PRODUCTIVITY
BLUEPRINT Worksheets
For more premium products, visit:
store.asianefficiency.com
PRODUCTIVITY BLUEPRINT (WORKSHEETS) Published by Asian Efficiency Limited Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Version 1.0 Copyright © 2014 Asian Efficiency Limited All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under the Hong Kong Copyright Ordinance, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to Asian Efficiency Limited at
[email protected]. Neither this book, nor any of the contents of this book, are approved or endorsed by any companies or brands mentioned within. It is not the purpose of this book to cover the full range of information that is otherwise available on this topic, but instead to complement, amplify and supplement other texts. You are urged to read all available material and tailor the information to your individual needs. Every effort has been made to make this book as accurate as possible. However, there may be mistakes, and with all the rapid changes online, some details may be inaccurate by the time you read this. Therefore, this text should be used only as a general guide and not as the ultimate source of information on the topic.
3
TRADEMARKS All trademarks are the property of their respective owners including the following: The terms Apple®, iCloud®, iOS®, Mac®, OS X®, iPad®, and iPhone® are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. For more information on Apple, Inc. and its products, visit www.apple.com. The terms Google®, Google Docs®, Google Calendar®, Gmail® and Android® are registered trademarks of Google, Inc. For more information on Google and its products, visit www.google.com. The terms Windows® and Outlook® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. For more information on Microsoft and its products, visit www.microsoft.com. The term Evernote® is a registered trademark of Evernote Corporation. For more information on Evernote and its products, visit www.evernote.com. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Asian Efficiency®, Asian Efficiency Premium®, the A+E Logo®, related trade dress and intellectual property are registered trademarks of Asian Efficiency Limited, and may not be used without written permission. All images, clipart and diagrams are property of Asian Efficiency Limited or used under licence from BigStock (www. bigstockphoto.com).
4
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY While the publisher and authors have used their best efforts in preparing this work, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives, sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher and authors are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising therefrom. Any organizations or websites referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or publisher endorses the information the organization or website may provide or recommendations it may make. Readers should be aware that Internet websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.
5
Contents
CONTENTS Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Procrastination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Procrastination Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Motivation 101: Having a Why. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 6 Techniques #1: Break It Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 6 Techniques #2: Visualize the Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 6 Techniques #3: Solar Flaring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 6 Techniques #4: Timeboxing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 6 Techniques #5: Clear to Neutral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 6 Techniques #6: Leverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6
Contents Starting and Finishing Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Avoiding Last Minute: Staying on Top of Things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Avoiding Last Minute: Delegation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Avoiding Last Minute: Prioritization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Avoiding Last Minute: 3 Times Rule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 10 Quick and Dirty Tips for Procrastination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Focus and Self-Discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Focus and Self-discipline Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Multitasking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Improving Focus and Reducing Distractions: Having Clarity and Vision (Goals) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Improving Focus and Reducing Distractions: Inner Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Improving Focus and Reducing Distractions: Meditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
7
Contents Improving Focus and Reducing Distractions: The Silent Cockpit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Improving Focus and Reducing Distractions: The 5am Challenge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Improving Focus and Reducing Distractions: Timeblocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Improving Focus and Reducing Distractions: The Progress Principle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Willpower 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Hacks to Replenish Willpower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 The Art of Self-Discipline: Core Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 The Art of Self-Discipline: Areas of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Distractions and Interruptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Distractions and Interruptions Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Dealing with Interruptions: People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Unexpected Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
8
Contents Shiny New Objects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Tips to Avoid “Day Gone By” Syndrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Handling Backlog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Email Productivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Email Productivity Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Handling Incoming Email. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Future-Proofing Your Email Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 How to Deal with Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 Writing Effective Emails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 Email Habits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Boomerang Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Email for Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
9
Contents Inbox Guardian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Inbox Warrior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 The Asian Efficiency Email System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
About Asian Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 About Asian Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
10
Introduction
IntroduCtIon INTRODUCTION Thank you again for purchasing the Asian Efficiency Productivity Blueprint. We’ll keep this introduction brief as we know you’re keen to get into the worksheets and start implementing things right away. The questions in these worksheets may seem deceptively simple, they are extremely powerful and will help you achieve both productivity and success if correctly applied. Remember - each worksheet has an accompanying screencast where we walk you through each question in detail and show you how to apply it to your own life. You’ll be pleased to know that this as an interactive PDF file (welcome to the 21st century!) - that means you can type in your responses using any PDF application and then save/print them later. If you prefer to print out and write in your answers, you can do that too. Please also note that not all videos have an associated screencast and worksheet. To your productivity, - Aaron Lynn & Thanh Pham Bangkok, Thailand & Los Angeles, California
12
Procrastination
ProCrastInatIon Worksheets PROCRASTINATION WORKSHEETS •
MOTIVATION 101: HAVING A WHY
•
6 TECHNIQUES #1: BREAK IT DOWN
•
6 TECHNIQUES #2: VISUALIZE THE PROCESS
•
6 TECHNIQUES #3: SOLAR FLARING
•
6 TECHNIQUES #4: TIMEBOXING
•
6 TECHNIQUES #5: CLEAR TO NEUTRAL
•
6 TECHNIQUES #6: LEVERAGE
•
STARTING AND FINISHING PROJECTS
•
AVOIDING LAST MINUTE: STAYING ON TOP OF THINGS
•
AVOIDING LAST MINUTE: DELEGATION
•
AVOIDING LAST MINUTE: PRIORITIZATION
14
ProCrastInatIon Worksheets •
AVOIDING LAST MINUTE: 3 TIMES RULE
•
10 QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS FOR PROCRASTINATION
15
MotIvatIon 101: havIng a Why 1. Why are you procrastinating right now on this activity? (Type response below.)
