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Increase Your Efficiency By 50% With ONE Simple Action

by SteveWF
7 replies
I just wanted to write a quick post to document what, to me
was a veritable REVELATION!

It never ceases to amaze me how many, many times I'll miss
the most obvious things even though they're sitting right
in front of my face... does that ever happen to you?

Well here's the problem I've had for quite a while and I
just learned to live with it...

My ass and back gets sore as HELL from sitting and working
in one position for 10, 15 and yes, sometimes even 20 hours
at a time! It's insane! I literally can spend that amount
of time engrossed in my work or whatever project I'm working
on for a client only to realize later that I haven't stopped
to eat, been to the bathroom or even taken the dog for a walk...

So with my number one concern being my sore ass... of which I've
already referred to above... being a REAL issue I decided to do
some research and do something about it... and what would you know...

BOOM! The answer was so obvious it was almost laughable... but once
I'd started implementing it I noticed a marked increase in my
productivity and again the reason is so obvious.

Instead of spending countless amounts of time complaining and
thinking how sore I was I can now use that time to concentrate...
BETTER... on my work. It's amazing!!!

So what's the technique you ask? Well I'll tell you...

Free Alarm Clock!!!!

That's right my friends... it's as simple as setting the alarm
to go off EVERY HOUR and then getting up out of my chair and
walking around for a short time. Even just a minute or two
is enough and you'd be amazed at how much more work you
can get done and just because you REMEMBERED to take care
of yourself a bit better.

Well I just wanted to share that tip because it's one of those
things... it's SO obvious and simple that it's easy to miss
sometimes.

Good luck

Steve
#50% #action #efficiency #increase #simple
  • Profile picture of the author malcsimm
    Steve - if you don't go to the loo for 14 hours sometimes then - hey, you NEED that alarm clock!

    Seriously, though, I love clocks, timers and alarms.

    My favourite timer now is the Freetime app for iPad where you can time yoursefl on 6 timers at once. Well - one at a time! It lets you see what you are spending your time on during the day.

    And setting a timer so you do productive work for 3 hours or whatever can be really useful. When you go for that walk around every hour you just turn it off for a few minutes.

    So good luck with your alarm clock - it sounds like it will make you productive!

    Malc
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    You WILL banish # Procrastination, # Email bloat, # Wasting time, # Wasting money
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Steve,

      My guess is . . . most of us have the opposite problem . . . trying to avoid all the distractions that come at us everyday so we can concentrate on the project at hand for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

      Steve
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      Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
      SteveBrowneDirect

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      • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
        I found this neat little app:

        https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/30-30/id505863977?mt=8

        My issue is distractions.

        I have one list in it called "Saturday Maid" where I start it up, and I know it will take roughly 5 hours to complete all the tasks. If I start at 9am, I can scroll to the bottom and it'll tell me what time it will be when I will finish. I try to finish tasks before the alarms go off and it's like a race with myself.
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        "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Good suggestion. I have my timer set at 45 minute intervals. I make it a point to get up and walk around for at least 5 minutes straight. I also walk for at least one hour 6 times a week, even if it's in 30 minute increments.

    It's made me far more productive.

    RoD
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    "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
    - Jim Rohn
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  • Profile picture of the author Doppelbock
    haha, I hear that. Typically I just get up and stretch around when I feel my body demands. I find items like alarm clocks or the sort to be distracting for me.

    I find myself stretching or walking around when I'm at a loss for words or am encountering a difficult problem, then get back to it refreshed.
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    • Profile picture of the author SteveWF
      Originally Posted by malcsimm View Post

      Steve - if you don't go to the loo for 14 hours sometimes then - hey, you NEED that alarm clock!
      OK... you got me

      I may actually have taken a bathroom break of two

      Originally Posted by Rod Cortez View Post

      Good suggestion. I have my timer set at 45 minute intervals. I make it a point to get up and walk around for at least 5 minutes straight. I also walk for at least one hour 6 times a week, even if it's in 30 minute increments.

      It's made me far more productive.

      RoD
      I've made it part of my daily routine for the past 7 years to get up at 4am and walk the dog for 30-40 minutes a day. Like you say it's good exercise and being a full time IM'r it's too easy to get stuck in front of the computer all day and forget to take care of yourself..

      Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

      Steve,

      My guess is . . . most of us have the opposite problem . . . trying to avoid all the distractions that come at us everyday so we can concentrate on the project at hand for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

      Steve
      Hi Steve - Well I'm one of those fortunate few I guess who gave up working for somebody else MANY years ago and earn a full time living from the Internet and my various programming gigs... so 'butt rot' is a serious issue

      Originally Posted by Doppelbock View Post

      haha, I hear that. Typically I just get up and stretch around when I feel my body demands. I find items like alarm clocks or the sort to be distracting for me.

      I find myself stretching or walking around when I'm at a loss for words or am encountering a difficult problem, then get back to it refreshed.
      Walking around is a good idea when you need inspiration for sure.

      When I was working in an office years ago we had a salesman who would always get up and walk around while on a call... and he was one CREATIVE SOB One of the best salesmen I've ever seen too... coincidence? I think not...

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author StingGB
        I've found not lurking around the WF for inordinate amounts of time frees my time up for doing more work.

        Oops
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