Chris, I did something similar... I noticed that a lot of Digg usage was becoming a vacuum of time. So instead of using Digg to coordinate with my Digg friends, I switched them all over to Twitter. Now that all of my social media conversations are starting to move to Twitter, I'm able to accomplish many tasks at once. The Twitter application on Facebook has also helped tremendously at making me "active" on social networks without having to log-in actively.
TheNanny612
· 1 year ago
This post couldn't have come at a better time. I have had to scale back on things for some time now, but haven't. It actually was my New Years Resolution, but things actually have gotten a lot worse since then. I feel terrible has I feel I have let down or disappointed people lately by not replying to emails quickly or taking forever on projects. I wasn't always like that.... actually that has only been in the last few months or so. I say "yes" to things because I want to help or I want the project, but I should have said "no" because I just don't have the time. I don't have the energy to keep giving. I'm just getting so tired.
Thank you for such a great post. It is exactly what I needed. :)
Shana
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
Hi Shana-- The trick with the saying no is knowing that you're giving more energy and focus to those things where you've said yes. Glad it resonated.
Ainsworth- good plan, actually. Twitter's more flexible for that particular usage. Neat, actually. Have to think more on this.
Brett Andrew Borders
· 1 year ago
Chris,
I have just started working from home and I am realizing that I would need 56 hours in a day to do HALF of what I'd like to. Thanks for these great insights and tips.
Tim Brunelle
· 1 year ago
Getting things done -- humankind's challenge.
More often than not, I think a lot of the challenge is simple willpower, balanced with how you organize your work space. (And thanks for the tips on iClip and TextExpander!) Mozart produced an astounding volume of incredible music because of natural skill; but also, I hazard, because of his will to do so, and an innate ability to churn.
There was a guy I worked with many ad agencies ago who produced lots and lots of strong creative work. He also insisted on cleaning off and organizing his desk every night before he left the office. He wouldn't leave until it was cleared, a willful, visual cue he'd achieved the day's goals.
My dad--a choirmaster, organist, opera conductor, and founder of a large music non-profit--gets more fantastic work done in less time than anyone I know. Yet, his desk has been a dynamic catastrophe for 50+ years. His willpower is palpable. But clearly his organizational process is known only to himself.
I side with willpower, which all too often translates into "less sleep." Then I adopt and test any number of small tips and tricks to optimize the output.
Maybe the question we haven't asked, but should, is, "Does scaling up our ability to get more things done actually make life more worth living?"
Personally, I think it does.
Dr.Mani
· 1 year ago
Prioritize.
Prune.
And say "No".
Oh, I forgot. Use automation and/or outsourcing intelligently.
All success Dr.Mani
Jason
· 1 year ago
Chris,
Great post. I constantly struggle with productivity as well since I am perpetually overwhelmed.
I would love to hear more about how you use Things and GCal. I love GCal but I feel that I am barely scratching the surface. I have never heard of "Things".
Perhaps another screencast like your GReader screencast that kicked major ass?
Thanks,
- jason
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
Hi Tim-- I agree with you that it makes life better if you get a handle on things. I work with passion on those things I'm passionate about, and I'd rather lose some sleep than live my days without passion.
Dr Mani- Simple and straight to the point. Thank you for your advice.
Kristen Forbriger
· 1 year ago
This is great advice, Chris. I struggle with scaling because, like you, I would love to participate in everything. But staying successful in a full time (first!) job while learning to navigate and maximize social media networks means figuring out how to move quickly.
I'm planning to adopt, or at least try, some of your tidbits and strategies... I like the idea thinking in multiple threads, using a notepad file and 'scratch pad'.
As for the greatest challenge, maybe it comes to resigning to the age-old fact that you can't please everyone. There are only so many hours in a day, right?
Bigg Success
· 1 year ago
We set up an excel spreadsheet that lists our daily production order needs to keep ahead. That way we don't stray and get distracted. It keeps us focused and working on the most important tasks!
mousewords
· 1 year ago
Wow. I've been trying to do the exact same thing the last couple months--and the first thing I learned pretty quick was that it was going to take months.