PROCRASTINATION MOTIVATION 101: HAVING A WHY
16
MotIvatIon 101: havIng a Why 2. Why? Write down your justification. (Type response below.)
17
MotIvatIon 101: havIng a Why 3. Why? Write down your justification. (Type response below.)
18
MotIvatIon 101: havIng a Why 4. Why? Write down your justification. (Type response below.)
19
MotIvatIon 101: havIng a Why 5. Why? Write down your justification. (Type response below.)
20
MotIvatIon 101: havIng a Why 6. At this point, you should have found your one-liner that will compel you to take action. This is your why. Do this simple exercise each time you feel like procrastinating to find your why and it will immediately help you overcome procrastination. (No response required.)
21
6 teChnIques #1: Break It doWn 1. Think about what you want and write down below what it is. (Type response below.)
PROCRASTINATION 6 TECHNIQUES #1: BREAK IT DOWN
22
6 teChnIques #1: Break It doWn 2. Divide the outcome in 3 to 6 steps. (Type response below.)
23
6 teChnIques #1: Break It doWn 3. Make sure the first step starts with a verb, is action-able, and takes no more than 5 minutes to complete. Rewrite the first step if necessary. (Type response below.)
24
6 teChnIques #1: Break It doWn 4. Now take action on the first step. (No response required.)
25
6 teChnIques #2: vIsualIze the ProCess There are no worksheet questions for this video, but here is a checklist of the Envision Film process. 1. Sit down at your desk. 2. Know what you will be working on. This step is very important. 3. Before you start your task, close your eyes. 4. Now visualize how you are going to complete that task. This should take no more than a minute. Set a timer if necessary. 5. Open your eyes and get to work.
PROCRASTINATION 6 TECHNIQUES #2: VISUALIZE THE PROCESS
26
6 teChnIques #3: solar FlarIng 1. Write down what you’re procrastinating on right now. (Type response below.)
PROCRASTINATION 6 TECHNIQUES #3: SOLAR FLARING
27
6 teChnIques #3: solar FlarIng 2. Now tell yourself “I’m just going to work on this for five minutes. After that I can stop.” (No response required.)
28
6 teChnIques #3: solar FlarIng 3. Start on this task for just five minutes. That’s it. Just five minutes and after that you can stop. (No response required.)
29
6 teChnIques #4: tIMeBoxIng This worksheet will walk you through on how to use Timeboxing to overcome procrastination. You will first need a timer to complete this. Here are our recommendations: • The timer function on your phone. • Vitamin-R (Mac) or Focus Booster (Mac/Windows/Linux). • Physical tomato timer
PROCRASTINATION 6 TECHNIQUES #4: TIMEBOXING
30
6 teChnIques #4: tIMeBoxIng Now that you have a timer, follow the steps below. 1. Know what you need to do or know what you’re procrastinating on. 2. Set a timer for 25 minutes. 3. Now only work on that one thing for that duration. You can do absolutely nothing else but that one thing. 4. After the timer rings, you must take a 5 minute break. No exceptions. 5. Reset the timer and repeat this process. 6. For every 4 cycles, take a 30 minute break.
31
6 teChnIques #5: Clear to neutral 1. Write down 5 habits that first come to mind. (Type response below.)
PROCRASTINATION 6 TECHNIQUES #5: CLEAR TO NEUTRAL
32
6 teChnIques #5: Clear to neutral 2. For each habit, write down a Clearing to Neutral step at the end of the habit. (Type response below.)
33
6 teChnIques #6: leverage 1. Identify the task or action that you are procrastinating on. Write out a description of what it is in detail. (Type response below.)
PROCRASTINATION 6 TECHNIQUES #6: LEVERAGE
34
6 teChnIques #6: leverage 2. List out the negative consequences of not completing the task or action you are procrastinating on. (Type response below.)
35
6 teChnIques #6: leverage 3. List out the positive upsides of completing the task or action you are procrastinating on. (Type response below.)
36
6 teChnIques #6: leverage 4. Think about the negative consequences that you have listed. Really step into them in the first person - as if you were experiencing them now. (No response required.)
37
6 teChnIques #6: leverage 5. Think about the positive upsides that you have listed. Really step into them in the first person - as if you were experiencing them now. (No response required.)
38
6 teChnIques #6: leverage 6. Bonus Exercise. 1. Find a space on the floor. Mark one spot for the task/action (Spot T), negative consequences (Spot N), one spot for positive upsides (Spot P), one spot for a neutral reset (Spot R). 2. Think about the process of doing the task/action and step into Spot T. 3. Think about an all-white room/blank room and step into Spot R. 4. Think about negative consequences and step into Spot N. 5. Step into Spot R to reset. 6. Think about positive upsides and step into Spot P. 7. Step into Spot R to reset. 8. Look at Spots T, N, P and R from multiple angles - from outside all 4 spots, from one spot looking at the other etc. 9. Step into each spot and experience the process, negative and positive consequences. 10. Take notice of how this gives you perspective and leverage to get through what you are procrastinating on.
