Archive for the ‘Productivity’ Category

Why To Do Lists Don’t Work

October 27th, 2009 | by lorenzTweet This

todo

One of the most frequent excuses I hear for not working out is being too busy.  Busyness is actually a form of laziness reflecting a lack of planning and preparation to properly manage your time.  In my own experience, the tool most often used to manage time – the to do list – is actually one of the biggest time wasters.

To do lists are the devil.  For one, they’re never ending.  My mind is constantly racing with new thoughts and ideas.  I love to do lists because they give me an outlet where I can dump my brain.  The problem is that the to do list grows and grows and a lot of stuff just doesn’t get done – usually the important stuff.

In my never-ending quest to conquer my own ADD and actually get stuff done, I’ve had to tweak the to do list concept.  At the beginning of each week I write down what I want to accomplish by the end of the week and by the end of the month.  Doing this really forces me to put things in perspective.  When I step back from my to do list and think about what I want to have done by the end of the month, it really makes me think about the big picture.

Break your monthly goals into weekly goals and focus on the next week of your life.  What’s going to get done by the end of this week?  Specifically outline everything that needs to get done to meet those deliverables, and you have a to do list of tasks that actually count.  Anything you add to that list is superfluous because you know that as long as you accomplish what’s on the original list you’ve accomplished your major goals for the week.

Now you can feel good about yourself and make time to work out.  Yeah, here’s an item to add to your to do list: “take care of my body!”

[ photo: flickr ]

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Finding Fortune Through Simplicity

October 21st, 2009 | by KyleTweet This

253472761_e596b7c0ce“At least they still haven’t gotten rid of the bench press…yet.”

A three-time Russian Sambo world champion told me that today as I stared puzzled at the new equipment in the gym. I’m actually somewhat befuddled by the absolute need for the most state-of-the-art pull-up bar, the new miracle ab machine that will get you a six-pack in 12 seconds, and the new dumbbells that actually adjust gravity itself. Call me old fashioned at the ripe ole age of 23, but with all of the technological advancements that we’ve made people seem to have forgotten that attaining a high level of fitness is not determined by new gym equipment, but simply by determination, good diet, and a clear goal in mind.

Whenever I’m at the gym I can’t help but notice that the standard gym equipment is being less favored over the new wave equipment that you see on late night infomercials. A simple treadmill is being replaced with an elliptical trainer, free weights are being replaced with exercise bands and air-pressure weights, and the simplicity is being replaced by unneeded complexities. All of the new technology has it’s place, but the typical gym goer doesn’t understand enough of the nuances of fitness training to utilize this equipment to it’s full potential, rendering these devices all but useless. Returning to the days of simplicity can greatly benefit many of those who haven’t found the results they are looking for. Here are a few tips to get you back on track and finding the results you desire:

  • Keep the workout schedule easy to follow. Don’t over-encumber yourself with having to worry about doing 3 sets of biceps curls at exactly 6:04 in the morning every third Tuesday. Set up a workout rotation that is simple to follow and easy enough to stay motivated for. Remember to incorporate both cardio and weight training that touches all major muscle groups.
  • Keep your diet simple. Keeping the diet simple will keep things easy while maintaining a steady workout schedule. It also needs to be understood that having a good diet plan while getting all of your nutrients will give you maximum energy and results.
  • Go back to the old days of fitness. The tried and true methods of pull-ups, push-ups, jogging, and stretching have lasted this long for a reason. The resurgence of the kettle-bell is evidence that the old days of fitness still have much to teach us by using the entire body to burn calories.
  • Get regular rest. Your body builds muscle when you aren’t lifting weights. The most important part of your workout is proper rest.
  • Clarify your goals. Make sure that you understand what your fitness goal is. The clearer your goals, the easier it is to plan a workout and diet plan that can achieve those goals.

These goals get back to basic training that requires functional, whole body fitness while dispelling the myth of spot reduction (the belief that if you work out one body part you can reduce body fat within that region of the body). This formula can be applied to all levels of fitness from amateurs to modern bodybuilders. It’s only after taking a few steps back can we really begin to move forward.

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3 Simple Steps To Doing What You Really Want To Do

October 1st, 2009 | by LeslieTweet This

Much like the video post above, my best friend struggles with fitting in some much needed and well deserved “me time” into an already overloaded schedule. A working mother of 2 with a wonderful husband and a gorgeous home – she seems to live the picture perfect life. But between 10 hour work days, dinner prep, and the kids’ activities – it often leaves little to no time for herself. And though she’d never outwardly complain about her lack of exercise, 5 minutes alone, or a desperate need for monthly spa treatments – I can see that the once vibrant, energetic, and fit version of my BFF has slowly faded over the years.

