspective. Sometimes we need to drop pursuits or activities that are no longer serving us. It is important to have the courage to pull the plug on a goal that is no longer aligned with your true self. What matters most is that you stay authentic and don’t waste big chunks of your life chasing things that don’t really matter.

3. Weigh the benefits and the cost. Are the sacrifices you’re making now a part of a larger purpose? Our long term goals should enable us to have more free time to do what we want in the future, not create more stress. If the stress outweighs the benefits, it’s likely that your goal is not a healthy one.

4. Just say no. How often do you say yes to a commitment when you really want to say no? A lot of our freedom is thrown away if we are unable to claim ownership of our time. Be humble enough to recognize that you can only do so much. There’s no point in trying to help a hundred other people if it means running your own life into the ground.

5. Follow your natural rhythms. When possible, avoid the temptation to force yourself to be productive when you need to relax. Otherwise, you will end up working against yourself. Try to pay attention to your natural rhythms. When you feel like being productive, go for it. But when you feel the need for some down time, don’t hold yourself back. Doing nothing is not a crime, sometimes it is essential.

Is increasing your productivity increasing your happiness?

If you’re getting more done, but not making more time for the things you want to do, something is wrong. The point of getting things done is not to have more time to get more things done. It’s to have more time for the things you truly enjoy.

If we can learn how to be more content with our level of productivity it will be easier to have a balanced view of time. Then our productivity will contribute to our happiness instead of stealing it from us. Cultivating a balanced and meaningful view of productivity can help you re-claim your time and increase your happiness.

Remember, time is not money. Time is life so spend it wisely.

How do you assess the value of your time?
Where does productivity fit into the picture?
The lines are open!

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Because life is such a multifaceted experience, achieving balance can be an extremely difficult challenge. Let’s face it, there is a lot to do and only so much time and energy to go around.

I’ve often thought that it would be nice to have an extra day in the week. Not just a normal day, but one that wasn’t counted and didn’t show on the calendar. Imagine, a totally free day to use however you wanted. What would you do with your extra day? Here’s something else to think about…

Why does the “free day” concept sound so good?

Isn’t it because there never seems to be enough time for everything? And why is that? It’s because we let work expand to fill the time available. This is why we convince ourselves that more time would solve the apparent shortage and allow us to get everything done. But is that really what would happen?

I don’t think so!

You see, if we only had six days in a week, then we would say the same thing about the possibility of having seven. Oh, if I only had an extra day so I could get everything done. It wouldn’t matter if we had 8, 9, or even 10 days in the week, we would still let work expand to fill the time available. That’s because…

Productive people always have a backlog of things they want to get done. That’s a good thing, unless we try to squeeze them into our schedule too tightly. When we do that it changes the dynamic of everything. You can only pack so many “to do things ” into your day before something has to give.

Compression always creates a rise in pressure

Doing more, more, more is not the answer. In fact, neither is continually operating at maximum capacity. There’s a name for that approach. Maybe you’ve heard it, it’s called STRESSED OUT! And it is often followed by a close cousin named BURNED OUT.

Have you been down that road? If so, then you probably realize that stressed out is not a very productive state, and burned out is actually counterproductive. Oh, you can probably function under increasing stress for a while, but sooner or later it will bite you. What happens when you try to do 15 hours worth of work into an 8 hour work day? Unavoidably, the pressure (stress) goes up, it’s the law of compression. Adding an extra day won’t change things because…

It’s not about time, it’s about balance!

Balance means that we portion our time and energy in a way that benefits our whole life. We get out of balance when one aspect of our life is stealing time and energy from the others.

To be balanced, we need to give sufficient attention to all of life’s important areas, including our physical, emotional and spiritual well being. We need to be creative, as well as productive. We need to care about what is going on in the lives of those around us instead of just focusing on the task at hand. Balance means that work is just a part of the picture, not the whole panorama.

You need to make a choice

Let’s face it, you can do quantity or you can do quality. If you want to do both, then you need to hire some good people. Otherwise, it’s one or the other, that’s just the way it is. To raise the quality of your life in all of the important areas requires you to set certain limits.