39
startIng and FInIshIng ProjeCts This worksheet will walk you through on how to consistently start and finish projects. 1. For starting projects, remember the two keywords: – speed of implementation – start small 2. Re-evaluate your why. Use the 5 Whys exercise (in Having a Why worksheet) to re-evaluate your why. 3. Know what “done” looks like. 4. Implement the 1% Interest Technique. Schedule in your calendar that you will work on your project for the next 30 days. It doesn’t matter for how long, as long as you work on it each day. 5. Create a checklist of what needs to be completed.
PROCRASTINATION STARTING AND FINISHING PROJECTS
40
avoIdIng last MInute: stayIng on toP oF thIngs 1. Write out a list of the tools and applications you have at your disposal that can help you stay on top of things. (Type response below.)
PROCRASTINATION AVOIDING LAST MINUTE: STAYING ON TOP OF THINGS
41
avoIdIng last MInute: stayIng on toP oF thIngs 2. Identify your Digital Inbox and Physical Inbox. (Type response below.)
42
avoIdIng last MInute: stayIng on toP oF thIngs 3. Identify where all your appointments and meetings are scheduled, whether it is a calendar application or a day planner. (Type response below.)
43
avoIdIng last MInute: stayIng on toP oF thIngs 4. Identify where all your tasks go. (Type response below.)
44
avoIdIng last MInute: stayIng on toP oF thIngs 5. Identify where your contacts (phone numbers, emails) go. (Type response below.)
45
avoIdIng last MInute: stayIng on toP oF thIngs 6. Identify where your reference material goes. (Type response below.)
46
avoIdIng last MInute: stayIng on toP oF thIngs 7. Setup the systems referenced in Steps 2-6. If you get stuck, email us at
[email protected]. (No response required.)
47
avoIdIng last MInute: stayIng on toP oF thIngs 8. Create a daily checklist that comprises of the components discussed in this screencast and customize it to work for you. (Type response below.) Here’s a start: 1. Look at your goals and outcomes. 2. Look at schedule. 3. Look at your to-do/task list. 4. Capture thoughts into Inbox as necessary.
48
avoIdIng last MInute: stayIng on toP oF thIngs 9. Schedule into your calendar a regular review where you go through your Inboxes and clear them. (No response required.)
49
avoIdIng last MInute: delegatIon 1. Make a list of things that you can delegate to other people. (Type response below.)
PROCRASTINATION AVOIDING LAST MINUTE: DELEGATION
50
avoIdIng last MInute: delegatIon 2. Next to each of your items, ask if the task can be completed virtually or locally. (Type response below.)
51
avoIdIng last MInute: delegatIon 3. Identify the top 3 things you want to delegate out. (Type response below.)
52
avoIdIng last MInute: delegatIon 4. From those 3 items, pick 1. (Type response below.)
53
avoIdIng last MInute: delegatIon 5. Ask yourself where you can find someone to delegate that 1 item to. (Type response below.)
Suggestions Local • Craigslist (USA mostly) • Gumtree (UK/ Australia) • TaskRabbit (USA) • Classifieds Virtual • Odesk • Elance • Freelancer.com
54
avoIdIng last MInute: delegatIon 6. Decide how much of the task you want to delegate. (Type response below.)
55
avoIdIng last MInute: delegatIon 7. Go ahead and delegate it out! (No response required.)
56
avoIdIng last MInute: PrIorItIzatIon 1. Write down 6 things you need to do today. (Type response below.)
PROCRASTINATION AVOIDING LAST MINUTE: PRIORITIZATION
57
avoIdIng last MInute: PrIorItIzatIon 2. Now next to each item, write down the quadrant number (1, 2, 3, 4) it belongs to. (Type response below.)
58
avoIdIng last MInute: PrIorItIzatIon 3. Re-order your todo list in order of: • Quadrant 2 • Quadrant 1 • Quadrant 3 Notice how Quadrant 4 tasks are not on this list. (Type response below.)
59
avoIdIng last MInute: PrIorItIzatIon 4. Start at the top of your todo list (your Quadrant 2 task) and try to complete them all today. (No response required.)
60
avoIdIng last MInute: 3 tIMes rule 1. Identify and write down the recurring problem you are experiencing. (Type response below.)
PROCRASTINATION AVOIDING LAST MINUTE: 3 TIMES RULE
61
avoIdIng last MInute: 3 tIMes rule 2. Identify the root cause of the problem. Write this out. (Type response below.)
62
avoIdIng last MInute: 3 tIMes rule 3. Find a solution to the problem. This can be addressing it at the root cause, changing something in the sequence of events (process) leading up to the problem, or creating a bypass/jujutsu-ing it completely. (Type response below.)
63
avoIdIng last MInute: 3 tIMes rule 4. Test your solution. Write down how it went. (Type response below.)
64
avoIdIng last MInute: 3 tIMes rule 5. As you go about your day-to-day business, notice things that bug you multiple times and capture them into your Inbox as things you can apply the 3 Times Rule framework to. (No response required.)
