{"id":3493,"date":"2020-05-20T07:17:04","date_gmt":"2020-05-20T07:17:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highlands.in\/?p=3493"},"modified":"2021-04-30T09:43:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T09:43:06","slug":"in-search-of-time-productivity-tips-in-the-age-of-tesla","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highlands.in\/in-search-of-time-productivity-tips-in-the-age-of-tesla\/","title":{"rendered":"In Search of Time: Productivity Tips in the Age of Tesla"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly everyone I talk to wrest<\/span>les<\/span>\u00a0with the same problem: How to make the most of a 24-hour day?\u00a0<\/span>E<\/span>ven Elon Musk,\u00a0<\/span>modern-day\u00a0<\/span>inventor\u00a0<\/span>extraordinaire and human force\u00a0<\/span>behind Space X, Tesla and\u00a0<\/span>The Boring Company<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>has been known to\u00a0<\/span>agonize\u00a0<\/span>over the time it takes to eat<\/span>\u00a0a meal<\/span>. We all know people who through a combination of drive,\u00a0<\/span>genetics<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>or<\/span>\u00a0other<\/span>\u00a0random<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>mystery\u00a0<\/span>variables, seem to accomplish more<\/span>\u00a0in a 24<\/span>–<\/span>hour period than<\/span>\u00a0the rest<\/span>\u00a0of us<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Forget about th<\/span>o<\/span>se individuals for a moment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Instead, c<\/span>onsider the simplest, most\u00a0<\/span>effective tools<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and methods\u00a0<\/span>ordinary mortals\u00a0<\/span>like us\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>use to maximize\u00a0<\/span>the standard workday<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Simple List Fails No One<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s a trouble-free technique to make sure tasks get done. Make a list. If you don\u2019t, important items slip under the radar or are left to the end of the day inadvertently,\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0don\u2019t get done at all. A visual list allows you to prioritize and move methodically through it, point by point, checking items off one by one or\u00a0<\/span>finally\u00a0<\/span>scrubbing out the item with a\u00a0<\/span>big<\/span><\/i>,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0bold<\/span><\/i>, satisfying<\/span><\/i>\u00a0line<\/span><\/i>. A list with no items checked off is a wake-up call, a slap in the face, a signal to get moving.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Embrace the Tomato<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

T<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>Pomodoro<\/span><\/i>\u00a0(Italian<\/span>\u00a0word for tomato<\/span>) time-management method\u00a0<\/span>was developed<\/span>\u00a0in the 1980s<\/span>\u00a0by\u00a0<\/span>Italian student\u00a0<\/span>Francesco Cirillo\u00a0<\/span>with the use of a\u00a0<\/span>simple, mechanical,\u00a0<\/span>tomato-shaped kitchen timer<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>The technique\u00a0<\/span>consists of\u00a0<\/span>breaking the day down into increments<\/span>\u00a0of 25 minutes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Focus\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>one task for\u00a0<\/span>an uninterrupted\u00a0<\/span>25-minute\u00a0<\/span>interval, known as a\u00a0<\/span>pomodoro<\/span><\/i>, after which point a 3 to 5-minute break is taken. After four consecutive\u00a0<\/span>pomodoro<\/span><\/i>s<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>you are allowed to enjoy a\u00a0<\/span>larger break of 30 minutes<\/span>. T<\/span>he<\/span>n the<\/span>\u00a0process starts again<\/span>\u00a0with another block of 4\u00a0<\/span>pomodoros<\/span><\/i>. The low-tech system\u00a0<\/span>has\u00a0<\/span>gained momentum<\/span>\u00a0and followers and<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>available<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>via a\u00a0<\/span>smartphone\u00a0<\/span>handy<\/span>\u00a0app<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Let Mind \u201cClutter\u201d Hamper<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0your Ability to Concentrate on the Stuff that Matters<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Much of what the mind churns through every second, minute and hour is irrelevant to the present moment and the project at hand. We are easily distracted into\u00a0<\/span>worrying<\/span>\u00a0about future \u201ccrises\u201d that may\u00a0<\/span>never materialize\u00a0<\/span>or past mistakes we can do nothing about now. Ignore the voice that chatters incessantly and ultimately slows you down. Don\u2019t let trivia and non-essential matters creep into your core work time. Turn it off.