If you have a family, a business, and a few other obligations, then you have more than enough to do. Not only do you need to balance your time and energy in those areas, but you also need to avoid adding to the mix. Life is about choices, and sometimes that means being able to say no.

A universal truth

Quality always takes longer, it can’t be rushed. To have a quality family life you have to be willing to invest your time and energy. The same applies to your business. Do you want to maintain optimal health? That takes time as well. Everything done well takes time and time is something you only have so much of. So here’s what I suggest…

Do less, but do it better

This is the only reasonable approach to a life that is both high quality and balanced. Limit the number of commitments, so you can feel good about being deeply involved in the areas of your life that really matter. You will experience fewer distractions and feel less hurried. This will automatically bring a greater sense of joy and meaning to everything you do.

Learning to filter out the activities that don’t really matter is a great way to create more time and energy for the things that are truly important.

Here are a few simple guidelines for incorporating balance into your life.

1) Set priorities. Make a list of everything that you do with your time and energy, and then figure out your top priorities. Be realistic as you assign a value to each activity. Ask yourself, “Does this really contribute to the quality of my life?” If there is any doubt, toss it out.

2) The highest priorities get the majority of your time. Don’t allow incidental activities to consume large amounts of time. If it is a low priority, that means it gets a very limited ration of time and energy. If you don’t put limits in place, you will waste valuable time on things that don‘t really matter.

3) Make a plan and stick to it. If you have scheduled family time, don’t let the predictable “something unexpected came up at work” change your plan. In your heart you already know how valuable your family is to you. Make sure that your life reflects those feelings!

4) Use your time efficiently. Always look for ways to accomplish more in less time and with less effort. Don’t think in terms of “hours of work.” Get away from the concept of making so much per hour. If your occupation allows for it, think in terms of making so much per project. Then look for ways to accomplish your projects in less time. If you do work by the hour, figure out how to make yourself significantly more valuable to your employer so he can justify paying you a much higher salary.

5) Take time to focus on others. This might sound strange, but spending some part of your day focused on other people will expose you to new, creative ways of thinking. Answers and solutions often appear when our attention is elsewhere. You can create opportunities for this to happen by purposely shifting your focus. Paying attention to others also builds the quality of your relationships on several levels. Remember, we’re all in it together.

6) Eat healthy foods and get regular exercise. Feeling good makes life better. Without your health, nothing else really matters. Don’t ride when you can walk. Choose nutritious food instead of fast food. Value your body and show your appreciation by treating it with respect. Not only will you feel better, but the quality of your whole life will improve.

7) Schedule some time to decompress. Don’t be a slave to productivity. A balanced life includes time to relax and enjoy a change of pace. When you take time out for yourself, you establish a more balanced perspective of everything else. Balance makes life seem easier and more rewarding, because that is exactly what it is.

What helps you stay balanced when things get crazy?
Have something you would like to add to the list?
The lines are open!

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Productivity is a good thing, right? The sense of accomplishment can certainly be a genuine source of joy and satisfaction. Sometimes though, we forget why we are striving to be more productive.

Isn’t greater happiness the reason behind increased productivity? Don’t we convince ourselves that getting more done will finally give us the time for things we truly enjoy? Our pursuit of increased productivity, should result in increased happiness right?

The trap we need to be aware of

Striving to be more productive and increase our efficiency can lead to obsession. We could wind up confusing achievement for happiness. Happiness should be the inspiration for achievement, not the other way around

When our happiness is too wrapped up in achievement, we are putting our happiness in the future. We are denying ourselves the right to be happy until we meet certain conditions.

Have you ever said this?

“I’ll be really happy just as soon as:

- I get out of debt.
- Solve this one problem.
- Lose 5 more pounds.
- Find the right partner.
- Land the perfect job.

There’s nothing wrong with being more productive. But when our happiness depends on it, then we have a problem.

The productivity trap

We strive to be more productive and efficient so we can get more done. Originally, our reason is to have more free time and reduce our stress levels. We reason that once we get everything done, we won’t have to think about it anymore, right?

