Being smart about stupid productivity killers

In fairness, you could probably call reading this a productivity killer but I like having you here. Let me make it worth your while with this piece from Oskar on Growthzer.com that sets out four things you do that you could change and feel better about.

One of them is a reasonably involved idea about your To Do list and I’m less taken with that but the others are so simple as to be hard to disagree with. Here’s Number 1: today your desk.

My personal rule for keeping a clear desk says: keep as less as possible on your desk. At the moment when I’m writing this, there’s nothing on my desk except a keyboard, mouse and screen. But I used to have a really chaotic workplace. Books, notes, office accessories and souvenirs. And a cork board above the desk with countless sticky notes. Generally, a lot of distracting stuff which hindered concentration.

Now with hindsight, I wonder how I even wanted to work surrounded by so much equipment. It became obvious that a clear desk is a starting point for having more control over your productivity.

4 Stupid Productivity Killers You Should Be Aware Of – Oskar, Growthzer.com (8 April 2015)

Read the full piece.

Who makes this stuff up? Annual Clean Off Your Desk Day

It’s a thing. Apparently. The second Monday of January is Clean Off Your Desk Day and I’m prepared to call that utter bollocks but for how I was thinking of cleaning off my desk just about around then.

I learnt about this just now on ProductivitySOS since I am coping with a sluggish day by reading productivity advice. I see the irony. And, I see the irony.

(I’m reading instead of doing and I’m also running a productivity site, so.)

Mind you, last year the same day coincided with National Rubber Duckie Day and I wish I were kidding.

Tidy up before you clean up

Before beginning her career as a successful author and speaker, Patsy Clairmont did something unexpected. She washed the dishes.

She wanted to take her message to the world, but as she was readying herself, she felt nudged to start in an unusual way. She got out of bed and cleaned her house.

In other words, Patsy got rid of the mess. And it put her in a position to start living more creatively. We must do the same.

Bringing your message to the world does not begin on the main stage. It starts at home. In the kitchen. At your desk. On your cluttered computer. You need to clear your life of distractions, not perfectly, but enough so that there’s room for you to create.

Clutter is Killing Your Creativity (And What to Do About It) – Jeff Goins, Goins, Writer (undated, probably 14 October 2014

Read the full piece.