60 useful seconds with kalaboukis

Get it over and done with early - so you can relax  support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support

I use this trick all the time when I have to complete a big project: I greatly overestimate the amount of time that I need to do something. For example, a few weekends ago I was dreading completing this PowerPoint presentation, thinking that is was going to take me three solid days of work to do. I had blocked off 3 full days, had already canceled other plans, and was ready to devote a large block of time to this presentation. Once I started, however, I realized that as I was whistling through the presentation and once again had way overestimated the amount of time I needed to complete the presentation, so I had lots of time to add additional research, refine and edit the presentation. As a result, I not only got it done in much less time than I thought, I was able to spend more quality time perfecting it.  support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support

You probably have a long list of tasks to do. Some say to do the easiest first, just get those over with. I say the opposite – do the worst first. Get them over with first, and the rest is easy. This is why I always want to be the first in line to do anything that I dread. Another trick when you are dreading something: focus on what you will do AFTER this thing that you are dreading. I used to hate going to the dentist when I was younger, but then when I focused and visualized my life in the afternoon after the visit, either having lunch or studying or working, the dread lessened. Focus on your life AFTER the event, whether you are speaking to a crowd, bungee jumping or making sales calls, it’s a great way of past something you are dreading.  support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support

Who says that meetings have to be some increment of 30 minutes? If you have completed what you need to do, feel free to end the meeting early. In fact, you should try to always end meetings early. If you can estimate better, try to shrink it even further. If you can have the meeting in 15 minutes, or 10, then do so. Sometimes when you are in the middle of a string of back and forth emails, a quick 10-minute call can be just the thing you need to get the answers you need. Don’t stick to the clock, end meetings when the productive work is done.  support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support

I use Asana for my personal and work todo lists and I religiously use that list, every day. Everything I need to do goes on the list. If it is not on the list it will not get done. Period. If someone wants me to do something, either they put it on the list for me, or I add it. If it’s not on the list, then IT DOESN’T EXIST.  support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support

We all have gap time – prepare for it by having something to read or constructive to do at all times. I don’t mean watching Netflix or dumb Youtube videos. Why not listen to podcasts, or motivational speakers, or read a book on your Kindle app. I’ve been told that Stephen King is such an avid reader that people have seen him walking and reading a book, waiting in a line at the movie theater reading that book, closing the book only when the movie starts, and then reopening it the moment the lights come up. He doesn’t waste any time – he knows that every moment is important and precious – so should we.  support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support

This one is not fun for the night owls, but it works. In fact, this combines a bunch of ideas in one – get up early enough and no one will bug you, you will be working when no one else is, and you’ll love it when you’ve almost completed a full days work by the time everyone else is just getting up. I used to be a total night owl, and then I got a project where I needed to be up at 430 every weekday for an east coast client. I got more done in those four and a half hours before 9 am than I ever had before – the peace and quiet and focus I could have were worth it. Of course, you’ll need to get to bed earlier (it’s tough for a night owl to hit the sack at 930, but it’s doable. Now if only someone could come up with a way to get 8 hours of sleep in 4… Of course, you can also always stay up later – however, you may not be as refreshed and ready to work after a full day. Might work for some of you.   support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support

You can’t do it alone! We all need timers and reminders to do things. Setting a timer on a task (especially a large one which you are procrastinating on) will at least get you started on the task. When the timer goes off, you can decide to keep going or stop. Want to go for a 30-minute walk? Set a 15-minute timer when you leave and just keep walking straight ahead. When it goes off, turn around and head back.  support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support

When you really need to focus on a task, create a “no communication” zone where you go to a place where you can work completely undisturbed by any incoming communications – whether it’s over your phone, computer, or in person. Block off the time, get into that cone of silence, and don’t stop until you get done what you need to get done.  support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support

Everyone has times when they are at their best and most focused during the day – some people are night owls and do their best work at night – others do it first thing in the morning. Most people don’t hit their stride until 10 am – what is your prime time? When are you most productive and alert? At what time of the day do you feel so energized that you can just keep going and going? Figure out that time of day and use it to your advantage – do your most important work then, and leave the drudgery to the rest of the day.  support the show: https://anchor.fm/60usefulseconds/support