But if we’re not careful, we may allow our desire to accomplish more to become an obsession. We may become so obsessed with producing that we are not even satisfied with the results. Why? Because, by the time we get there, we’re already focused on what comes next.

Don’t put conditions on happiness

That’s why we need to have the courage to re-evaluate and re-prioritize our goals along the way. Our lives are ever changing, not static. We need to be able to make adjustments along the way. A goal that served you well last year might be out of harmony with your life now.

It is vital that we maintain an awareness of who we are in the moment and were we really want to be tomorrow. Do not fear change because it is a natural part of growth. And don’t convince yourself that more, more, more is the path to happiness. Allow yourself to be happy right now!

Have you ever been a victim of this trap?
Are you ever tempted to link happiness to productivity?

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Do you ever feel overwhelmed because you know that you could not get everything done even if your day was 72 hours long? Do you feel ripped off because you seem to spend all your time doing what needs to get done, instead of what you would like to be doing?

Three questions come to mind:
1. Is this healthy?
2. Is it balanced?
3. Can it be changed?

We all recognize the value of living a balanced life. So why is it so incredibly easy to get out of balance, and so difficult to stay in balance? Obviously, there are several contributing factors involved, and some of them are very subtle. For instance, how often do you say or think phrases like; I have to, I need to, I don’t have any choice, or I can’t because _________?

The power of self-talk

These are common phrases, but what kind of message do they send to your subconscious? You might as well say, I am being forced to do things that I don’t want to do and I am helpless to do anything about it.

It sounds harsh, I know, but that is the message that your nervous system is dealing with. You are conditioning yourself to believe that what you want to do doesn’t really matter because you are a slave to forces beyond your control.

With this kind of mentality, your life can only become more out of balance as time goes by. You will progressively lessen the importance of the things that bring you pleasure, while the list of things that must be done continues to grow.

Of course, you will try to convince yourself that as soon as I get this last project under control I will take some time for me.

But how many times have you said that? Has it ever happened?

A balanced life is one that can embrace reality!

Don’t feel like you are the only one, we all struggle with this tendency. I think it comes from convincing ourselves that we are superhuman, that somehow we can do all these things, and still make time for us.

That will probably never happen unless we make it happen! And the only way to do that is to get a more realistic view of the situation, and make some necessary changes. What kind of changes?

Accept the fact that you have a choice

The first thing we should change is the messages we send to our subconscious about the necessary activities in our life. We are not slaves because we always have a choice. Let’s look at some more empowering ways that we can represent those necessary activities to our nervous systems to support a more balanced life.

Instead of I have to or I need to, how about I choose to? As in, I choose to go to work today. Now, the tendency here is to say, No, I really do need to go to work today because I have bills to pay. That sounds logical, but the truth is, you still have a choice. How about this, I choose to go to work today because the money I make allows me to enjoy my current lifestyle.

So what’s different?

The outcome doesn’t change, you are still going to work, but now it’s what you choose to do instead of what you have to do. Instead of being helplessly pushed around by your schedule, you are doing what you choose.

You will be amazed at the difference this kind of self-talk will have on your life. Not only will it affect your stress levels and attitude, but it will also influence the way you view the things that need to be done anyway.

The practical side

Now that we have a more balanced perspective, it’s a good idea to address the way our life is organized. We need to look for ways to actually make life more manageable and less cluttered. Try this: Write down everything you plan to do so you are not trying to remember it all. I know this seems simplistic, but it will make a big difference. In fact, here are four ways writing things down will serve you.

1. Making a list will breathe reality into your schedule. In your mind, you may have a huge list of things to do today. Once you commit that list to paper, you will quickly see the need to trim things down. That’s why daily planners are so helpful; they have the day broken into time slots. This helps you control the urge to schedule more activities than time allows for.

As you get comfortable with scheduling according to reality, you can purposely leave periodic blanks. In this way, you can systematically give yourself some meaningful space throughout the day.

2. Help you focus on one thing at a time. Multitasking is largely a myth, unless you limit it to walking and chewing gum at the same time. Try to block out enough time to make significant progress on a single task without interruption. Pick one thing from your list and devote a predetermined amount of time to it before moving to something else.