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Avoid Multi-<\/span>T<\/span>asking<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Studies show that multi-tasking not only\u00a0<\/span>quietly stuns<\/span>\u00a0brain cells<\/span><\/a>, it also slows you down. Typically,\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>\u00a0don\u2019t finish anything at all when multi-task<\/span>ing<\/span>. Keep it simple: one task for one block of time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>olution<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>N<\/span>eed<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0to \u201c<\/span>S<\/span>tew<\/span>\u201d,\u00a0<\/span>R<\/span>evisit it\u00a0<\/span>B<\/span>riefly\u00a0<\/span>D<\/span>uring\u00a0<\/span>O<\/span>ff-<\/span>H<\/span>ours<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Maybe this point states the obvious, but t<\/span>ime spent in the car or\u00a0<\/span>folding<\/span>\u00a0laundry is not<\/span>\u00a0necessarily<\/span>\u00a0lost work time.\u00a0<\/span>Consider u<\/span>s<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0that time to\u00a0<\/span>mentally\u00a0<\/span>tackle a work challenge.\u00a0<\/span>In ten minutes or less<\/span><\/i>, you can\u00a0<\/span>identify\u00a0<\/span>the points you want to cover in next week\u2019s Power<\/span>P<\/span>oint presentation or\u00a0<\/span>hash out\u00a0<\/span>the wording for\u00a0<\/span>a business memo<\/span>. Rehearse your<\/span>\u00a0speech for\u00a0<\/span>tomorrow<\/span>\u2019s business lunch<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>U<\/span>se\u00a0<\/span>what would be considered \u201cempty\u201d time<\/span>\u00a0(when you tend to contemplate\u00a0<\/span>weighty\u00a0<\/span>matters like whether Tesla\u2019s new\u00a0<\/span>Cyber<\/span>truck<\/span>\u00a0should be offered in a shade of\u00a0<\/span>forest\u00a0<\/span>green<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to focus and mentally work out solution<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>project<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0on your plate now.\u00a0<\/span>Note that this is not the kind of multi-tasking that\u00a0<\/span>is described above\u00a0<\/span>and that\u00a0<\/span>can cause you to spin your wheels<\/span>\u00a0unproductively<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>This is brief and focused use of down time to consider difficult problems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Know\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>hat\u00a0<\/span>Y<\/span>ou\u00a0<\/span>N<\/span>eed to\u00a0<\/span>R<\/span>eenergize<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you know what you need to reenergize, do<\/span>\u00a0it<\/span>. Stepping away from your desk to\u00a0<\/span>stretch, release tension and completely reboot your brain is\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>necessary<\/span>\u00a0part of working productively when it\u00a0<\/span>counts<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Slow down<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>regroup<\/span>, and stay sharp<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We are not Elon Musk,\u00a0<\/span>But We Can Still\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span>roductiv<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Do you detect a theme running through all these ideas? Hopefully you do.\u00a0<\/span>With a few simple steps you can stream-line and amp up your productiv<\/span>ity.\u00a0<\/span>Create a simple list and rank these items in order of importance.\u00a0<\/span>Choose one task at a time and stay laser-f<\/span>ocus<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>\u00a0defined block of time<\/span>\u00a0with the\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span><\/i>omodoro\u00a0<\/span><\/i>method or something similar. B<\/span>e disciplined about it.\u00a0<\/span>If you\u00a0<\/span>need more time to crunch out the solution to a problem, tackle it in the car\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0<\/span>on your way to the grocery.\u00a0<\/span>The<\/span>re you have it\u2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a few simple\u00a0<\/span>tools to greater productivity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nearly everyone I talk to wrestles\u00a0with the same problem: How to make the most of a 24-hour day?\u00a0Even Elon Musk,\u00a0modern-day\u00a0inventor\u00a0extraordinaire and human force\u00a0behind Space X, Tesla and\u00a0The Boring Company,\u00a0has been known to\u00a0agonize\u00a0over the time it takes to eat\u00a0a meal. We all know people who through a combination of drive,\u00a0genetics,\u00a0or\u00a0other\u00a0random\u00a0mystery\u00a0variables, seem to accomplish more\u00a0in a 24–hour…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3494,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,2],"tags":[24,28,41,47,46],"yoast_head":"\nIn Search of Time: Productivity Tips in the Age of Tesla<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nearly everyone I talk to wrestles with the same problem: How to make the most of a 24-hour day? 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