Who doesn’t need to squeeze more productive time out of their day? And have you ever noticed that when you have too much time, nothing gets done? Here's how you can be more productive every day. This deck will give you actionable tips that you can use immediately.

1. Productivity: The Secret Sauce
Catherine Morgan
Career Transition Coach | Business Consultant
Point A to Point B Transitions Inc.

2. Time is scarce
• Time is your most valuable commodity
• No matter how much time we have,
it never seems like enough
– Family
– Career
– Fitness
– Volunteering
– Hobbies
– Other?

3. Who gets more done?
• Someone with a lot of spare time?
• Someone with a lot of commitments?

4. The inner game of productivity
• Need to create good mental space
• Invalidate negative self-talk

5. Taming the “monkey mind”
• How do you calm the “chatter”
– Exercise like walking, running, swimming
– Meditation
– Yoga
– Other?

6. Know when your peak times are
• When are you usually at your best?
– Are you a morning person?
– Do you prefer late night for thinking?

7. How to find more time
• Find out where your “leaks” are
– Keep track of what you do for a week
– Usual time-sucks include:
• Watching TV
• Internet surfing
• Interacting on social media
• Playing video games
• Writing long e-mails
• Meetings
• Volunteering

8. What causes overwhelm?
“Overwhelm is caused by
NOT knowing WHAT to do,
not by having too much to do.”
~ Michael Port

9. How to get past overwhelm
• Get things out of your head
– Trying to remember too many things can
cause immediate overwhelm

10. Capture all tasks
• Overwhelm will subside when you
get into action
• Capture everything you need to do
in some way (paper, software, phone app)

11. Out of the brain and on to…
• Everybody is different
– No tech: Lists and sticky notes
• Sticky note fun:
– Write each task on a sticky note
– Put all notes on your left
– When a task is done, move
note to the right side for a
visual sense of completion

12. Software that really helps
• WorkFlowy
• Evernote
• iDoneThis

13. Create logical groups
• Once out of your head, tasks can be combined
into logical groups or projects
– Business projects
– Personal chores
– Administrative tasks

14. First way to prioritize: Cha-ching!
• #1. Do the task that is the most important
– Hint: The fast path to the cash

15. Second way to prioritize: Gulp
• #2. Do the dreaded task first
“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and
nothing worse will happen to you
the rest of the day.”
~ Mark Twain

16. Third way to prioritize: Check
• #3. Do the easy things first
– Build momentum

17. Fourth way to prioritize: Whoo-hoo!
• #4. Gauge your enthusiasm
– Which task gets you excited?
– Do that first to get a little energy that can
carry over to the ones that are not so fun

18. Your friend the calendar
• Be hands-on: Use your calendar!
– Go through your commitments and
other projects
– Define specific tasks and block out times
– Also schedule in breaks and fun

19. Add in constraints for productivity
• Work will expand to the amount of
time you give it
• Set deadlines - even if they are fake
• Bracket your time with other things
that can’t move
• Keep some kind of a schedule (and
keep your sanity)

20. Some bonus tips
• Try using a timer with 45 or 50 minute blocks
and then take 15 or 10 minute breaks
• Write a list for the next day when you are
finished with your work day or at night
– You may relax and sleep better – and feel more
productive in the morning

21. Notice avoidance behaviors
• This happens frequently when what we need
to be doing is scary or tedious
• Notice when you start doing something
(anything!) to avoid the dreaded task
– Laundry
– Organizing your office
– Cleaning
– E-mail

22. Need to have or nice to have?
• Job seekers can get sidetracked thinking they
need to:
– Learn some software package
– Get a specific certification

23. Banish crazy-busy
• Forget crazy-busy
– It’s the new normal

24. Questions?
Catherine Morgan
Career Transition Coach | Business Consultant
Point A to Point B Transitions Inc.
877.672.5333
Catherine@PointAtoPointBTransitions.com
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/PointAtoPointB
Twitter @PointA_PointB
Catherine speaks on:
- Productivity
- Entrepreneurship
- Small Business
- Career Transition