Time Management & Productivity

What Question is Calling You Today?

– #1 When Am I Typically Most Productive?

This question is built around the idea that not all hours are created equal – that there are times when we are more and less productive.

– #5 How Might I Make it Easier?

Instead of going from complexity to simplicity, why not start from zero and ask: What is the outcome I desire? What are the minimum steps that are required?

– #6 At What Timescale Am I Playing?

What may seem important today may seem unimportant in a year. It is therefore helpful to ask yourself what timescale you are playing at: A day? A year? Or, a decade? In short, how long a game are you playing?

– #7 What Am I Doing That I Do Not Know I Am Doing?

Virtually all human activity takes place out of conscious awareness. Despite this, when looking to reduce their workloads most people look to trim their to-do lists – the tasks we are conscious of. And yet, what if that were only one source of overwhelm?

– #10 How Do I Know That I Am Doing Enough?

Ever feel like no matter how much you do there is still so much more to be done? For many people, to-do lists are eternal with the focus on what hasn’t been done creating a sense of being incomplete, of not being enough. It does sort of beg the question – when then will be enough? And indeed, how will you know?

– #23 How Do I Know What Is Important Today?

The distinction between what is urgent and what is important goes to the heart of any discussion on time and productivity. In essence, how can we be sure that we’re working on our priorities as opposed to following someone’s else agenda?

– #26 How Are My To-Do Lists Stressing Me?

To-do lists are supposed to be helpful, right? And yet, for many people they turn into millstones, nagging them about what remains to be done rather than congratulating them on what has been done. So, are your to-do lists more a source of stress or a source of satisfaction?

– #28 How Do I Balance the Past, Present and Future?

A famous Harvard study back in 2010 found that in fact around 47% of our waking hours are spent in the non-present. Where do you spend your days?

– #38 How Do I Allocate My Time?

This question is deeply intriguing: how do we decide what to do, moment by moment? These decisions, often automatic, shape our lives in significant ways. To fully grasp our time allocation process, we must bring these decisions to the surface and understand their role in setting our priorities. So, how did you decide to read this now, and why did it become your priority?

– #40 How Is My Morning Routine Serving My Day?

The wonderful gift we receive each morning is a blank canvas on which to paint our day. So, I’m curious, what are the first things you put on that canvas? In short, what is your morning routine? How does it help set you up for your day?

– #42 What Are My Time Defaults?

Much of our lives are lived through default behaviour (habits, routines, rituals…). Such behaviour can become so ingrained that we hardly notice it. And yet it can highly condition how we allocate our time and energy. Where might you benefit from paying more attention?

– #47 What Priorities Am I Living?

Our priorities are what we do, not what we say or think. Many people struggle with this, saying one thing whilst their actions tell a different story. The key question then is what priorities are you living? Do these differ from the stories you tell yourself? Indeed, how do you even know what your true priorities are?

– #52 Why Do I Multitask?

A very common question is How can I multitask more effectively? The assumption is that we need to do more. If only we could get more done, we could clear that to do list and be more productive. And yet, is this true? Are there truly only upsides? What about possible downsides? What about the assumption that life and work are simply about getting more things done?

– #56 What is My Relationship with No?

Yes and No are bound together. In fact, when we think we are saying Yes to something, we are actually saying No to an infinity of other opportunities. It is therefore crucial to prioritise and only say Yes to those things that align most closely with our vision and objectives, effectively saying No to everything else.

– #264 How Do I Think About Efficiency and Effectiveness?

Efficiency lies at the heart of modern productivity thinking. It urges us to do more with less or to do tasks faster. The pursuit of efficiency is broadly seen as a positive, its value seldom questioned. However, in realms demanding creativity and innovation, blind allegiance to efficiency may stifle potential. Ultimately, efficiency should be a tool that enhances effectiveness, not a goal in itself. Why be efficient if it isn’t effective?