3. Provide a way to make allowances for uncompleted tasks. Don’t be obsessed over getting everything done that’s on your list. There are always unexpected delays. If something doesn’t get done simply move it to the next available time slot and let it go emotionally.

4. Help you value activities that make you feel energized. Learn to schedule time to do things that you really enjoy. Write them on your list and assign them some priority. If you include pleasurable activities in your schedule you will be more productive while feeling much less stressed out.

Adopt a more relaxed view of productivity

You are not a machine and there is no reason to try to become one. Do what you can reasonably do and call it good. A balanced life is about quality, not quantity. Life is not measured solely by productivity. Take some time to reestablish your sense of balance. Once you do, it will be much easier to enjoy the whole life experience.

Do you feel like there is too much to do?
Have you been sacrificing quality for productivity?
How do you stay balanced?

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This is the second of two articles in the series Do You Need More Time? Today I am going to look at two simple time management strategies that can work together to help you create more time. The first is eliminating clutter and the second is increasing productivity through applied focus.

As basic and obvious as these two topics are, the truth is that clutter and lack of focus can be serious time thieves capable of robbing us of our most valuable and irreplaceable commodity, time. It’s happened to me and I am guessing it has also happened to you.

The burden of too much stuff

Quite often, less really is more. In this case, less clutter in our lives translates into more time for important things.  It’s amazing how much “stuff” we can accumulate because we think it will somehow contribute to our lives.

It is true that we can gain some enjoyment from our material possessions, but the more we accumulate the more likely it is to become a burden.  If we constantly accumulate without a genuine need, we can eventually find ourselves living under a cloud of confusion and stress. I realize that reducing clutter and letting go of material possessions my not seem like an effective time management tactic, but these things really can weigh you down.

Easier said than done

Admittedly, staying organized is a skill that I have not mastered.  It seems that every time I get things sorted out and organized, the experience is short-lived.  One of the problems comes from not taking a little time every day to put things away when I’m done.  This is one of those areas where a tiny time management effort can make a huge difference.

My desk is a classic example.  I’ve been known to let it get so bad that I can’t even see the wood underneath the paper piles.  Why am I telling you this? Because I understand from personal experience how clutter can eat into your time. I waste way too much time looking for things because I didn’t put them away.

Getting a grip on clutter

There’s no reason to go into great detail about this because it really comes down to common sense.  So here are a few simple steps that you can take right now.

Begin immediately to clear out material possessions that you no longer need or want. If they are useful items you can give them to a friend or donate them to a local charity. This will accomplish two things:  first, you’ll feel lighter and less cramped in your home; and you’ll also feel good about giving these items to people who can actually use them.

As far as the clutter goes, try to set aside a little time each day to tidy up.  If you do this regularly it will never get out of hand and you’ll never feel overwhelmed.  I know that after my wife reads this post she will be watching me to see if I put this suggestion into practice. We call that accountability, right?

Take breaks to increase focus and productivity

One of the best ways to gain more free time is to get more done in less time. We call this productivity and it truly is a vital key to creating more time. Distractions are like mental clutter that can derail our productivity, and there are plenty of ways to get distracted these days. Is there an effective way to eliminate this mental clutter and increase our productivity without increasing our stress levels? Absolutely!

Using applied focus sessions is a simple time management strategy I teach my coaching clients to quickly multiply their productivity. This strategy involves working for 45 minutes with total focus followed by a 15 minute focus shift. The whole process is explained in the article Using Applied Focus Sessions to Boost Productivity. There is also another version that involves 90 minutes of focused effort followed by a 30 minute focus shift. Both work extremely well.

It’s a powerful time management combo

Giving attention to these two areas of life really can give us more time. So often it’s the simple, obvious adjustments that pay the biggest dividends. What if implementing these two time management strategies gave you an extra hour or two every day? What kind of effect would that have on your life?

When we stop to consider how valuable our time really is, we are motivated to make sure we are spending it wisely. Trust me, it goes by faster than you can imagine. How foolish it would be to waste something so precious. Remember, the primary reason that time management is so important is because time is life. So in essence, time management is really life management.

