FBOT: The Best Productivity Strategy
I Have Learned This Year

Recently, I was listening to a great podcast interview on Beyond the To-Do List, hosted by Erik Fisher. The guest, author Dan Miller, mentioned his best productivity strategy, which happened to be the same strategy I started using earlier this year.

Photo Credit: woodleywonderworks

I wasn’t surprised that Dan Miller was using this strategy because he is one of the most productive people I know. (Dan actually wrote the foreword for my first book, Graduated and Clueless.)

FBOT: Focused Block of Time

Erik asked Dan how he was able to write so many blog posts and books, create content for speaking engagements and coaching programs, and produce everything else he is constantly working on.

In a nut shell, Dan has no phone, no email, no pings, and zero distractions when he works. He understands that he will never be able to tap into his creative potential when he stays at a superficial level of focus.

Dan creates blocks of time in his schedule where he can focus 100% on the task at hand. The results speak for themselves in the form of new content flowing out of his business at a rapid pace.

What is Really Going On

The human brain can only handle so much at once. Though we have incredible amounts of long-term storage for memories and useless knowledge, the conscious brain can only handle a small amount.

When you cut distractions and eliminate the possibility of getting off-task, you open up the brain’s creative potential. An entire world of possibility appears that you would never see while trying to do too much at once.

Creativity AND Productivity

And it’s not all about creativity. Focus for me often means jumping from one task to the next very quickly.

An average day includes dozens of small tasks that are all important on some level. If I find myself searching through facebook instead of writing my next blog post, my goal list for the day only looks longer and more daunting.

When I am focused and I quickly execute all of the smaller baby-step projects I have assigned myself, I feel more accomplished and get more done.

How to Create Focused Time

You will need boundaries – rules that establish what you work on and when.

Focused time means you have one objective. Even if the block of time is only 5 minutes and your goal is to send just one email. During that time you should only write. No phones, facebook, or bathroom breaks. Just write the email.

Here’s a quick checklist to create more focused time, more often:

1. Only check email and social media at predetermined times during the day (e.g. 6-7 am and 6-7 pm).
2. Create a task list for tomorrow, tonight. Starting each day with a plan is the best way to ensure progress.
3. Tell other people about your new productivity plan. Odds are that other people are more distracting than technology. Tell others what you plan to do and they will very likely respect your space.
4. Say no to just about everything. The easiest way to get off-task is to agree to distractions. Remember that you have the power to turn down offers and you should.