65
10 quICk and dIrty tIPs For ProCrastInatIon There are no worksheet questions for this video, but here is a checklist of the 10 Quick Tips for Beating Procrastination that are mentioned in the video. You can take whatever you are procrastinating on and run it through this list anytime you come up against procrastination. 1. Set a deadline. Today, tomorrow. 2. Make it fun – add music. – smile. – change your environment, try a coffee shop or park. – set a ridiculously short time limit and challenge yourself. – pretend and act as if you were someone else (roleplay). 3. Take a break. 5 minute water + walk. 20 minute nap. 4. Creative procrastination. Do everything around the task you’re procrastinating on but not the task itself. 5. Set a time constraint. 30 minutes, 1 hour, 15 minutes. 6. Consider the negative consequences (get leverage). 7. Good enough is good enough. Fine-tune later. 8. Delegate it. 9. Add a reward. Break, TV, rest of the day off. 10. Watch a motivational video on YouTube. Note: there is no accompanying screencast for this worksheet.
PROCRASTINATION 10 QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS FOR PROCRASTINATION
66
Focus and Self-Discipline
FoCus and selF-dIsCIPlIne Worksheets FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE WORKSHEETS •
MULTITASKING
•
IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: HAVING CLARITY AND VISION (GOALS)
•
IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: INNER PEACE
•
IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: MEDITATION
•
IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: THE SILENT COCKPIT
•
IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: THE 5AM CHALLENGE
•
IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: TIMEBLOCKS
•
IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: THE PROGRESS PRINCIPLE
•
WILLPOWER 101
•
HACKS TO REPLENISH WILLPOWER
•
THE ART OF SELF-DISCIPLINE: CORE VALUES
68
FoCus and selF-dIsCIPlIne Worksheets •
THE ART OF SELF-DISCIPLINE: AREAS OF LIFE
69
MultItaskIng 1. Write down 5 activities you do the most on a day-to-day basis. (Type response below.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE MULTITASKING
70
MultItaskIng 2. Look at each activity and assess if you multitask during that activity. Put at asterisk/star next to each activity where you multitask. (Type response below.)
71
MultItaskIng 3. Make a commitment to yourself to stop multitasking during those activities. Write down these commitments in the space below by starting with “I will stop multitasking when I’m (activity) and just focus on that activity”, e.g. “I will stop multitasking when I’m writing and just focus on that activity.” (Type response below.)
72
MultItaskIng 4. Schedule a time and day in your calendar where you are allowed every week to multitask. (Type response below.)
73
MultItaskIng 5. Going forward, try to catch yourself whenever you are multitasking. Each time you catch yourself, simply say to yourself that you need to focus on just one thing right now. As you do this more often, it will become easier to stop multitasking and start focusing on just one thing at a time. (No response required.)
74
IFrd: havIng ClarIty and vIsIon (goals) 1. Write down things that you want (goals) in the following areas of your life: health, wealth, relationships, knowledge, emotions, discipline, play. Don’t censor - just write, long term and short term. (Type response below.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: HAVING CLARITY AND 75 VISION (GOALS)
IFrd: havIng ClarIty and vIsIon (goals) 2. From the list above, pick the most important goal in each area. (Type response below.)
76
IFrd: havIng ClarIty and vIsIon (goals) 3. From your shortlist of 7 goals, pick the 3 most important. These will be your 3 primary goals. (Type response below.)
77
IFrd: havIng ClarIty and vIsIon (goals) 4. Better define your 3 primary goals. Use: Goal, Why, Process, Result. (Type response below.)
78
IFrd: havIng ClarIty and vIsIon (goals) 5. Make asking “Is what I’m doing right now taking me closer to or further away from my goals?” a habit. Write down how you are going to make this a habit. (Type response below.)
79
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: Inner PeaCe This screencast and worksheet will help you resolve any internal conflicts you have and guide you towards inner peace. Below are the seven domains: 1. Health 2. Wealth 3. Relationships 4. Discipline 5. Emotions 6. Intellect 7. Play
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: INNER PEACE
80
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: Inner PeaCe 1. Write down in the left column the dominant thoughts you’re having. 2. Still in the left column, next to each thought, write down the number of the domain it’s in. 3. On the right column, write down one simple step you can take to address the issue. 4. Take action on all those steps as soon as possible. (Type response below.)
Dominant Thought
Action Step
81
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: MedItatIon There are no worksheet questions for this video. Here are the simple steps to start meditating: 1. Sit comfortably in your chair. 2. Close your eyes. 3. Breath in for 3 seconds. Breath out for 6 seconds. 4. Do this for 5 minutes (if necessary, set a timer). 5. Open your eyes. Try to increase the duration (step 4) each week up to 15 minutes.
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: MEDITATION
82
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the sIlent CoCkPIt 1. Ask yourself what time of the day is best to build your Silent Cockpit? (Type response below.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: THE SILENT COCKPIT
83
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the sIlent CoCkPIt 2. Create a ritual for starting your Silent Cockpit time. (Type response below.)
84
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the 5aM Challenge 1. Write down the number of hours of sleep you need each night. If unsure, use 7.5 hours. (Type response below.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: THE 5AM CHALLENGE
85
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the 5aM Challenge 2. Subtract that number from 5am and write down your new bedtime. (Type response below.)
86
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the 5aM Challenge 3. Set the alarm for 5AM and go to bed tonight at your new bedtime. (No response required.)
87
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the 5aM Challenge 4. Regardless of how you feel each morning, get out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off. (No response required.)