How good are you at keeping clutter under control?
Do you have any personal productivity tips to share with us?
The lines are open!

Here’s the link to part 1 in case you missed it:
Do You Need More Time? Part 1

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Do you feel guilty when you’re not doing something productive? In this age of time management we can easily adopt the idea that if we are not being productive then we are wasting time. So we try to get super organized in an effort to be more productive.

We could claim our attempts to cram as much as possible into each day is based on the fact that life is short and we want to accomplish all we can. I’m sorry, but that argument just doesn’t hold water. Why? For one thing, it’s our natural tendency to seek out ways to enjoy ourselves, not to push ourselves to the limit.

How do you define time?

How we view the whole concept of time has a powerful influence on our priorities. If we buy into the “Time is money” approach introduced by Benjamin Franklin, then productivity becomes our first priority.

We all recognize that Ben Franklin was a smart guy, but when he said time is money I don’t think he was suggesting that we build our lives around that concept. By the way, he also said that “Credit is money” and we can all see the result of building an economy around that precept.

Putting a price on time

When we accept the idea that time is money we are essentially assigning a monetary value to time. How does that affect our perspective of life? It causes us (and others) to base our worth on how productive we are and how much we earn. This is a devastating point of view for several reasons. Let’s consider a few:

Fallacy #1. If I earn $50 per hour and you earn $500, then I must be worth 90% less than you are. If I accept this premise, then I will probably develop some limiting beliefs about my worth as a person. If you agree with this value scale, then you will begin to think of yourself as superior. Both of these points of view are damaging.

Fallacy #2. A highly paid professional who earns a fortune pumping deadly toxins into the environment will be viewed as more valuable than a dedicated teacher who incites his students to reach for their dreams while maintaining personal integrity. This “time is money” perspective would also place the loving, nurturing mother who gave up her career to take care of her family, on the bottom of the value scale.

Fallacy #3. The working person willingly sacrifices family time for a chance to raise his income because, in doing so, he thinks he will increase his worth as a husband and father. When he comes home too late to see his children in the evening he will sincerely explain, “I’m doing it for you.”

If time is not money then what is it?

In a sense, Ben Franklin had it right when he associated time with currency; he just chose the wrong one. You see, the value of money is tiny compared to the value of time, even though making a living does require that we spend some of our valuable time in that pursuit.

When we spend our valuable time we should view it as something that far exceeds the worth of money. Yes, it takes a certain amount of money to care for our material needs and wants, but that is just one, small aspect of life. And this brings us to the real point of this article.

Time is the currency of life

Some will argue that time is a concept created by man and that it really doesn’t exist. All I can say to that is – what happens to your life when you run out of time? See my point? We only have so much of this valuable commodity and when it’s gone all the money in the world can’t buy you more.

Here’s where a proper view of productivity can help. If our level of productivity allows us to care for our material needs while only spending half as much time doing so, then from a practical standpoint, we have actually gained a lot of time for other pursuits. In fact, isn’t that what’s behind the intellectual draw toward increased productivity? In a nut shell, more money in less time means more time doing what we want.

Keep your balance and avoid the traps

The real challenge here is to use increased productivity in a balanced way so we reap the benefits and avoid the pitfalls. Creating greater earning potential so we can spend more time doing other things will likely require a period of focus and dedication. Once our efforts begin to pay off we need to avoid the following traps.

* Getting obsessed with earning more, more, and still more.
* Allowing super productivity to become an obsession.
* Forgetting why we chose this course to begin with.
* Slipping into the time is money mindset.
* Enslaving ourselves by continually increasing our spending.
* Thinking that more income changes our worth as a person.
* Endlessly trading the currency of life for mere money.

A synergistic approach

In life, there is either synergy, or there is conflict. The secret to avoiding conflict is to harmonize life’s many aspects so that they exist in a balanced and synergistic relationship with one another. What is required to maintain that sense harmonious balance?

We need to keep the big picture in view and not allow ourselves to become hypnotized by the seductive lure of money. Our precious time is the real commodity of life. Recognizing its immense value will help us to spend it wisely.

How do you see the issue of time and money?
If your productivity saves you time, how will you spend it?
The lines are open!

