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Stop Changing Lanes in Your Brain-EP023
When your phone pings, it can be tough for a freelancer to ignore. Who is it? What do they need? Is it a potential client?
Many of us are addicted to email, and we have a very difficult time maintaining focus on our writing. We may even believe that we are getting more accomplished by multi-tasking. But the truth of the matter is that constantly changing lanes in your brain makes it more difficult to get things done – and it’s mentally taxing.
Laura is back with a solo podcast as part of her Become a Better Writer series. She shares her best advice about breaking your addiction to email, batching like tasks to increase productivity, and utilizing available tools to eliminate distractions. Listen and learn how to create high-quality content in less time as you maximize your income potential!
Key Takeaways
The concept of batching
- Defined as doing like tasks together
- Requires organization
The benefits of batching
- Allows your brain to hit its stride and maintain focus
- Adds up to ten hours of productivity per week
- Increases income potential
How to deal with unforeseen circumstances
- Adjust your schedule as needed
- Give yourself wiggle room
Pareto’s Principle
- Work ‘expands’ to fill amount of time to complete
- We are more likely to adhere to self-imposed deadlines
Laura’s tips to avoid email distractions and minimize time spent in correspondence
- When you’re in writing mode, turn off your email
- Schedule time blocks to respond to email (e.g.: Laura spends one hour twice a day)
- In responses, give clients the next unnecessary step (i.e.: “no need to reply”)
- Utilize a scheduling tool to avoid unnecessary back-and-forth
- Employ an auto-responder to let clients know you are unavailable
The dangers of multi-tasking
- Generates anxiety
- Takes 20-30 minutes to regain focus
- Makes you feel tired
- Decreases productivity
Resources
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Calendly
Acuity Scheduling
Gmail Inbox Pause
Freedom
Connect with Laura Pennington
Blog
Website
Email [email protected]
View all episodes
By Laura Pennington
4.7
2929 ratings
When your phone pings, it can be tough for a freelancer to ignore. Who is it? What do they need? Is it a potential client?
Many of us are addicted to email, and we have a very difficult time maintaining focus on our writing. We may even believe that we are getting more accomplished by multi-tasking. But the truth of the matter is that constantly changing lanes in your brain makes it more difficult to get things done – and it’s mentally taxing.
Laura is back with a solo podcast as part of her Become a Better Writer series. She shares her best advice about breaking your addiction to email, batching like tasks to increase productivity, and utilizing available tools to eliminate distractions. Listen and learn how to create high-quality content in less time as you maximize your income potential!
Key Takeaways
The concept of batching
- Defined as doing like tasks together
- Requires organization
The benefits of batching
- Allows your brain to hit its stride and maintain focus
- Adds up to ten hours of productivity per week
- Increases income potential
How to deal with unforeseen circumstances
- Adjust your schedule as needed
- Give yourself wiggle room
Pareto’s Principle
- Work ‘expands’ to fill amount of time to complete
- We are more likely to adhere to self-imposed deadlines
Laura’s tips to avoid email distractions and minimize time spent in correspondence
- When you’re in writing mode, turn off your email
- Schedule time blocks to respond to email (e.g.: Laura spends one hour twice a day)
- In responses, give clients the next unnecessary step (i.e.: “no need to reply”)
- Utilize a scheduling tool to avoid unnecessary back-and-forth
- Employ an auto-responder to let clients know you are unavailable
The dangers of multi-tasking
- Generates anxiety
- Takes 20-30 minutes to regain focus
- Makes you feel tired
- Decreases productivity
Resources
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Calendly
Acuity Scheduling
Gmail Inbox Pause
Freedom
Connect with Laura Pennington
Blog
Website
Email [email protected]