88
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: tIMeBloCks 1. Write down a project that you want to focus on within the next couple of days. (Type response below.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: TIMEBLOCKS
89
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: tIMeBloCks 2. Schedule in your calendar this week an 1-hour block where you will be working on the item you wrote down in step 1. (No response required.)
90
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: tIMeBloCks 3. Notify the people around you that you cannot be disturbed during that timeblock. (No response required.)
91
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: tIMeBloCks 4. Turn off all distractions when you are working during your timeblock. This includes email, phone and tablets. (No response required.)
92
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the Progress PrInCIPle 1. Acquire a physical journal or journal app. • For a physical journal, we recommend a Moleskine. • For an app, we recommend Evernote. (No response required.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE IMPROVING FOCUS AND REDUCING DISTRACTIONS: THE PROGRESS PRINCIPLE
93
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the Progress PrInCIPle 2. Write down the specific time where you will write in your journal. This should be near the end of the day. (Type response below.)
94
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the Progress PrInCIPle 3. For each journal entry, write down the following: Date: (date) My 3 Accomplishments 1. 2. 3. (No response required.)
95
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the Progress PrInCIPle 4. Do this for the next 7 days in a row. (No response required.)
96
IMProvIng FoCus and reduCIng dIstraCtIons: the Progress PrInCIPle 5. On day 8, reread your journal and reflect upon it. (No response required.)
97
WIllPoWer 101 1. Make a commitment to yourself to not check email in the morning until you have done one thing on your to-do list. Write down that one thing below. (Type response below.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE WILLPOWER 101
98
WIllPoWer 101 2. Make a commitment to spend at least 30 minutes of learning every single day. Write it down below. (Type response below.)
99
WIllPoWer 101 3. Come up with your own “I want” and “I won’t” challenge to strengthen your willpower. Write them down below. (Type response below.)
100
haCks to rePlenIsh WIllPoWer 1. Strategically plan out what breaks you are going to take. Do this at every timeframe. (Type response below.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE HACKS TO REPLENISH WILLPOWER
101
haCks to rePlenIsh WIllPoWer 2. Write out your list of willpower-boosting quick hacks. (Type response below.)
102
haCks to rePlenIsh WIllPoWer 3. Write out places where you can tap into social energy. (Type response below.)
103
haCks to rePlenIsh WIllPoWer 4. List out what kinds of passive and active entertainment you engage in. (Type response below.)
104
haCks to rePlenIsh WIllPoWer 5. Figure out what kind of exercise you want to do and schedule it into your calendar. (Type response below.)
105
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: Core values 1. What in your life is most important? (Type response below.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE THE ART OF SELF-DISCIPLINE: CORE VALUES
106
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: Core values 2. What can’t you tolerate? (Type response below.)
107
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: Core values 3. What personal boundaries are non-negotiable? (Type response below.)
108
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: Core values 4. To form a relationship with another, what must they know about you? (Type response below.)
109
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: Core values 5. To understand you, others need to know... (Type response below.)
110
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: Core values 6. What are some of the things you truly believe in and are guidelines that you live by? (Type response below.)
111
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: Core values 7. Look at all your answers. Now try to formulate in 3-5 points what your core values are. (Type response below.)
112
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: Core values 8. Now look at this list every day and try to live your life in alignment with your core values. (No response required.)
113
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe HEALTH MANAGE ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE
1. What injuries or illnesses hold me back from optimising my health? (Type response below.)
FOCUS AND SELF-DISCIPLINE THE ART OF SELF-DISCIPLINE: AREAS OF LIFE
114
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe HEALTH MANAGE ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE
2. What can I do about them right now? (Type response below.)
115
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe HEALTH BE IN THE BEST PHYSICAL SHAPE THAT YOU CAN BE
3. How can I exercise at least 3 times a week? (Type response below.)
116
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe HEALTH BE IN THE BEST PHYSICAL SHAPE THAT YOU CAN BE
4. What form will this exercise take? (Type response below.)
117
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe HEALTH BE IN THE BEST PHYSICAL SHAPE THAT YOU CAN BE
5. How can I implement this? (No response required.)
118
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe HEALTH EATING PROPERLY
6. How do I want to approach my eating and nutrition? What particular philosophy or methodology do I want to follow? (Type response below.)
119
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe HEALTH EATING PROPERLY
7. What do I need to find out about this particular methodology? (Type response below.)
120
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe HEALTH EATING PROPERLY
8. How can I set this up so that I can always eat like this, most of the time? (Type response below.)
121
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe WEALTH HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE
1. Where are my finances at right now? (Type response below.)
122
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe WEALTH HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE
2. What would I like my finances to look like? (Type response below.)
123
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe WEALTH HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE
3. What is my plan for getting there? (Type response below.)
124
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe WEALTH REMOVE ANY RESENTMENT AND NEGATIVITY YOU HAVE ABOUT THE WEALTH OR FINANCIAL SUCCESS OF OTHERS
4. Clearance Drill. Use this Clearance Drill to help you systematically remove any negativity or resentment you may have about the wealth or financial success of others. 1. Think of the person or group of persons you feel you have negativity towards. 2. Notice any negative emotions. 3. Switch them to whatever positive emotions you can manage - respect, awe, admiration. This is supposed to be hard at first. 4. Repeat by thinking of the person again, noticing any negative emotions and switching to positive emotions. Repeat until you no longer feel negative emotions towards that person. 5. Select another person or group of persons and run the drill again. Note that this drill can be used in other areas of life as well. (No response required.)
