Tag Archive for: how to be more productive

How to Be Lazy and Also Productive

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Laziness and productivity seem like two ends of a spectrum. But they’re not actually opposites! You can be productive and lazy at the same time. In fact, laziness and productivity can go hand-in-hand if you play your cards right. It’s all about conserving your energy for the things that actually matter. Here’s how:

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Stop Saying “Remind Me”

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Have you ever had this happen? You ask someone for help or for a favor — and they say, “Sure, I’ll do that — just remind me.”

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I know this doesn’t usually come from a bad place — it mostly comes from being overwhelmed, disorganized, or not having a system to manage your tasks.

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In the Name of Productivity, Be Clear

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I’ve realized over the years that we all have our own definitions of common terms like “EOD” and “ASAP.” And that can cause miscommunication and serious productivity hiccups! 

I was a TV producer for many years, so I have a specific definition of ASAP — to me it means “in the next few minutes.” Because when you’re on a deadline things move fast and you have to move quickly too. 

But… that’s not everyone’s definition of ASAP. For some people it means by the end of the morning, or by the end of the week, or just whenever they can get to it. If your job relies on communicating with lots of people from different industries, their definition (and yours!) will probably vary a lot. 

Productivity can be really hampered when we’re working with different assumptions. People can easily get frustrated when you’re not aligned on a timeline. Things go much more smoothly when there’s clarity in communication.

Here are some common productivity communication challenges and how to combat them:

1) ASAP

This is a big one — we all say it all the time, so it’s a hard habit to break. But it’s worth the effort. Instead of saying ASAP, it’s better to just share a specific day or time, even if it’s a range. And if someone says they’ll “get it done ASAP” but you don’t know when they mean, just ask politely if they can give more details about their timeline.

2) EOD

“End of day” seems like it would be straightforward enough. It can cause confusion when you don’t know someone’s work day! I once worked with someone whose workday ended at midnight and I didn’t realize it, so at 5 o’clock I was always left wondering what was going on. But she was thinking of her EOD, not mine! Since you never know when someone’s workday starts or ends, giving specific times is better.

3) Time zone

It’s super common now to work with people across different time zones. So it’s extra important to give time zone information when you’re scheduling meetings or deadlines. If you regularly work with someone in another time zone, it’s great if you can get in the habit of giving both your time zone and theirs (11am PST/2pm EST, for instance) when you’re communicating. That way there’s less room for error. I’ve been using an app to help with this – it’s called SavvyTime and you put in the time zones you need to know and it shows you all the times on screen. Very convenient! 

These all seem like small changes but they really add up! You might be surprised how much these communication pitfalls are impacting your productivity. 

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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

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Secret Productivity Tool: Tarot Cards

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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

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I never get writer’s block.

It’s from years as a TV journalist, when I had to produce content on demand. Sometimes in a matter of minutes, we would have to put a whole show or segment together.

It’s ingrained in me to produce something, no matter what. I’m used to writing for a purpose, with a deadline in mind or an end game. I rarely, if ever, write “just because” or for “fun.” 

But… all that changed recently. And it’s all because of tarot cards.

Yep!

Let me tell you how, because it turns out that tarot cards can actually be an amazing productivity tool.

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Every Friday, I set aside a chunk of time for writing. It’s a practice I started when I had to produce my second book, Listful Living, on a short deadline. Years later, I’m still doing it with my writing buddy Bev Sanders.

So during our regular Friday writing session, I decided to give writing for fun a try… But I was actually stumped on what to write about! Without an assignment or a prompt, it can be hard to get going.

But it turned out the answer was right in front of me. And that answer was (you guessed it!) tarot cards.

I recently started taking tarot card reading classes, and it’s an absolute delight. It’s strangely practical and surprising in the best ways. People think of tarot as witchy, but that’s actually a misconception. They have a long history and many different applications.

My tarot teacher, Kenneth James, Ph.D., is a Jungian analyst in private practice in Chicago, Illinois. He received a Ph.D. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Northwestern University, and a Diploma in Analytical Psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago.

His approach is all about learning about yourself and using the cards for self-development and inspiration. And it turns out they’re a great tool for getting yourself unstuck and thinking from new perspectives! (If this sounds like something you want to try, you can register for his class right here!).

Ken uses the ideas of psychotherapist Carl Jung to help guide learners to connect with the idea that knowledge you need is already within you. Tarot cards can help you connect with your “inner knowing” by giving you symbols and concepts to consider. 

So I pulled a card to get started with my writing exercise to see what would come up.

Here’s what I pulled:

💫 First card: Ace of Pentacles (New financial opportunity, abundance, manifestation)

👿 Second card: The Devil (Negativity, restriction, addiction)

🪴 Third card: Death (Endings, change, transformation)

What a great prompt for a story — it has a beginning, middle and end! I love lists and this was a different kind of list for me.

I wrote a story based on these cards. We did two rounds of 25 minutes like we always do, borrowing from the productivity tool the Pomodoro Technique. It was such a fun process and I will definitely be doing this again. 

And it’s not only for writers — this works across the board. Whether you’re stuck on the next step with a project or looking for inspiration for your business, reframing your ideas or questions is essential. Whether you need help with writing or you have another area you want to boost productivity in, this approach can really help you consider things from a new perspective. It’s unconventional — but so are all the best productivity tricks!

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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

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What Kind of List-Maker Are You?

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BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

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Are you a Monkey, Squirrel, Tiger, or Dolphin when it comes to making lists? 

I had the pleasure of talking about this with Arrianee LeBeau & Kendis Gibson on PIX11 in NYC, where I shared insights into the four types of list makers — and how understanding your style can help you be more productive and stress-free!

Monkeys love their color-coded, perfectly organized lists.

Squirrels jot down ideas on anything they can find, from receipts to napkins.

Tigers focus on today’s tasks, conquering their lists one day at a time.

Dolphins rely on apps and digital tools to streamline their lives.

Figuring out your list-making type can help you optimize your productivity by embracing your unique style!

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