I've been looking for tools to help me manage tasks, and just heard of Google calendar--but thank you for reminding me of Edit Time Stamp! That's awesome!
I find myself spending a lot of time "filling needs" as they appear, rather than working on the most important tasks. Sometimes the needs branch out into projects themselves, distracting me from the important goals all the more. So I definitely need to work on my triage.
There's one area I'm finding I can't cut back--personal health and well being. A decent lunch, 30 full minutes for exercise, a half hour for pleasure reading, a Sunday off--that's the time budget I feel I can dip into when I'm short on time for projects, because it's "me" time. I can spend it as I want, right? But I am totally finding that the me time is important--because if I don't take it, I crash. And then nothing gets done.
Thanks so much for great thoughts to ponder!
chrisbrogan
· 1 year ago
Mousewords and Kristen- your points kind of both relate the same way to me, with regards to the "saying no so you can say yes to the stuff that matters."
Learning how to say no with poise is important. Want the BEST tips on that? Check out Steve Robbins' post on Saying No with Honesty and Respect.
This post is very timely for me. I have a few more pots on the boil than I can handle well, which I hate. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people who still has a brain when I don't sleep. Too bad, that would come in handy.
I have no pithy words of wisdom to share with the group, just thinking about this. I will come back to this one, it's very useful.
Cameron
· 1 year ago
Hey Broges
I did some leg work for similar shortcut and templating apps for the windows posse.
Tudumo is in beta and closely coupled to GTD. It will cost $20 when it goes live.
Texter is seems to have a learning overhead but looks super useful.
Nick Huhn
· 1 year ago
Very insightful and helpful, Chris. Your suggestions certainly affirmed many sentiments and behaviors I encounter on a daily basis, and I've learned a few more ninja skills to apply to my life.
I'm in the midst of 'triage' and scaling back my participation in several distractions right now, though I always make time to absorb your invaluable knowledge. Thanks again for everything!
Shari Voigt
· 1 year ago
I declared war on unfinished projects today, armed with a kitchen timer and an Excel spreadsheet. The timer reminded me to take a break every hour and the spreadsheet forced me to be accountable with my time.
It seems I'm not the only one struggling with many competing priorities for my attention. Thanks for this very timely post, Chris!
Emily
· 1 year ago
Good post, and I appreciate that you chose the word "scaling" rather than "balance". Today we have the tools to make ourselves valuable in the right ways, at the right time. The question becomes one of applying yourself appropriately (i.e., scaling) rather than simply managing your time.
For me, this distinction means the concept of scaling is also relevant on an organizational level (though I know your post was really about personal scaling).
So I'm just wondering, what are good strategies at an organizational level? For people in an environment where tools like Twitter and del.icio.us are part of daily work, this might be already be seamless...
What about environments where scaling tactics like those you've mentioned have yet to be adopted by more than a few individuals in an organization?
I've been in situations where my ideas for scaling or templating work (e.g., IM, Google calendar, wikis, etc.) often require a great deal of education and convincing before they are implemented... and integration with daily work flow is another challenge. In some ways, this makes my individual efforts to scale less useful, as I either have to guide adoption of a new approach or be sure to account for all the different and more time-consuming ways for communicating with and connecting people (e.g., unnecessary meetings).
I like to think we can all benefit from these kind of efficiencies, but what's the easiest way for a maxed out person to bring others along... for the benefit of everyone in an organization?
Jeanne Breault
· 1 year ago
I struggle with all the above, and then some! Marriage and family has disrupted my sense of order and focus, which previously was work and personal fitness. Now I always feel overwhelmed and find it very hard to relax.
Reading over these struggles we share makes me wonder if they're simply the bane of creatives - more thoughts and ideas than we'll EVER be able to complete! (Of course, the www, especially Web 2.0, doesn't help!)I always say, "So many ideas, so little time!"
I think it's wonderful, Chris, that you have taken positive steps in scaling back. Unfortunately my scaling back is still along the order of collapse! Maybe one day I'll REALLY accept the fact that I can't do it all!
mike mcallen
· 1 year ago
chris fantastic post. Since I have have cut back on my twitter, facebook and email(set times to check) I am way more productive, I have stronger erections, and I sleep much better. Side effects have been a stronger marriage, larger bank account and more time for the important things like drinking.
