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| Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
If you answered that question
with I don’t know or I’m sure I could be more productive or something similar,
you’ll be in good company. Well, at least there’ll be two of us. You and me.
Now for those who answered in
the affirmative and are champions of getting things done, congratulations. I’m
in awe of you. I’m certain there are many in this community.
I used to pride myself on my
ability to get things done, especially at work. But I’ve found as I’ve matured
and spent more time in non-structured activity (ie, working for myself) I’ve lost some
of my discipline.
I recently read a book by TimChallies, “Do More Better” and found it
full of really useful tips on how to do just that, do more better.
A good portion of the book
(it’s only 120 pages) is all the practical stuff about the three essential
tools one needs to improve and how to “systemise” your day/week so you are
effective which I found very useful. Most of us will use varying elements of
these tools and have our own methods of establishing our daily todo’s and so on.
But what was more challenging for me was Challies opening on focusing our daily
habits around our purpose. Yes, we all know this but it’s always good to get a
reminder of it, especially in these very busy lives we all tend to lead these
days.
Good Works
We’re created to glorify God!
How can we do that, Challies
asks. By doing good works.
“For we are God’s
handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.” (Eph 2:10 NIV)
Challies defines
productivity then as:
“Productivity is
effectively stewarding my gifts, talents, time, energy and enthusiasm for the
good of others and the glory of God.”
Yes, we know that. But
we can forget our purpose from time to time and allow the busyness of life and distractions
to impede upon it too much. I found it useful at the beginning of this year to
realign myself back to my purpose and be more diligent in applying discipline
to what I do.
Systemise
Systemise
It’s full of useful tips some of which I’ve incorporated in my “system”. Challies describes himself as someone who has always been interested in productivity and has found a system that works for him. We’re not all meant to have the same system but it’s useful to compare notes by inspecting someone else’s which is what one does with this book.
BTW, the three tools
Challies proposes one needs are:
- Task management tool, ie, your ToDo list
- Scheduling tool – ie, your calendar
- Information tool – collect, archive and access information. This might be online (eg Evernote) or offline (eg filing system) or a combination of both.
Nothing we haven’t seen
before and there are no doubt loads of other books that cover the same detail.
How one integrates the three tools in an effective manner (a system) was one
aspect of this book I appreciated especially the use of the Information tool. I
underutilise Evernote and over emphasise email for information management so appreciated
the insights on these aspects.
He has mantra: "a home for everything, and like goes with like" which has stuck in my mind since reading it. It reminds me to "house" everything rather than have it sitting in email or an inbox for months on end.
He has mantra: "a home for everything, and like goes with like" which has stuck in my mind since reading it. It reminds me to "house" everything rather than have it sitting in email or an inbox for months on end.
Ian Acheson is an author
and strategy consultant based in Northern Sydney. Ian's first novel of
speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can
find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter
