One of the things I find useful is micro productivity. We all like to live a full day and feel we have actually been present in our own lives. However, it is very easy to drift away from being mindful and next thing an hour has past with no knowledge of what was actually done. During the day I usually find I have some ‘non action action time’ – those moments when performing a task when there is a bit of a forced lull – like a page downloading, kettle boiling or the total ‘enjoyment’ of on-hold music. It can also happen when my focus on a topic is wavering and I need to move to something else for a short while but not so long that I will be engrossed in a new deed. I also find it very useful if something isn’t ‘flowing’ as it should, like writing or being creative. A few moments doing something completely different is often enough to refocus.
Micro productivity, for me, is not only about utilising all those unoccupied moments it is about recognising them. Being mindful enough about the happenings during the day that I notice when I’m not living the moment. It’s about living in the now.
So here are 20 to start you off and hopefully give you a few ideas:
At home
1. Throw out any old newspapers etc hanging around
2. Put away that coat or jumper that has been dumped on a chair
3. Fold a few pieces of washed clothing and put them away
4. Empty the bin
5. Wipe your kitchen sink or bench
6. Load the washing machine
At your desk/computer
7. Delete something unwanted from your desktop
8. Put away the file that has been in your tray for awhile
9. Put new paper in the printer
10. Decide what the next step is of something you really don’t want to do is
11. Take the first small step of the thing you really don’t want to do
12. Sit up straight as you type or browse
Anywhere, anytime
13. Drink a glass of water
14. Sit and breathe deeply for a minute
15. List all you are grateful for in your life – in your head, on paper or computer
16. Text someone just to say hi, thinking of you or to say thanks
17. Jog on the spot for a minute for a burst of cardio
18. Delete a few messages on your phone
19. Relax and let who you truly are come through
20. Visualise achieving a goal/goals
If you have any other suggestions on how to fill the odd spare moment then please leave a comment
Enjoy
Other postings you might like reading:
Are you are participant in your life or a bystander?
Are you living your true self 24 hours a day?
truly and simply amazing productive tips. I must say it feels good doing simple things that make life easier.
Couldn’t agree more Josten. I try and make life as easy and as efficient as possible to allow maximum time to be spent on stuff that really matters to me
Excellent.. I shall refer back to this all week, ensuring that I achieve some purpose, mindfulness & get on top of time management & ultimately the flow of my life
Great tips thank you.
I find it far too easy to fall into a little ‘non action time’ trance which almost seems to suck all of the energy out of me.
This post gave me the boost I needed to make a conscious effort to do some little ‘chores’ while, for example, waiting for the kettle to boil. The great thing is doing them doesn’t feel like a chore as it’s such a small chunk of time.
Since reading this last week, I have found myself almost racing the kettle to see how much I can get done. Ha ha
.-= Andie´s last blog ..My little boy’s poetry =-.
@Andie….Thanks Andie. It’s amazing when our attitude to something changes so does our interest in doing it. Turning a need into a want makes us more motivated to doing that things (often a chore). I love that you make it into a little game now between you and the kettle
@Mary…A lot of the ‘housey jobs’ that need to be done during the day can easily be slipped into the stream of what we already do. It is amazing what can be accomplished when our actions are focused, even for a few minutes
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