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Productivity is a good thing, right? That wonderful sense of accomplishment we get from getting more done in less time can be a genuine source of joy and satisfaction.

I think most of us are on the lookout for ways to ramp up our productivity. At the same time, it’s easy to get so caught up in the push that we forget why we are striving to be more productive.

What’s really behind our drive for increased productivity?

Isn’t the real reason we want to accomplish more in less time because we have other things we want to do besides work? Aren’t we all trying to create more time for all those “other” enjoyable activities that we keep putting off?

If you had the money and you had the time, what would you do? I’m guessing that listing everything that fits into that category would provide you with a good sized list, right? In fact, chances are just thinking about it brings a smile to your face.

The endless pursuit of happiness!

Anything we would attach to: “As soon as I have the time and the money I’m going to…” is something we really want to do. Consequently, there is a lot of good feelings linked to that list. But in reality isn’t it happiness postponed rather than realized?

So what do we do? We convince ourselves that increased productivity will ultimately result in a happier life because it will allow us to do all those wonderful things on our list.

Is that the way it’s worked out for you?

Here’s the downside to that kind of logic. It is way too easy to lose track of the big picture and become obsessed with just being more and more efficient for the sake of productivity. Instead of spending the free time we have created with our families or friends, we use it to get more done. We get locked into the mindset of doing more for the sake of increased productivity.

Why does that happen? Is it because we all want to work our lives away without taking time to stop and smell the roses? Probably not!

Making happiness conditional

The real problem is that somewhere along the way we managed to confuse accomplishment with happiness. Those happy feelings attached to our list can become so closely associated with being productive that we start to think they are the same.

Happiness started as the inspiration for achievement, but somehow things got reversed. Happiness became conditional. When being happy gets anchored in achievement, we can easily fall into the trap of projecting that happiness into the future. We put conditions on when we will allow ourselves to be happy.

I’ll take some time off just as soon as:
- I pay off that last debt.
- I solve this one problem.
- I close this next deal.
- I get a little more money saved.
- I have a slowdown at work.

Being more productive is great. Getting more done in less time really is a good thing. But those are not legitimate reasons for missing out on happiness now.

Happy and productive

There is no inherent conflict between being happy and being productive. Actually, the two go together very nicely. The only danger lies in getting out of balance and obsessing over productivity. So what is the take away here?

Don’t lose your balance and allow the desire to accomplish more become an obsession. If this is what’s been happening in your life, take some time to think about your priorities. Make sure that you maintain a healthy sense of equilibrium between living in the present and planning for the future.

Don’t allow yourself to get so caught up in compulsive accomplishment that you forget who and what are really important to you right NOW. Make sure to take some time to enjoy your life in the present instead of waiting for someday, because all too often, someday never comes.

Has productivity ever become an obsession for you?
How do you stay balanced and productive at the same time?
The lines are open!

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Why is it so hard to focus on the task at hand these days? Could it be because we live in a world of seemingly constant and endless distractions? Think back on the events of the last week or so. How often did your productivity fall victim to distractions? How many times a day did you start to do something, only to end up doing everything except what you wanted to do?

It’s not just information overload that presents a challenge to our ability to stay focused. It’s everything overload. Our attention is being pulled in so many different directions that the simplest of tasks can seem impossible to get to.

Multitasking does not work!

Productivity is not about how many things you can do at once. It’s about how many things you complete. If you are jumping around, a few minutes here and a few minutes there, it’s very unlikely that you will actually see anything through to completion. Even if you do manage to complete something, chances are it took you way longer than it should have.

When you try to do more than one thing at a time, what happens to your focus? It’s divided, right? The more divided your concentration is, the busier you will be, and the less you will get done. I’m sure we all know from experience that we can be very busy and still accomplish very little. It happens to me much too often, and I’m guessing it happens to you as well.

What’s the opposite of multitasking?

The opposite of multitasking is doing one, and only one, thing at a time. What happens to your ability to stay focused when you restrict your efforts to just a single task? Your concentration increases dramatically, doesn’t it?

