Getting things done – or getting results?

Don’t you just love checking things off your to-do list and feeling very productive and efficient as a result?  I did.

But as I learned from reading about the next myth that Rory Vaden busts open in Procrastinate on Purpose, it’s not just about being efficient, or even effective – it’s all about efficacy – or getting results.

 I know, it seems like semantics.

The point is – it’s all too easy (as I know from personal experience) to focus on all the things we did, rather than on what resulted from what we did.

Yes, I can look back at the dozens of notebooks sitting in my office cupboard with lots and lots of to-do’s checked off – but more importantly, what were my results? Did I make the world a better place?  Did I create something of value? Did I improve my bottom line in a significant way? Did I contribute to the whole?

Those are the questions I want to ask myself. Those are the activities and tasks that I am choosing to focus on.

So here is my Monday suggestion to you, valued reader – take a word of advice from those “Multipliers” who are truly successful, and start focusing on those activities that actually get you the results that you want.

P.S.   If you missed reading about the other myths about time management that I wrote about, you can catch up here:

 The Myth of "I'm too busy"

Balance is bogus...

Lesiure is not the goal - What?!#

How To Increase And Sustain Productivity When Working At Home

"I get to work in my pajamas." How often have we heard that phrase as an advertisement for the benefits of being self-employed and working from home? It's a great statement, implying having your own schedule, only having to commute as far as your home office from your bedroom, not having to worry about what you look like.

The down side of working in your pajamas 
As someone who works at home though, I can tell you that the down side of "working in your pajamas" is that it makes you feel, well, like lounging on the couch with that second cup of tea while catching up on the day's news. And then maybe, the bed looks really inviting and you think, well... I'll just take a little nap. Before you know it, the day is half over and your productivity is shot.

Put on your running shoes 
So, my best advice for being more productive when working from home? Get dressed as if you're going out to work. No, that doesn't mean you have to don a suit and tie or panty hose, but it does mean being showered, hair combed, dressed, and - I don't know why this is so important - but wearing sneakers, as opposed to flip flops or slippers, just makes me feel energetic. Don't believe me? Try it!

Four tips for making the most out of your workday at home
A few other tips that I find useful to maintain and sustain my productivity when working at home: 

1. Focus on income producing activities first. Leave those "busy" tasks (like cleaning out your inbox) to later in the day.
2. Turn off Facebook and email notifications while focusing on a task. It's even more tempting to take frequent social media breaks, which can easily lead down the path of hours wasted, when there is no boss looking over your shoulder.
3. Unless you are expecting an important business call, turn off your cell phone ringer, or better yet, leave your phone in another room. Does the very idea make you break out in a cold sweat? Just try it for small increments, say a half hour and gradually build up. Like detoxing in reverse.
4. Use a timer for daunting tasks. You can do anything for 15 minutes. And then another 15 minutes. Before you know it, you've made a good dent in that project you'd been putting off because it felt too daunting. 

Get ready, get set, go 
In summary: get dressed, put on your running shoes, turn off distractions, pace yourself and have fun being productive and basking in the glow of one more important income producing activity you can check off your to do list.

You might also enjoy reading "What's happening on this blog?"

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