Time managment and saying no is something they don't teach you. The most successful people I know all excel at this.
Mike
Jane Quigley
· 1 year ago
This is a great article - at the perfect time for me. Since my company was acquired, things have shifted into high-gear and a lot of things that mean so much to me (blogging, my social relationships online and off) have suffered. But I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. It is about prioritizing, and knowing when and how to say no and how to balance your day.
One of my (Mac) applications that I love is Yojimbo - I put articles, documents, all the stuff I can revisit "someday" in a searchable database. I also love my OmniFocus and TextExpander.
I find that when I get frustrated and maybe overwhelmed during the day, I find an empty office and look at my "must-reads" in the gReader. It relaxes me.
Thanks for this - nice to know I'm not alone!
Beth Kanter
· 1 year ago
Thank you so much for this informative post - these are all the issues I've been struggling with over the last few months and periodically over the past 27 years of freelancing.
The saying no is hard for me too. I'm a visual person - so what I've done is to put a "pause button" photo on my monitor and when I get requests coming - I "hit the pause" button and ask myself if it relates to my long term goals.
I also try to visualize a weekly capacity calculator in my calendar:
Capacity Calculator:
168 hours in a week 56 for sleep 28 hours dedicated to home/kids/family 14 for meals 7 for showering/dressing 7 for spouse 7 for business development/administration
49 remain for work.
When I don't pay attention to this framework or limits, I end up short cutting sleep or family or showering .. and that's not good.
As someone who has worked freelance for past 27 years, I've found that it is essential to manage time - your most valuable resource. I struggle with that daily - and often efficiency gets slaughtered on the alter of inspiration. Or, perhaps I lack discipline sometimes.
I've also found that some clients can take up more of my time than others - and it isn't alway billable. And, then sometimes the quality of the time used - is not great -- that is a particular job or client is not fun to work with and that has a stress impact that can be a time suck and prevent from scaling.
So, I have a happiness is a warm puppy clause in my contracts - not necessarily stated in those terms. But gives me an opportunity to formally evaluate the relationship in short increments.
Thanks again for the great post.
JasonFalls
· 1 year ago
Great minds think alike. My blog today (www.socialmediaexplorer.com) talks about how to manage microblogging communities and time commitments. Scaling yourself is at the heart of that matter. As someone who feels the need to know and understand a lot of different tools, I have to play in a lot of places. But it can be overwhelming. I spend most of my time where I enjoy the tools more personally, but still have to play on things I don't find all that exciting just so I can speak intelligently about them. Where's the line to be drawn? That's what I ask today. And where you're head is as well, I see. Thanks for affirmation.
Marios Alexandrou
· 1 year ago
Great post! However, I'd argue that much of this is less about scaling and more about focusing on the important tasks. If you were truly scaling, you'd be accomplishing more in less time. Sort of like what's described in the 4 Hour Workweek book.
Beth Kanter
· 1 year ago
Jason, I'm so glad you commented here because I noticed your twitter reference to your post but didn't favorite it .. going off to read it - while testing a comment tracking software. Hence, the second comment here.
Peter O'Connell
· 1 year ago
Chris:
What about just writing shorter blog posts?
;)
Best always, - Peter
Beth Kanter
· 1 year ago
Or less often? :-)
Jean MacDonald
· 1 year ago
I got the audiobook "The Power of A Positive No" by William Ury, one of the co-authors of "Getting to Yes." That helped me out immensely. One of his main points is to remember that behind every "no" is a "yes": you are saying "yes" to having more time with your family or "yes" to a more manageable work life, for example.
Money Never Sleeps
· 1 year ago
Hi...I found you from ProBlogger, nice post. You need to live a clutter free life, time manage with a TO-DO list, and focus on what matters. The biggest time waster is surfing the web. Just do it. The winners of this game is the people who can execute on their ideas the fastest! Money Never Sleeps pal!
Rino
· 1 year ago
Excellent! I'd like write my experience, but my english is not so good: sorry.
