Productivity Tips - Eliminating Time Clutter

Clutter of any sort is a real productivity-killer. Business people are few and far between who can concentrate with a desk covered in random bits of paper. We all focus best when we have just a single task at hand, and I've yet to meet the person who gets more done in a cluttered house than a tidy one. Another sort of clutter, apart from the physical, is just as destructive to productivity -- time clutter. Today we look at what causes it, and what you can do about it!

What is time clutter?

You know what normal clutter is -- a whole heap of items piled together without rhyme or reason. Time clutter is when many disparate tasks intrude on your time without regard to organization. You could also think of it as task clutter -- although many of the things that comprise time clutter are actually self-imposed tasks. It's not just that you are busy!

Why does time clutter have such an impact?

Neuroscientific studies have shown that when you switch from one task to another, your cerebral cortex (responsible for most conscious thought) has to consult a specific region of the brain for permission to switch tasks, and when the distraction is over, for permission to switch back. This switching actually accounts for around 7/10ths of a second each time … but the impact on the time taken from your day is much larger. The same studies showed that:

• Tasks were completed much quicker without distractions, even when removing the distraction time from the equation
• There were fewer errors in the tasks when completed without distraction
• People 'felt' more productive and satisfied with their job when they focused from start to finish.

Sources of time clutter

These differ for everybody, but some common sources of time clutter are:

• Checking emails
• Surfing the web
• Phone calls - either incoming or outgoing
• Co-workers asking questions
• Simple distractability - swapping tasks before finished

Time journals

The easiest way to determine what's eating at your time, your business focus and your mental wellbeing is to keep a time journal. Set an alarm on your phone or computer to beep once every five minutes on a typical workday. (Yes, I understand this will be distracting in itself!) Record what you were doing for the past five minutes. Alternatively, every time you switch tasks at work you can record what you were doing - although the temptation to ignore the 60 seconds it took to log into your email and have a look through is very strong!

Discipline

This is the final step in eliminating time clutter -- and probably the most complex. Either discipline yourself, or train those around you, to focus on a task when you are doing one. Make it a rule that if your door's shut, questions will have to wait. Set a time to check emails and Facebook. Divert the phone to voicemail for a set period. Then don't feel bad … feel good that you've eliminated time clutter from your business life!

How to Actively Create Breakthrough Moments!

We all know, love, and remember our "A-ha!" moments for many years … sometimes for decades. Did you know that those moments don't have to be a random occurrence? When they happen every week, they may not be as memorable. However, when you are in business looking to get rich, it doesn't matter so much whether you remember them as whether they create value. Today we take a how-to approach to actively creating breakthrough moments!

Pain and Change

So often, the lightbulb moments in our lives come from very painful experiences. Fear and aversion to particular circumstances are very strong motivations to get ANYTHING done. If you can harness that motivation for everyday occurrences, you'll be breaking through barriers to the left, right and center.

One strategy for creating lightbulb moments is to embrace negative situations. It sounds strange, but don't mentally shy away from bad things that happen in your business. More importantly, don't shy away from your own part in creating those circumstances. It will provide vital clues as to how you can change to improve things in the future!

You Create Reality Based on Your Thoughts

This is related to the Law of Attraction. Some people think of this principle in terms of "As within, so without," meaning that your life will eventually mirror your thoughts. This can be a bit of a breakthrough moment in itself, to realize the truth of this phenomenon personally in yourbusiness! Simply know that your brain has the power to come up with solutions, outside of your conscious awareness of that process. Tell yourself this; even better, research it as a phenomenon so that you know it isn’t just self-improvement marketing spin. The lightbulbs will start switching on for you!

The Bedtime Strategy

If you have a particular problem that you need solved, ask yourself to solve the problem while asleep. Did you know that for much of your eight hours of sleep per night, your brain is more active than during the daytime? "Sleeping on it" isn’t just a saying … it's a way for creating breakthrough moments for business owners.