125
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe RELATIONSHIPS UNDERSTAND AND ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES
1. As you go about your upcoming week, make a list of all the things that people do to you that you find acceptable and not acceptable. (Type response below.)
126
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe RELATIONSHIPS UNDERSTAND AND ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES
2. What are some smaller boundaries that I can start enforcing? (Type response below.)
127
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe RELATIONSHIPS RESOLVING SOURCE RELATIONSHIPS
3. Are there still any childhood experiences that hold me back or that create issues in my current adult life? (Type response below.)
128
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe RELATIONSHIPS RESOLVING SOURCE RELATIONSHIPS
4. As an adult, I have control and I take responsibility for myself. What has happened in the past cannot be changed, and it doesn’t have to affect me right now. (No response required.)
129
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe RELATIONSHIPS BASIC SET OF SOCIAL SKILLS
5. For one-to-one and small-group communication, go meet new people. (No response required.)
130
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe RELATIONSHIPS BASIC SET OF SOCIAL SKILLS
6. For public speaking, go do public speaking. (No response required.)
131
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe RELATIONSHIPS BASIC SET OF SOCIAL SKILLS
7. For overcoming any fear of approaching strangers, the simplest way to do this is to make a point to talk to at least one stranger every day. All you need to do is go up and say hi, and see if the conversation goes anywhere. If it doesn’t, that’s fine, just do it again tomorrow. (No response required.)
132
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe EMOTIONS EMOTIONAL CONTROL AND MASTERY
1. Take the 10 Day Positivity Challenge. Rules of the Challenge: • You are not permitted to dwell on anything unresourceful or negative for the next 10 days. • You get a maximum dwelling time of 2 minutes, and if you exceed that time you have to start the 10 day challenge again. (No response required.)
133
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe EMOTIONS EMOTIONAL CONTROL AND MASTERY
2. What are some things that I can do that will put me into a good mood right away or really quickly? (Type response below.)
134
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe EMOTIONS NOT CARING WHAT OTHERS THINK
3. Do I consider what other people think about me often? (Type response below.)
135
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe EMOTIONS NOT CARING WHAT OTHERS THINK
4. In what potential areas or situations would I be able to act without the prior approval of others? (Type response below.)
136
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe KNOWLEDGE/INTELLECT FILL THE SKILLS GAP
1. What goals am I pursuing in my life right now? (Type response below.)
137
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe KNOWLEDGE/INTELLECT FILL THE SKILLS GAP
2. What skills or abilities am I missing in terms of those goals? (Type response below.)
138
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe KNOWLEDGE/INTELLECT LIFELONG DEDICATION TO LEARNING
3. Am I reading or learning something new every day? (Type response below.)
139
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe PLAY GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP
1. Am I getting enough sleep? (Type response below.)
140
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe PLAY GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP
2. Do I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world? (Type response below.)
141
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe PLAY GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP
3. What do I need to do to get enough sleep and feel refreshed when I wake up in the morning? Resource: Better Sleep (Type response below.)
142
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe PLAY GET ENOUGH PLAYTIME
4. When was the last time I took a vacation? (Type response below.)
143
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe PLAY GET ENOUGH PLAYTIME
5. Do I get enough downtime on a daily basis? (Type response below.)
144
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe PLAY GET ENOUGH PLAYTIME
6. Do I get enough downtime on a weekly basis? (Type response below.)
145
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe PLAY GET ENOUGH PLAYTIME
7. Do I get too much downtime? (Type response below.)
146
the art oF selF-dIsCIPlIne: areas oF lIFe PLAY GET ENOUGH PLAYTIME
8. What sort of things do I like to do during my downtime, and how do I make sure that I get to do them? (Type response below.)
147
Distractions and Interruptions
dIstraCtIons and InterruPtIons Worksheets DISTRACTIONS AND INTERRUPTIONS WORKSHEETS •
DEALING WITH INTERRUPTIONS: PEOPLE
•
UNEXPECTED EMERGENCIES
•
SHINY NEW OBJECTS
•
TIPS TO AVOID “DAY GONE BY” SYNDROME
•
HANDLING BACKLOG
149
dealIng WIth InterruPtIons: PeoPle 1. Purchase a headset or headphones that you can wear while you are working. Our recommendation: Bose QC15 (No response required.)
DISTRACTIONS AND INTERRUPTIONS DEALING WITH INTERRUPTIONS: PEOPLE
150
dealIng WIth InterruPtIons: PeoPle 2. Close the door right now if you don’t want to get disturbed. (No response required.)
151
dealIng WIth InterruPtIons: PeoPle 3. Use any of the following lines or scripts whenever you get interrupted by someone. • • • • •
“I would love to, but (reason)” “I wish I could, but (reason)” “Right now is really difficult for me because I’m in the middle of (situation) and I really need to work on this first.” “I wish I could but my workload is really high right now and I need to finish some other important stuff first.” “To be honest with you, I might not be the best person for this. Could you try someone else? In worst case scenario I can do it but I think your chances are better with someone else.”
152
dealIng WIth InterruPtIons: PeoPle 4. Practice them by saying them aloud a couple times in private until you are comfortable enough to say them when the situation calls for it. (No response required.)