What if you are focused on a single task and you don’t experience any distractions or interruptions? You will probably be able to complete that task in record time. Now when you compare the way you feel after completing something in record time, compared to not being able to get anything done, which one makes you feel better?

Let’s face it, productivity feels really good

Everyone loves the feeling of accomplishment. It makes us feel like our efforts paid off, and now we have something to show for it. The quicker we can get something completed they better we feel about it.

There are other benefits to increased productivity, like more free time to spend doing things we really want to do. All too often important personal or family activities get put on the back burner because we end up spending too much time working. This is not a very balanced way to live. It was happening to me and I got tired of it.

Applied focus to the rescue!

Is it possible to accomplish more, and to do it in less time? Yes it is, and the way we do that is by increasing our concentration, while simultaneously eliminating ALL distractions. And it’s important to recognize that one really depends on the other.

No matter how focused we are, one little distraction can derail us. If you stop what you’re doing long enough to answer the phone or check your email, you break your concentration. When that happens it will take several minutes to get back in the zone. That means you have effectively delayed the completion of that particular task.

How applied focus works

Applied focus is a simple strategy I teach my coaching clients to quickly multiply their productivity based on the principles we just discussed. It works for them and it will work for you. Each applied focus session is 45 minutes long, followed by a 15 minute focus shift, or 90 minutes followed by a 30 minute focus shift. Choose the one that works best for you. This means that you will intentionally stop focusing on the task at hand and do something completely different during the 15 or 30 minutes of focus shift.

It also means that during your 45 or 90 minute applied focus session you will not allow anything (except dire emergencies) to distract you. No phone calls in or out, no checking emails, and no twitter, facebook or StumbleUpon. The goal is either 45 or 90 minutes of uninterrupted concentration on a single predetermined task.

Here are some guidelines

Because most of my work is done on a computer, I’m going to use that as an example. You can adjust these guidelines to fit your particular situation. The same principles can be applied to any task.

1) Only open one window on your computer. For example, if you are writing an article the only thing on your computer screen is your favorite word processor. That means that your browser is closed. This will greatly reduce the temptation to wander from the task at hand.

2) Time your sessions. One of the hardest things to do is stop in the middle of a task that you are totally focused on. It’s much easier to lose track of time and just keep working. Don’t do it! After 45 or 90 minutes of focus, your mind needs a few minutes to do some neurological organization. Otherwise, your ability to maintain optimal concentration will suffer.

3) Get up from your desk. If you work at a desk, get up and walk away during your 15 or 30 minutes of focus shift. Go get a drink, walk around, visit, have a snack, use the bathroom, whatever you need to do. Let your eyes look at something else, and give your mind a break.

4) Get prepared ahead of time. If you are writing an article, do your outline and research during a separate, applied focus session. That way you can concentrate on the writing. If you have to stop writing to do some research, you have broken your concentration and reduced your level of productivity. Use separate focus sessions to handle different aspects of the same task.

5) Relegate email and telephone calls to their own session. Have one or two time slots specifically for “other necessary activities.” Make your calls, read and respond to emails, do your social networking, reply to comments on your blog, etc. Reserve one or two applied focus session just for those activities instead of allowing them to become interruptions.

Ease into it slowly!

Using applied focus sessions to increase your productivity takes some getting used to. Don’t start out by scheduling eight sessions your first day. You need to train yourself, and those around you, to a new way of thinking.

To minimize interruptions, tell others that you are only available for brief phone conversations, for example, during the last 15 minutes of each hour or last 30 minutes of each 2 hours. If they require more time, have them call back during the time slot you have set aside for that purpose.

The rewards are worth the effort

Once you become accustomed to using applied focus sessions it will change your life. Your increased productivity will carry the added benefit of more free time for personal pursuits. Even things like exercising can be consolidated and optimized using this approach.

Your increased ability to concentrate will also improve your relationships. When you are with people you care about, you will be better at focusing on the moment. Conversations and other interactions will be enhanced because you won’t be so easily distracted. Learning to focus is truly an advanced life skill worth mastering.

What is the greatest challenge to your ability to focus?
Which distractions do you struggle with the most?
The lines are open!

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