Rino, from Italy
Frugal Dad
· 1 year ago
These are great suggestions. I recently rearranged my schedule to begin waking up around 4:30am. It went well for the first couple weeks, until I realized I was quickly burning out. I felt like I was constantly "chasing daylight." Like you, I have eliminated things like television and other time-wasting activities, but still find myself with to-do items carrying over from day to day. I look forward to implementing your suggested strategies and closing a few loops myself.
Mike
· 1 year ago
Thanks for the great tips, Chris. I've been a freelance science and technology writer since 1998, and I now run a blog, as well. For me, the most useful scaling tool has been to do more of less in every day. That is, instead of working a little on lots of projects, I try to get something significant accomplished on only a couple. It reduces the time that I spend changing brain gears.
Dave C. - The Backfire Blog
· 1 year ago
First note, that Vader photo made me laugh out loud. I have no idea how it relates to the subject, but who cares. It's a tiny Vader and cat paws.
Anyway, who said anything about scaling? I didn't even know that was an option. The way I've been going, you'd figure that my only option was to pile more crap upon the already huge pile of existing crap. I do need to come up with something, though. As I mentioned over at Darren's place, I find myself laying in bed at night thinking about all the stuff I didn't do instead of sleeping. That can't be good.
However, different from you, I'm addicted to mindless online video games. I really really need to cut those out completely, maybe a self-imposed parental filter.
Brian Clark
· 1 year ago
Further proof that Brogan is a superhero.
Ross Hill
· 1 year ago
Fantastic post Chris, I'm happy to say I've done about half the stuff you listed but I've still got the other half to go :) Thanks for the reminder.
SuzieCheel
· 1 year ago
Great Post Chris, this time thing is such a challenge. Thanks for all the tools and tips- time to learn shortcuts.
I was interested to read you are using things- have downloaded it, and will explore and google calendar over ical?
Great blog, thank you
Andre Blackman
· 1 year ago
After getting married and then seeing my interest in social media take off, along with work associated with it, I have definitely been thinking about ways to spend quality time as well as advance my knowledge and interaction on the SM platforms. Thanks for the tips Chris and great way to put things in perspective, Beth.
Nick
· 1 year ago
The hardest thing to do in my mind is to identify other people to scale up in parallel. While I've never used the word "scale" before, it's a leverage deal - the investment to scale up four people around me should pay off with the ability to scale myself up even faster down the road.
I disagree slightly with the other commenter that surfing the web is the biggest time-waster. Without surfing at some point, how did we get to this page??
Drue Kataoka
· 1 year ago
Hi Chris, I like your "cutting" principle. The elimination of clutter to achieve simplicity is a key Zen idea. Drue
Paul Caplan
· 1 year ago
I'm surprised you don't mention RSS as a way of not only keeping on top of information but also getting things done. I rely on NetNewsWire/Newsgato/Newsgator to go on the Blackberry. As a writer and consultant if I find something that needs following up, I clip it on the phone or the desktop and then it becomes in effect a to-do. I could go on about how that integrates with DevonThink but that's just getting geeky. Of course scaling is about managing but it's also about using stuff and making it work harder. RSS is more than a reading tool, it can be a productivity one too. Similarly, Twitter has become a notebook. I send thoughts, ideas and captured language to my Twitter page and then it gets pulled into my Blog as RSS and then into the workflow.
Ange Recchia
· 1 year ago
Whoa!! So it's not only me. I thought I was going mad trying to juggle all my projects as well as family life! The last couple of months for me have thrown me right out of whack due to school holidays and having the kids home, and now that the school routine is into it's second week here is Australia, I still find myself procrastinating and doing bits and pieces here and there.
I am in the process of drawing up a poster board with my goals and writing in the steps it will take to achieve them. I am using a poster board so that it will be a visual reminder of where I want to be by the end of the year.
I have also set up my google calendar for the first time and learning how to integrate it into my day and blocking out times for certain tasks.
Learning to say "no" so that I don't let others down is another biggie for me. I tend to be a people pleaser and like you Chris, I do not watch TV, I limit my socialising if it's not a family affair, and only use my skype chat to tap into my tech guy if there are any issues.
