We had a very interactive “Coaching at The Corner” discussion last week on the topic of what we all can STOP doing to become even more productive.
Many times, when people talk about productivity, they end up adding things to their plates. They add new tools, they add new actions, they add new organizational tips.
Instead of piling it on, we talked about five things that we can “stop doing” that will enable us to gain greater productivity.
Here they are:
STOP ignoring your circadian rhythms.
We all have daily rhythms, some of which are times when we are more creative, more energetic, and other times when we are less than that. To be more productive, it is important that we maximize those times when we are high-energy, and highly creative. Many people have a tendency to ignore their rhythms, and try to “push through” even though their minds are not at peak productivity.
Here is a link for an assessment of your energy rhythms. Please don’t hesitate to download it, and share it with your friends.
STOP reacting to electronica.
This means taking control of your text messaging, iPhone, email, Web alerts. You have the choice of when you can view these, rather than feeling compelled to 
react immediately upon every ding and flash that happens on your computer screen or on your blackberry. By stopping the reactivity that plagues us in the digital age, you will be amazed at how much more productive you can be.
STOP multitasking.
It is a myth that you can multitask. You might be able to do something physical and something mental at the same time, but you cannot think two things at the same time. When you try to do this, you will serve one more than another. You are at risk of doing only a half job. Instead, give full focus to the task you have chosen to work on. It is useful to think of “switch tasking” rather than multitasking, giving each task 100%.
STOP doing everything yourself.
Just because you can do a task, doesn’t mean that you are the person who should be doing it. If you are in a situation where you can delegate to others, delegate voraciously. If you are capable of outsourcing, don’t hesitate to outsource tasks. Even in families, children and spouses can be asked to help with the tasks at hand. When you default to the “I can do it better and faster” syndrome, you will definitely be busy much longer than others around you.
STOP trying to be perfect.
Instead, focus on excellence. Striving for perfection can create what I call “paralysis of analysis.” When something is 99% complete, it may be time to initiate it. One of my favorite sayings is “Done is better than perfect.” And while this is at your discretion, there comes a time when that old leap of faith comes into the play, and you DO it, even tho’ it ain’t purrfect…
Your challenge: Just as we did at our last week’s discussion at Mitchell’s Books Store on Main Street in Nantucket, I challenged everyone in the room to write down something they are going to stop doing in the next 48 hours that will add to their productivity.
I challenge you to do the same. If you would like to share, please do so in the comments below.
