Being Productive

by Alanna Shaikh · 2009-07-01 11:01:00 UTC
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(photo credit: AYUM i Love Live Laugh)

Megan215 on Twitter asked me to write about productivity. I'm no expert, but I have figured out three tricks. Two big ones, and a little one - but the little one might be the most useful.

1. Love what you do. When you love your work, you think about it all the time. You're planning, processing, figuring things out in the back of your head, no matter what else you are doing. Sometimes I sit down to write global health blog posts, and I realize I have the entire text mapped out already, written unconsciously as I went through my day. A few years ago, I woke up one morning with the text and layout of a success story fully drafted in my head. (Yes, that link is to the actual story.)

2. Know your strengths and weaknesses. I am not a morning person, so I schedule easier stuff for mornings - meetings with people I like, short email responses, and catching up on news and information. I hit my stride in the afternoon, so that's when I do the challenging stuff. I don't really like Wednesdays, and I love writing career posts, so that's why you get careers on Wednesday here.

3. Turn off your email indicator. This is the little one. You know that tiny envelope that Outlook shows in the corner of your screen when you've got new mail? Turn it off. Email is more exciting than anything else you do, because you never know what amazing or fascinating message you'll get. Checking your email when you know something is there is irresistible. If you turn off the indicator, you are free to check your email when you need a break from your current task, or according to a specific schedule.

Alanna Shaikh
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