153
unexPeCted eMergenCIes 1. Take an inventory assessment immediately. Note down what you are working on, and any relevant ideas or thought points. This especially includes thoughts and concepts that are in your head but not yet down on paper. (Type response below.)
DISTRACTIONS AND INTERRUPTIONS UNEXPECTED EMERGENCIES
154
unexPeCted eMergenCIes 2. Let somebody know that you’re going to step away from your regular work to handle the emergency. Note down who you notified, and what you told them. (Type response below.)
155
unexPeCted eMergenCIes 3. Now let’s handle the emergency. What is the emergency? Write down the simple facts about the situation that needs to be handled. (Type response below.)
156
unexPeCted eMergenCIes 4. What is the worst thing that could happen? (Type response below.)
157
unexPeCted eMergenCIes 5. What is the cause of the problem/emergency? (Type response below.)
158
unexPeCted eMergenCIes 6. What are the possible solutions? (Type response below.)
159
unexPeCted eMergenCIes 7. Which solution is the most viable? (Type response below.)
160
unexPeCted eMergenCIes 8. Implement the solution. Note down what happened. (Type response below.)
161
unexPeCted eMergenCIes 9. Pick up and continue your regular work. This could be asking the person you notified it Step #2 about what you were doing. Or looking over the inventory assessment from Step #1. (No response required.)
162
shIny neW oBjeCts 1. Write down one shiny new object that you want to spend time on. (Type response below.)
DISTRACTIONS AND INTERRUPTIONS SHINY NEW OBJECTS
163
shIny neW oBjeCts 2. Be a skeptic and write down a list of reasons why you should not explore this shiny new object. (Type response below.)
164
shIny neW oBjeCts 3. If you have something else already in place that does the job, write down the name of the app or tool. (Type response below.)
165
shIny neW oBjeCts 4. Now compare the two. Is the shiny new object superior to your existing app or tool? Yes or No. (Type response below.)
166
shIny neW oBjeCts 5a. If you answered YES, wait at least 7 days before you explore your shiny new object. If you’re still interested after 7 days, you may explore it. 5b. If you answered NO, you just saved yourself a lot of time. (No response required.)
167
tIPs to avoId “day gone By” syndroMe 1. In the left column, write down 5 of your most important values. 2. In the right column, write down 5 activities you spend most of your time on. 3. Now match the two lists and see if they are in alignment. (Type response below.)
Values
DISTRACTIONS AND INTERRUPTIONS TIPS TO AVOID “DAY GONE BY” SYNDROME
Activities with most time spent
168
tIPs to avoId “day gone By” syndroMe 4. Rewrite your list where everything is in alignment. (Type response below.)
Values
Activities with most time spent
169
tIPs to avoId “day gone By” syndroMe 5. Setup strategic reminders in your calendar for today and tomorrow. For every hour, set an alert with the text:
Are you working in alignment? Use this alert as a reflection point to review your list. (No response required.)
170
tIPs to avoId “day gone By” syndroMe 6. Get a journal. Every morning in your journal write down a list of things you will do that day. 7. At the end of the day, write down in your journal what you did or didn’t do - and WHY. 8. In your journal, write down corrections or improvements that you need to make for tomorrow, if there are any. 9. Review your journal once a week.
171
handlIng BaCklog 1. Compile all your backlog tasks into 1 list. This can be in bullet point + task name format. (Type response below.)
DISTRACTIONS AND INTERRUPTIONS HANDLING BACKLOG
172
handlIng BaCklog 2. Day of Pain and Suffering Option. (No response required.)
173
handlIng BaCklog 3. Strategic Seeding Option. (No response required.)
174
handlIng BaCklog 4. Design a system for preventing future backlog. (Type response below.)
Example 1. Add a note to your morning scheduling to assign fewer tasks to yourself if you have appointments that day. 2. Look for opportunities to delegate out unimportant tasks to others. 3. Make sure that all your items have start dates and due dates if appropriate. 4. Set a weekly timeblock of 2 hours at the end of every week to handle any ongoing backlog. Even if you don’t have any, it’s still nice to have that time available in your calendar on a weekly basis.
175
Email Productivity
eMaIl ProduCtIvIty Worksheets EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY WORKSHEETS •
HANDLING INCOMING EMAIL
•
FUTURE-PROOFING YOUR EMAIL SETUP
•
HOW TO DEAL WITH EMAIL
•
WRITING EFFECTIVE EMAILS
•
EMAIL HABITS
•
BOOMERANG THEORY
•
EMAIL FOR TEAMS
•
INBOX GUARDIAN
•
INBOX WARRIOR
•
PUTTING IT TOGETHER: THE ASIAN EFFICIENCY EMAIL SYSTEM
177
handlIng InCoMIng eMaIl There are no worksheet questions for this video. Please refer to the Action Screencast for examples on how to apply the Handling Incoming Email workflow to different types of emails.
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY HANDLING INCOMING EMAIL
178
Future-ProoFIng your eMaIl setuP There are no worksheet questions for this video. Please refer to the Action Screencast for examples on how to Future-Proof your Email Setup.