Twitter is a great resource and that's how I found this article via Problogger... I had been out most of the day with my little one and have come online a short while ago.
Thanks for the tips!
Alexander
· 1 year ago
Hi, Well, I think that the most important thing is to know exactly what your long term goals are and then start modulating your time. Knowing what percentage of your day-time (sometimes night :)) you may utilize for your top 3 goals you can easily accommodate a few less important thing you may start, continue or finish. So basically I think that its all to the self-management process a person do every day. I personally am missing a lot of the stuff you said (and completely right) and I typed here but you cannot be following all your plans as there no perfect plans!!
Enjoy! A.
Stretsh
· 1 year ago
Great post!
I've struggling with time a lot lately and I've started to research ways to use my time more effectively. In my blog I wrote about getting rid of distractions, on the computer and in your surroundings, points to help me concentrate on more important stuff.
PS: you have one more RSS subscriber!
AVenefica
· 1 year ago
Your "gate" analogy is a good one.
I have difficulty corralling all the "cool" ideas into a holding pen while I wrangle the stuff I really know is a priority.
The result is a landscape inundated with fantastic ideas & concepts so vast they hamper my productivity....I get spread too thin, frustrated & overwhelmed.
I'll work on keeping a better "gated community" for my ideas - nice tip. Thanks.
Wayne
· 1 year ago
Chris, your post couldn't have been posted at a better time in my life. Sometimes when things get going so fast and furious, it's easy to slip into a pattern of time-wasting habits. I use a Franklin to keep me on track mostly, but I plan on saving this post and using it for improving my own projects and personal time management.
Thanks for such an inspiring post!
randy place
· 1 year ago
Chris, i will also save your post which comes at a good time for me. I liked some of your shortcut ideas and will apply them. i'm into time management now, after reading on ProBlogger about Mark Forster's "Do It Tomorrow and Other Secret of Time Management. I''ve tossed my Franklin Planner and try to use my Blackberry for scheduled appointments only. So thanks again, Chris, for adding to my body of knowledge surrounding time management. You and mark have given the best advice on the topic. I've read most of the best-sellling books on how to manage time for some 30-years, With the exeption of your article and Mark's great book -- the other books have simply drivin me nuts. I spent more time managing the Franklyn Planner, Daytilmer, and other systems than doing work that needs to be done.
kat
· 1 year ago
I'm all ears (eyes) at the experts. I've recently shifted to working online and just found out that there's so much more to accomplish in a day online than in an actual office.
I've been going slow with all the things that should be done. I noticed that I was experiencing cognitive overload, so I shouldn't feel guilty.
Even though I feel everybody else is like a hurricane going through all the entrecard, technorati, digg, etc campaigns and I was being left behind... Hell, at least I'm adjusting to what suits me.
One task at a time... I'll get there somehow.
Thanks to these tips, now I know what to watch out for.
Laura W
· 1 year ago
Hi Chris - much welcomed advice (my own time management is so chaotic currently with juggling several projects and a job as it has taken me several days to respond!) Thanks for another excellent posting! Laura
kenneth
· 1 year ago
you need to anti-alias your title. badly. first thing i noticed on this page.
First time I went through this was studying for my business degree. A strange thing happened my fourth year of studying, I began to 'synthesize' my work and my results improved. I found it was better to just stop taking it all so seriously and start enjoying life more. I famous quote I have always liked says "Live all you can - it's a mistake not to. It doesn't so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you haven't had that, what have you had?" - Henry James
Just don't let it stress you out man.
Chris
· 1 year ago
This timing is perfect! I've been thinking about where I went wrong the last couple of weeks as life has gotten overwhelming... This is a great help in figuring that out and moving forward!
Jaan Kanellis
· 1 year ago
My biggest time waster is reading to many SEO blogs and forums. I find myself spending hours a day doing this. Of course I still think it is needed, but I definitely get to carried away with it.
Charlie Gilkey
· 1 year ago
This post is one of the best I've read in a while and will definitely go on my link roundup. The writer's strike produced a lot of free time for me since I was not watching the very minimal amount of TV that I recently had, and my wife and I have for the most part abandoned watching movies since there is very few good ones being produced anymore. The net effect is something like 10 hours per week.
