Do you have high-priority activities that aren’t happening? Worried about getting it done, but can’t seem to find the time? The way you design your space will help implement these tasks. Unfortunately, the “important” activities for our business and life productivity often require personal discipline. Things like: reading, studying, research, administration, monitoring, writing, classification, filing, billing, etc. While these activities are important, they often go unaddressed until urgent. When we find ourselves operating in the urgent quadrant, we often do less and feel stressed, pressured, and overwhelmed. Operating from this location causes LOW productivity. With so many demands, how can you be more productive?
Productivity happens when we do what is important in a focused and efficient way. In our Bible Study group, we discussed having a “sacred” place for our daily devotional time. While this is something I HAVE done for my business and my life, I had NOT done it for my personal Bible study time. It had been an old intention that never happened. It forced me to do this myself and also review the importance of designed ENVIRONMENTS. Designed spaces will improve your productivity.
What activity, when done regularly, will increase your productivity and overall results? Pick one that is IMPORTANT for you to achieve, but seems to finish halfway, procrastinate, never achieve, or just forget about it. Pick an activity that is the same and it happens again. Read. Phone calls. Study. Choose something that is important to do regularly and create a space that is meaningful and beneficial.
Follow these 4 steps to design a productive environment to make it happen.
1) WHY? Learn why this is important to you and make it a routine (habit). Create a structure that your body will instinctively remember and return to as well. When you get past the “dot”, you’ll think, “Oh, I have to…”. When you sit there, you’ll go on autopilot and start doing the task. Your body posture can help your mind stay focused. If you sit returning phone calls on a stack of papers, in front of your emails, staring at the dust on your desk, you’ll find it hard to focus on the IMPORTANT task at hand.
2) WHERE? Pick a place you will go to each time you do this. Think about what kind of space you need to focus and get the task done. Do you need a surface to write on, do you want to feel comfortable (sit on a sofa or in a comfortable place), do you want to feel energized (sit next to light or fresh air), do you need a phone or a computer? Determine the best location to perform this task where you can minimize distraction and stay focused.
3 THAT? Gather your tools. What do you need to do this task? What will inspire you? What are you going to do? What support or instructions do you need? Things like a watch, a coaster for your drink, a motivational quote or photo, a notebook (take notes or make a list of the things that come to mind while you focus), pen, books, phone, plant, etc. . Put all your tools for this activity in this one place, so you don’t waste time gathering them or getting distracted on your way to do this. Leave the tools there so you can do the activity quickly, easily and effortlessly every time you go to this place.
4) WHEN? Choose a consistent time to be in this place. If it’s professional reading or study time, maybe it’s at 7 AM every morning. Decide how long you will do it. Set a timer to stay on track. You stay there until the beeper sounds. It’s hard at first, but discipline yourself to honor this time for your important task and it will become a habit and a reality.
When you have a routine, a place, a time, and a system for this “productivity” activity, it’s more likely to be accomplished. Other demands, crises and emergencies of the day won’t get in your way. A system that includes all aspects of your environment will guide, inspire, and guard against turning it into a wish and intention that is never implemented. Take 10 minutes and set up yours today!