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY FUTURE-PROOFING YOUR EMAIL SETUP
179
hoW to deal WIth eMaIl 1. Before you start clearing your inbox, don’t pay attention to the number of unread emails. 2. Decide on which approach you want to take: • Everyday approach - set aside 30 to 60 minutes every day to clear emails. • Once a week approach - set aside one day a week to clear emails. 3. Schedule in your calendar your email clearing session. 4. Turn off all email notifications.
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY HOW TO DEAL WITH EMAIL
180
WrItIng eFFeCtIve eMaIls 1. Use this simple checklist for every email you send. Do all recipients all need this email? Is the subject line specific and crystal clear? Is the body short and to the point? Is there explicit etiquette stated? If you checked all boxes, it’s an effective email.
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY WRITING EFFECTIVE EMAILS
181
WrItIng eFFeCtIve eMaIls 2. Here is a list of phrases you can use for explicit etiquette: • Please do not use reply-all. Reply ONLY directly to me. • Do not reply back to this email with any questions or concerns. Please raise them at the next team meeting. • Please call me to confirm. • Please reply to confirm receipt.
182
WrItIng eFFeCtIve eMaIls 3. For your next broadcast email, use the 5Ws and How technique. Write down the: • What • When • Why • Where • Who • How
183
eMaIl haBIts There are no worksheet questions for this video. Please refer to the Action Screencast for examples on how to implement the Email Habits discussed in the video.
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY EMAIL HABITS
184
BooMerang theory 1. For every email you send, use this checklist to assess if it’s necessary to send the email. Is this email ABSOLUTELY necessary? Is email the best medium? If both boxes are checked, you can send the email.
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY BOOMERANG THEORY
185
eMaIl For teaMs 1. Set up some guidelines for using email among your team. (Type response on next page.) Examples • Don’t use email to manage other team members. Nobody likes getting tasks assigned to them through email - not you, nor anyone else on the team. • Any email written within the team should be written only if it requires a paper trail and contains multiple issues. For everything else, stick to Asana and HipChat and Skype. • No open-ended questions on email. Book an appointment and get on Skype with the person. • Instant Messaging Guidelines: – 1. When you’re working, you have to be online on Hipchat. Since we are a virtual company with team members all over the world, this our way of knowing that you’re available and doing work. – 2. Use the status feature of Hipchat. You can set it to Available, Busy or Away. So if you’re working and don’t want to be disturbed, you set it to Busy. And once you’re done and can chat again, set it back to Available. If you’re away from your desk, you simply set it to Away. – 3. For calls, you have to log into Skype. No one is to be online on Skype unless you have to do a call.
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY EMAIL FOR TEAMS
186
eMaIl For teaMs 1. Set up some guidelines for using email among your team. (Type response below.)
187
eMaIl For teaMs 2. Recommended Tools: Project Management Platforms • Asana • Basecamp • JIRA (for software teams) • Confluence (enterprise wiki) • ActiveCollab (self-hosted) Instant Messaging Clients • Skype • HipChat (No response required.)
188
InBox guardIan 1. Turn off all email notifications in your email clients. 2. Schedule in your calendar 2 or 3 times in a day when you will check email. Make it consistent for each day for the next 30 days. (No response required.)
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY INBOX GUARDIAN
189
InBox WarrIor There are no worksheet questions for this video. Please refer to the Action Screencast for how to be an Inbox Warrior.
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY INBOX WARRIOR
190
the asIan eFFICIenCy eMaIl systeM There are no worksheet questions for this video. All you need to do is to decide what days you want to play Inbox Guardian, and what days you want to play Inbox Warrior. Here are a couple of things that will help you implement the Asian Efficiency Email System: • Print out the email handling diagram. • Write out step-by-step instructions for switching notifications on/off for your email client. • Set times of day to check email in Inbox Guardian mode. Note: there is no accompanying screencast for this worksheet.
EMAIL PRODUCTIVITY THE ASIAN EFFICIENCY EMAIL SYSTEM
191
About Asian Efficiency
aBout asIan eFFICIenCy ABOUT ASIAN EFFICIENCY Asian Efficiency stands for simplicity and action. Our mission is to make the world a more productive place, one person at a time. We give people the ability to control their lives, to handle their daily information bombardment and to juggle it alongside things to do, commitments, responsibilities and a busy schedule - all in a seamless manner. We produce and publish high-quality ideas and solutions to help you become a better, faster and more efficient highachiever. We believe in experimenting with the limits of human potential, in intelligently using new personal technologies and about keeping things simple - and efficient. Everyone at Asian Efficiency lives and breathes personal development and growth, and is passionate about helping others become the best they can be. We are also productivity nerds, Apple enthusiasts and generally love working out how to do things better. One day we would like to see Asian Efficiency make an impact on the global productivity index, and by buying the Productivity Blueprint, you’ve helped contribute a bit towards that - thank you. You can find out more about Asian Efficiency at: • www.asianefficiency.com - our company blog where we talk about the latest (and best) productivity tips and tricks. • store.asianefficiency.com - our company store, where you can purchase our products. We highly value all our customers - so expect lots of goodies your way very soon! • facebook.com/asianefficiency - our Facebook page where we post cool articles, videos and other things we come
193
aBout asIan eFFICIenCy across online. • twitter.com/asianefficiency - our Twitter account where we give away daily tips about productivity, and we generally get to know our followers. If you want to get in touch with us for any reason (testimonials are nice!), send an email to:
[email protected] or log into our Customer Area at customer.asianefficiency.com.
194