Your insight about templating is mind-blowing, as well. It's time to reevaluate what I'm doing and see what I can streamline and automate.
Thanks for this wonderful post. Keep up the great work.
jill
· 1 year ago
thank you for sharing this. I can relate though I think it's even worse for me. I am really an internet addict but not as a joke. I live everything with passion and this way with my internet connections because it's not just virtual to me. What separates them from me is miles but with words and understanding you sometimes get closer to a person miles away than someone next door. How strange! My real daily life is not empty just that I can find more in depths exchange with online friends.
Francis Wade
· 1 year ago
I am also working on how best to say No with compassion.
Often I start by thanking the person for the invitation and for thinking of me, and then I follow with a "No" and no further explanation.
If asked, I describe the process I went through to make the decision, but offer no justification, and say something like "Sorry I won't be there."
It's tough, because there are sometimes lots of guilty thoughts, and some people aren't ashamed to try to work up as much guilt as they can!
All Comments
I did something similar... I noticed that a lot of Digg usage was becoming a vacuum of time. So instead of using Digg to coordinate with my Digg friends, I switched them all over to Twitter. Now that all of my social media conversations are starting to move to Twitter, I'm able to accomplish many tasks at once. The Twitter application on Facebook has also helped tremendously at making me "active" on social networks without having to log-in actively.
Thank you for such a great post. It is exactly what I needed. :)
Shana
Ainsworth- good plan, actually. Twitter's more flexible for that particular usage. Neat, actually. Have to think more on this.
I have just started working from home and I am realizing that I would need 56 hours in a day to do HALF of what I'd like to. Thanks for these great insights and tips.
More often than not, I think a lot of the challenge is simple willpower, balanced with how you organize your work space. (And thanks for the tips on iClip and TextExpander!) Mozart produced an astounding volume of incredible music because of natural skill; but also, I hazard, because of his will to do so, and an innate ability to churn.
There was a guy I worked with many ad agencies ago who produced lots and lots of strong creative work. He also insisted on cleaning off and organizing his desk every night before he left the office. He wouldn't leave until it was cleared, a willful, visual cue he'd achieved the day's goals.
My dad--a choirmaster, organist, opera conductor, and founder of a large music non-profit--gets more fantastic work done in less time than anyone I know. Yet, his desk has been a dynamic catastrophe for 50+ years. His willpower is palpable. But clearly his organizational process is known only to himself.
I side with willpower, which all too often translates into "less sleep." Then I adopt and test any number of small tips and tricks to optimize the output.
Maybe the question we haven't asked, but should, is, "Does scaling up our ability to get more things done actually make life more worth living?"
Personally, I think it does.
Prune.
And say "No".
Oh, I forgot. Use automation and/or outsourcing intelligently.
All success
Dr.Mani
Great post. I constantly struggle with productivity as well since I am perpetually overwhelmed.
I would love to hear more about how you use Things and GCal. I love GCal but I feel that I am barely scratching the surface. I have never heard of "Things".
Perhaps another screencast like your GReader screencast that kicked major ass?
Thanks,
- jason
Dr Mani- Simple and straight to the point. Thank you for your advice.
I'm planning to adopt, or at least try, some of your tidbits and strategies... I like the idea thinking in multiple threads, using a notepad file and 'scratch pad'.
As for the greatest challenge, maybe it comes to resigning to the age-old fact that you can't please everyone. There are only so many hours in a day, right?
I've been looking for tools to help me manage tasks, and just heard of Google calendar--but thank you for reminding me of Edit Time Stamp! That's awesome!
I find myself spending a lot of time "filling needs" as they appear, rather than working on the most important tasks. Sometimes the needs branch out into projects themselves, distracting me from the important goals all the more. So I definitely need to work on my triage.
There's one area I'm finding I can't cut back--personal health and well being. A decent lunch, 30 full minutes for exercise, a half hour for pleasure reading, a Sunday off--that's the time budget I feel I can dip into when I'm short on time for projects, because it's "me" time. I can spend it as I want, right? But I am totally finding that the me time is important--because if I don't take it, I crash. And then nothing gets done.
