Tag Archive for: writing

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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List-Making Reboot Experiment

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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 have made my to-do list the same way for quite a long time because it works really well for me.

I make a daily list every night before I leave my desk. I think about everything that needs to happen the next day, and I write down everything I have the time and the resources to do. 

I’ve written two books on list making: Listful Thinking and Listful Living. And I even have a LinkedIn Learning Course outlining my methods. 

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Write a Letter To Your Future Self About COVID-19

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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.

Before I decided to start my own business as an author, speaker, and media trainer, I worked as a senior health producer for television news. Even though I loved my job, the time came when I realized I wanted to move on. 

The day I realized I needed a change, I wrote myself a long email about how I was feeling. I used an app called Boomerang for Gmail to schedule the email to arrive in my inbox one year later.

I knew that if I didn’t document how I was feeling in that moment, I would be able to trick myself into forgetting that it was time for me to start something new. 

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List For Writing A Book

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pencil-918449_640Since writing Listful Thinking I’ve spoken at several public events and book signings about my writing process. It’s come up at pretty much every event.  I suppose it’s because “write a book” is on so many people’s bucket lists.  People always want to hear my checklist for writing my book.

Well, first of all, you can’t just stick “write book” on your to-do lists along with “buy milk” and “pick up laundry.” That’s a sure way to know your off to a bad start. That’s because “write book” is way too big a feat for just one task on a to-do list.

But imagine you’ve set some time aside in your day and you’re determined to finally get your idea onto paper.

Now what?

Writing a book, like raising a child, is a case by case basis thing. What works for me might not work for you so feel free to adapt these tips based on what works for you. Read more

Don’t Drop That Hobby — It Could Make You More Productive

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Screen Shot 2015-02-17 at 4.34.16 PMHobbies can be a double-edged sword. You’re always trying to carve out more time for them but then when you actually do them — you feel like you should be doing something else to stay productive. What’s the fun in that?

Well here’s some good news. Did you know that your favorite distraction could actually be boosting your productivity? It’s true – here’s a list of some popular hobbies that will build up your mind and muscles to help you get things done!

List-making: Yes! List making is a hobby. Organizing everything into lists is a great way to get all of your thoughts out. This will also prepare you for things you want to get done. As I mentioned in my book, “Listful Thinking” many celebrities reached their level of success by making lists. A few of these people include Richard Branson, Octavia Spencer, Bobby Flay, Heidi Klum, and Sandra Bullock!

Exercising: There are countless ways to get your body moving. Recently, a friend of mine was talking about how she wanted to start being healthy, but she didn’t know where to start. Starting small is the way to go, before you can move onto anything else.

If you live in a big city like I do, you’re already getting a ton of walking in! Some of my other personal favorites include hiking, swimming, and dancing. Physical activity releases endorphins in your brain which gives you that feel-good sensation.

Writing: Write, type, record– anything! Get your thoughts out of your head and express yourself for at least 10 minutes a day. Turn it into a book or just throw it away. Writing in your spare time is a perfect place to channel your energy. This will get your creative juices flowing. I’ve found that once you make a habit of something – even just writing an idea down once a day- it will become so much easier to do on demand.

Art: Whether it’s painting a picture, doodling on your notebook or sculpting some play-doh, creating something is one of the best ways to calm your mind. This is one of those hobbies that are great for thinking outside of the box and getting in touch with your creative side. *

Listening to music: Music can increase your productivity in two different ways. If you’re trying to clear your head, put together a relaxing playlist. If you’re trying to get motivated, knock out your to-do’s with an inspirational playlist.

Puzzles: Challenge your mind with a puzzle. This will put your brain to work and help you improve your problem solving skills. People who solve puzzles are more likely to creatively assess problems in their lives.

Meditation/Yoga: This is perfect for you if you are overstressed and desperately need a release. Practicing meditation and yoga will put your focus back in check, calm your nerves and clear your mind. It’s also important to pay attention when you’re doing one pose at a time. This is great practice for when you’re working on only one task at a time.

Reading: Reading is a great pastime to open yourself to new ideas and take you to new places. So pick up a new book or listen to a podcast! Read something you wouldn’t typically read and try out authors you’ve never heard of. This is the best way to sharpen your mind and learn new things. This will help you think quicker on your feet. Something we could all do when trying to be more efficient.

How does your hobby make you more productive?