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Welcome to Day 3 of 7 Days To Better Productivity & Time Management.
Today’s task will take about 1 hour.
Now that we’ve determined our optimum productivity style, and we know how to avoid a huge time-management trap, let’s take the next step. Today we’ll identify ‘magic‘ activities that will turbocharge our productivity.
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terrified!!!…but in a good way
My job is assisting attorneys- so I get all their piddly tasks and they don’t prioritize well some days. Suddenly, everyone’s hair is on fire and I’m the only one with a bucket of water. I need to figure out my magical activities and help them figure out what’s major and minor so I can plan better. Quite the challenge.
I am so guilty of doing non-magical activities, pretty much all day! Found this really really useful and insightful. Thank you. Can’t wait to put this all into practice 🙂
Done! I wouldn’t say I’m excited but it’s definitely eye opening when I think of all the wasted activities I’ve been doing and it didn’t even help me with any of my top priorities. I like having a plan in place 🙂
I am catching up. I had trouble finding what my magical activities are but have decided that planning is a definite one. putting a date and time for an activity and putting that on my calendar. Reading my 5 priorities more than once a day and putting them at eye level and out in the open, not left inside my notebook. I agree with Amanda and Darlene about the non magical activities and feel I am totally guilty of all those things.
Figured out the magical activites for my five priorities. Non magic activities include games, apps, articles. Getting rid of these. Unsettled about doing the magical activies, although I know I will feel fantastic after doing them.
Doing the 1- 4 magical exercise has been magic in itself!
So I have had a stab at some magic activities for each of my priorities. I think some are quite general and probably need more definition. When I reviewed them for any non-magic ones that had crept in, it is possible one or two are tasks I am more comfortable with, however I have thought hard, and if they are ones I am comfortable with – why haven’t I done them? I think that although on face value I was thinking it was a non-magic one, actually if I have been putting it off and I know it needs doing before I can do the other activities I have identified then it should stay (but get ticked off quick). Not sure if that is all self denial, or a revelation for that priority but there we go.
In terms of non-magic activities I recognize in myself:
1. physical small chores (because they are distracting and in my line of sight and I can’t possible get on with that important report whilst that mug is still there jumping up and down and hitting me on the head – yes they do that sometimes in my mind)
2. Doing something ultra perfectly at the detriment of the next major task ahead (I couldn’t possibly move on until this is absolutely done with the I’s dotted and the t’s crossed)
3. Allowing other peoples priorities to become mine (because they are easier than mine maybe?)
4. Allowing distractions (email, tea, email, chores, email, games, email, facebook, email, games, email, reading, email….) rather than do the next major task
5. Deferring the major task to tomorrow (as if it were the logical, acceptable thing to do). As it was a conscious thing, it’s OK right? Right? No I don’t think so anymore.
6. Ultra planning (diaries, to-do lists, coloured highlighters – with matching felt tips, new notebooks, whiteboards, flipcharts, post it notes, folders, files, dividers…) – but yes nothing actually done
7. In contrast to point 6 (which scares me a bit that I do both) – no planning at all and ride that wave of what catches my attention….
Feeling a bit like step 2 will be difficult to stop me doing and that there is some committment i have now made in writing in step 1 and I’ll have no more excuses for them any more…scarey yes, but also a bit of a kick up the bum to say come on Amanda – let’s just get on with it too…
Need to watch out for all those intriguing emails, apps, FB posts, games, etc. putting them after the magical activities will be a challenge. Going back to add under Decluutter: unsubscribing to most political, issue, & shopping ad emails.
I had my 5 priorities; and when trying to find magical activies in one area I started putting down what I aught to put down. Now I have 4 priorities; which is okay for now. Less overwhelming anyways. I feel confident in my magical activities for my 4 priorities. For non-magical I mostly resort to the online world of another app, game, article, etc; all in the name of fear of doing the magor. Another big illusory activity is to revamp a whole new to do list with many minor items. Definitely feeling very unsettled. Looking forward to how this all turns into a practical system.
Loved doing the 1-4 magic activities for each of my 5 priorities. then there was the check in and a few illusories crept in there. i can now recognise the difference thanks to you and move onward and upward towards my goals of personal development and health and happiness for all my family members and myself. just as an aside ..hubby and I joined a gym today. now THAT is a magic moment!!!
This challenge was HUMBLING!! I have been blaming /creating a million reasons for my lack luster job performance. “It wasn’t my fault, I was just given too much to do without enough time or help to finish in the allotted time.” UMMM, I have been sabatoging my own job/money/self esteem!!
WOW!!
I am going to put my blocks of time instead of rollerblading for exercise I will put Sexy Mama and I know that is magic activity and why I am doing what I’m doing. I love to search on Pinterest and plan for a future when I should at least do one of those things on my list. Why am I gathering more recipes when I haven’t even tried one.. some day. I am going to choose next time.
There’s a lot of non-magic that happens on my iPhone. Facebook, games, reading forums etc. Definitely. And watching TV. I could change my life sooo much just cutting those two out of my life right now.
But I do know it’s the fear. There are so many things I am afraid to try because I don’t think I know how to, or I’m scared of that “stupid” feeling you get as a rank beginner. Yet when I get started on so many things I find it’s not as bad as I’d feared! I’m unquestionably my own worst enemy sometimes.
I’ll be rereading this section a few more times before I move on to the next one. Lots of processing to do here!
I’m pleased to say that organising my house is a fundamental magic activity that affects everything else. I can’t think in the midst of all my clutter (which built up from procrastinated decision making in the first place).
I also have practising compassion towards myself and my family on the magic list, and time management.
Time management in particular can be part of any activity of daily life just now – increasing my mindfulness of what I’m doing and whether I’m being proactive with it or procrastinating (and why) is really helping me get a picture of the realistic “me’ as compared to the vague ideal of ‘me’ I have realised I need to let go of.
I really liked this exercise. Being scared IS getting in my way. Time to face this and move forward.
Yep. Being scared is what is really getting in my way of getting what I really, really want to get done done and it was great to finally admit that today. I’m excited to bring my focus back to what really matters and start making a true difference in my life.
I’m an avoider…because I am freaking scared. Unfortunately. But this is my kick in the butt…right?! I also noticed one item that came up in 3 of my areas was scheduling. Making the time or better use of my time so that I can really focus on my 5 important priorities! Looking forward to help with that!
I know I can no longer spend time on preparing or “organizing my thoughts”. I know what I have to do and need to just do it.
This was a powerful, helpful day. Heart wrenching in knowing that I must cut back in some areas and focus more in others. I also found that if I accomplish some of my “magic activities” it will help in a couple of my goals. So by doing 1 project “scheduling”…I could be affecting the productivity of 3 of goals….Being organized, Meeting deadline, Having time for myself. By making sure we are doing our staff meetings…I will have 1. be Organized, 2. Meet Deadlines, 3. Have Open door Policy and 4. will have more time for myself…which in turns is 5. More energy for me. Love, love, love this “Magic Activity” concept!!!!