Thanks so much for great thoughts to ponder!
Learning how to say no with poise is important. Want the BEST tips on that? Check out Steve Robbins' post on Saying No with Honesty and Respect.
BTW, Stever's podcast rules!
I have no pithy words of wisdom to share with the group, just thinking about this. I will come back to this one, it's very useful.
I did some leg work for similar shortcut and templating apps for the windows posse.
"Things" = http://www.tudumo.com
"Text Extender" = http://lifehacker.com/software/texter/lifehacke...
Tudumo is in beta and closely coupled to GTD. It will cost $20 when it goes live.
Texter is seems to have a learning overhead but looks super useful.
I'm in the midst of 'triage' and scaling back my participation in several distractions right now, though I always make time to absorb your invaluable knowledge. Thanks again for everything!
It seems I'm not the only one struggling with many competing priorities for my attention. Thanks for this very timely post, Chris!
For me, this distinction means the concept of scaling is also relevant on an organizational level (though I know your post was really about personal scaling).
So I'm just wondering, what are good strategies at an organizational level? For people in an environment where tools like Twitter and del.icio.us are part of daily work, this might be already be seamless...
What about environments where scaling tactics like those you've mentioned have yet to be adopted by more than a few individuals in an organization?
I've been in situations where my ideas for scaling or templating work (e.g., IM, Google calendar, wikis, etc.) often require a great deal of education and convincing before they are implemented... and integration with daily work flow is another challenge. In some ways, this makes my individual efforts to scale less useful, as I either have to guide adoption of a new approach or be sure to account for all the different and more time-consuming ways for communicating with and connecting people (e.g., unnecessary meetings).
I like to think we can all benefit from these kind of efficiencies, but what's the easiest way for a maxed out person to bring others along... for the benefit of everyone in an organization?
Reading over these struggles we share makes me wonder if they're simply the bane of creatives - more thoughts and ideas than we'll EVER be able to complete! (Of course, the www, especially Web 2.0, doesn't help!)I always say, "So many ideas, so little time!"
I think it's wonderful, Chris, that you have taken positive steps in scaling back. Unfortunately my scaling back is still along the order of collapse! Maybe one day I'll REALLY accept the fact that I can't do it all!
fantastic post. Since I have have cut back on my twitter, facebook and email(set times to check) I am way more productive, I have stronger erections, and I sleep much better. Side effects have been a stronger marriage, larger bank account and more time for the important things like drinking.
Time managment and saying no is something they don't teach you. The most successful people I know all excel at this.
Mike
One of my (Mac) applications that I love is Yojimbo - I put articles, documents, all the stuff I can revisit "someday" in a searchable database. I also love my OmniFocus and TextExpander.
I find that when I get frustrated and maybe overwhelmed during the day, I find an empty office and look at my "must-reads" in the gReader. It relaxes me.
Thanks for this - nice to know I'm not alone!
The saying no is hard for me too. I'm a visual person - so what I've done is to put a "pause button" photo on my monitor and when I get requests coming - I "hit the pause" button and ask myself if it relates to my long term goals.
I also try to visualize a weekly capacity calculator in my calendar:
Capacity Calculator:
168 hours in a week
56 for sleep
28 hours dedicated to home/kids/family
14 for meals
7 for showering/dressing
7 for spouse
7 for business development/administration
49 remain for work.
When I don't pay attention to this framework or limits, I end up short cutting sleep or family or showering .. and that's not good.
As someone who has worked freelance for past 27 years, I've found that it is essential to manage time - your most valuable resource. I struggle with that daily - and often efficiency gets slaughtered on the alter of inspiration. Or, perhaps I lack discipline sometimes.
I've also found that some clients can take up more of my time than others - and it isn't alway billable. And, then sometimes the quality of the time used - is not great -- that is a particular job or client is not fun to work with and that has a stress impact that can be a time suck and prevent from scaling.
So, I have a happiness is a warm puppy clause in my contracts - not necessarily stated in those terms. But gives me an opportunity to formally evaluate the relationship in short increments.
Thanks again for the great post.
