There are some simple steps you can take to increase your productivity regardless of your line of work. Let me say this clearly first, being busy or having a lot to do does not mean you are being productive. The value of productivity I am desiring to address is in terms of a certain set of goals, work projects or list of tasks getting done within a healthy time frame. To be productive would mean, tackling your agenda without it spilling over to the next day, or adding it to your next project. Here are some simple but effective steps to gain productivity.

1. Turn your notifications off- I use an iPhone and a few years back was so in love with it I kept picking it up like every few minutes. If I saw new emails, text messages, 404 @replies from Twitter or those red numbers on Facebook, I just HAD to look. What was happening was I was being drawn away from my productivity. So, I decided to make a change. No more push notifications on my phone, no more “sound” alerts when I get a text, email, @reply. Silence finally. This has allowed me to “choose” when to look at my phone. (I place it behind me at my desk so it doesn’t even tempt me)

2. Sit and think- It’s amazing how clear, precise and strategic my mind works when I sit down to just think in silence. I literally sit alone in silence a few times a day. In the morning, it helps me see my day clearly and from that I begin to see my priorities better. In the afternoon, it helps me regain inner peace and strength and at night, it helps me be grateful, reviewing my day, also look into tomorrow. Thinking can greatly increase your productivity and steer you away from adding things to your plate that aren’t a priority.

3. Master your agenda- Don’t let your agenda master you!! Get control back in what needs to get done versus what wants to get done. As I mentioned in point #2, my time in thinking helps me look ahead at my week and month and I usually make “appointments” or “agenda reminders” for myself to keep meeting deadlines and stay ahead of anything that can throw a wrench in my planning. An example of this using a “task app” on my phone with dates, so as the day’s come I can see what I need to revisit within that day like; send thank you cards today or call _______ today. This is a very useful way to keep a safe and healthy agenda that is manageable.

What are some ways you are staying productive?

What does it mean to draw a line in the sand? We find our core values and beliefs in our character, which is shaped and strengthened by the choices we make everyday, but they are guided, driven and influenced by what we deeply believe in.  Its not enough to wish someone well or have good intentions if our actions don’t add up in the end. Our mind and heart need to be united, forged and in sync,  this is what integrity looks like, having your heart and mind integrated.

Now,  why do we need to draw a line in the things that negatively effect our lives?  Because if we don’t it will lead to serious emotional and spiritual damage in our lives. Some of us haven’t learned know how to set boundaries,  or limits while the rest of us are trying to compensate for the way we feel around others to gain their approval.
Here, let me unpack this for you further, some of us simply don’t know how to say “no“, we feel bad about it, maybe we fear rejection or that others will be disappointed in us if we don’t agree to certain commitments. Henceforth allowing people or tasks to take advantage of us, dragging us into a lot of extra commitments that add stress to our lives. On the other hand, we tend to have what I call an “accomplishment complex“, the deep desire to achieve greatness and acceptance from those around us no matter what the cost is towards ourselves, our families and relationships. This too is unhealthy,  we tend to over work,  ignore getting rest,  avoid soul searching, wanting to run hard and fast all the time, ignoring the signs from our body,  leading us to live very busy, overwhelming, confusing and stressful lives.

Your core values, beliefs and convictions are what make up our character.  Until you come to terms in your soul with certain beliefs, you will struggle to have peace and gain healthy balance in all you do. Where do we turn to get this clear in our lives? Most of them are from family, friends and from our faith.  Family helps us understand what it important,  like honesty, work ethic, healthy living, we grow up around family and begin to apply these in our lives. Friends also have a huge impact, these relationships can help us grow towards development or pull away from some things that are damaging the health and margin in our lives. Finally but most importantly is our faith. In God we find truth, our faith helps us to find clarify, God’s word guides us in what is most important in our lives. You have to get to a place of peace and understanding, then define what is most important, then draw the line. If not the lines around you’re health, growth and heart will always get crossed and suffer the consequences of our own demise.

What are some things you’re drawing a line in?