What about just writing shorter blog posts?
;)
Best always,
- Peter
I'd like write my experience, but my english is not so good: sorry.
Rino, from Italy
Anyway, who said anything about scaling? I didn't even know that was an option. The way I've been going, you'd figure that my only option was to pile more crap upon the already huge pile of existing crap. I do need to come up with something, though. As I mentioned over at Darren's place, I find myself laying in bed at night thinking about all the stuff I didn't do instead of sleeping. That can't be good.
However, different from you, I'm addicted to mindless online video games. I really really need to cut those out completely, maybe a self-imposed parental filter.
this time thing is such a challenge.
Thanks for all the tools and tips- time to learn shortcuts.
I was interested to read you are using things- have downloaded it, and will explore and google calendar over ical?
Great blog, thank you
I disagree slightly with the other commenter that surfing the web is the biggest time-waster. Without surfing at some point, how did we get to this page??
I like your "cutting" principle.
The elimination of clutter to achieve simplicity is a key Zen idea.
Drue
Similarly, Twitter has become a notebook. I send thoughts, ideas and captured language to my Twitter page and then it gets pulled into my Blog as RSS and then into the workflow.
I am in the process of drawing up a poster board with my goals and writing in the steps it will take to achieve them. I am using a poster board so that it will be a visual reminder of where I want to be by the end of the year.
I have also set up my google calendar for the first time and learning how to integrate it into my day and blocking out times for certain tasks.
Learning to say "no" so that I don't let others down is another biggie for me. I tend to be a people pleaser and like you Chris, I do not watch TV, I limit my socialising if it's not a family affair, and only use my skype chat to tap into my tech guy if there are any issues.
Twitter is a great resource and that's how I found this article via Problogger... I had been out most of the day with my little one and have come online a short while ago.
Thanks for the tips!
Well, I think that the most important thing is to know exactly what your long term goals are and then start modulating your time. Knowing what percentage of your day-time (sometimes night :)) you may utilize for your top 3 goals you can easily accommodate a few less important thing you may start, continue or finish. So basically I think that its all to the self-management process a person do every day. I personally am missing a lot of the stuff you said (and completely right) and I typed here but you cannot be following all your plans as there no perfect plans!!
Enjoy!
A.
I've struggling with time a lot lately and I've started to research ways to use my time more effectively. In my blog I wrote about getting rid of distractions, on the computer and in your surroundings, points to help me concentrate on more important stuff.
PS: you have one more RSS subscriber!
I have difficulty corralling all the "cool" ideas into a holding pen while I wrangle the stuff I really know is a priority.
The result is a landscape inundated with fantastic ideas & concepts so vast they hamper my productivity....I get spread too thin, frustrated & overwhelmed.
I'll work on keeping a better "gated community" for my ideas - nice tip. Thanks.
Thanks for such an inspiring post!
I've been going slow with all the things that should be done. I noticed that I was experiencing cognitive overload, so I shouldn't feel guilty.
Even though I feel everybody else is like a hurricane going through all the entrecard, technorati, digg, etc campaigns and I was being left behind... Hell, at least I'm adjusting to what suits me.
One task at a time... I'll get there somehow.
Thanks to these tips, now I know what to watch out for.
Thanks for another excellent posting!
Laura
Cheers,
filmfangirl
Just don't let it stress you out man.
Your insight about templating is mind-blowing, as well. It's time to reevaluate what I'm doing and see what I can streamline and automate.
Thanks for this wonderful post. Keep up the great work.
I can relate though I think it's even worse for me.
I am really an internet addict but not as a joke.
I live everything with passion and this way with my internet connections because it's not just virtual to me.
What separates them from me is miles but with words and understanding you sometimes get closer to a person miles away than someone next door.
How strange!
My real daily life is not empty just that I can find more in depths exchange with online friends.
Often I start by thanking the person for the invitation and for thinking of me, and then I follow with a "No" and no further explanation.
If asked, I describe the process I went through to make the decision, but offer no justification, and say something like "Sorry I won't be there."
It's tough, because there are sometimes lots of guilty thoughts, and some people aren't ashamed to try to work up as much guilt as they can!