Like many young families, somewhere along the way, the focus seems to have shifted from “me” to “we.” Routines are now centered around babysitting issues, kiddie parties, and an occasional romantic dinner at the Olive Garden. With little energy to do much else, collapsing in front of the TV with a glass of wine seems most apropos.

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Why Most People Fail…

September 22nd, 2009 | by lorenzTweet This

FailRoadChange is difficult.  Everybody says they want to lose weight or focus on their career or start exercising, but few are willing to actually change their behavior.

Let me give you some examples, starting with myself…

Almost a year ago, I hurt my shoulder doing a chest exercise.  Although the pain has gone, I haven’t been able to bench press more than 185 pounds in the time since the injury.  Every time I try to I feel like my left shoulder is about to rip off.  Let me be clear – I REALLY want to get rid of this injury.  I’ve seen a physical therapist, a chiropractor, a doctor who is the leading expert on shoulder injuries in Hawaii, and had an MRI and an x-ray.  That’s a lot of work to fix a little shoulder problem.  The universally prescribed treatment for my shoulder?  Stretching my shoulder 5 times a day in 5 different directions, every single day.  I’ll be honest, I do not do this.  I’ll be honest, my shoulder injury is not getting better. (more…)

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Disconnect To Reconnect

August 20th, 2009 | by lorenzTweet This

brokeniphoneA few months ago I was flying from Hawaii to Germany. Total transit time was almost 24 hours and for most of that time I didn’t have any cell phone or internet reception. At the time I was dreading it. How could I get by with none of my electronic gadgetry to keep me on top of everything going on. As I was flying across the Atlantic though I experienced something profound – uninterrupted thought and productivity. Wow.

It can be hard to get stuff done with constant emails, phone calls, and text messages coming at you every minute. You spend all your time reacting to stuff instead of doing things on your own schedule. Although you’re still making progress – communication can be a big part of work – you’re still operating on someone else’s schedule, not yours. This, in turn, limits your productivity and drains your energy.

It’s the difference between running on a treadmill or running on land. When you’re running on a treadmill, you’re reacting. If you don’t, you’ll fall off the treadmill. Either way, you’re not going to get very far. Alternatively, you can go outside and run on land. Same action, different method. You’re no longer reacting, but rather setting and following your own path on your own terms. And you’re actually getting somewhere.

In the past I’ve talked about eliminating energy drain as a great way to maximize energy. Constantly reacting to stuff is draining. It keeps you from being productive, from contributing to your friends and relationships, and from really thinking through things. I’ve met lots of really hard working people who are unsuccessful. Some of the most successful people I know take days to respond to email and they take their time with everything they do. They work smart. They’re thoughtful and careful with their time. Most things aren’t as important as they seem.

The good news is, there’s an easy two step process to command and conquer your life. First schedule specific times in your day when you disconnect from everything. Schedule you time and stick to the schedule. Don’t check your email first thing in the morning. Don’t pick up your phone calls if you’re in the middle of something.

Second, when you’re working on something, disconnect. Turn off your phone, close your door, shut down email, disconnect your computer from the internet if you’re not using the web.

Disconnecting allows you to really reconnect. Not just with work, but with real people. It allows you to reconnect with yourself and what’s really important. So go ahead, turn off that phone. Or better yet, blend it.

[ photo: flickr / TheTechBuzz ]

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Simple Clarity – Schedule Your Day To Maximize Your Energy

August 19th, 2009 | by lorenzTweet This

The simplest and most effective way to regain control of your life and maximize your daily energy is to spend 15 minutes each evening or morning scheduling the upcoming day. Not just a to do list. But actually setting aside time blocks for specific things on your to do list. It’s important to include everything from eating, to personal time, to reading time, to email / communication time.

This puts your life on your schedule and allows you to thoughtfully work through things instead of just reacting to things all day. It also gives you scheduled time to rest and recharge your brain between periods of focused work. This alone will dramatically increase the amount of energy you have to actually engage in everything you do.  Here’s an example of the schedule I put together last night for today:

Yes, I eat a lot :-)

[ photo: flickr / TheAlieness GiselaGiardino ]

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Fitness, Fulfillment, And Time Management

July 16th, 2009 | by lorenzTweet This

I had lunch with Sid Savara today.  Sid’s awesome.  We had a really interesting conversation about what happens to time and how our productivity relates to feeling fulfilled – or not.

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Hiking In Paradise

July 2nd, 2009 | by lorenzTweet This

Last weekend I hiked the Na’Pali coast by myself.  I’ve never camped alone before and it just seemed like a great way to meditate and center myself.  The Na’Pali Coast is on the north side of Kauai and the 11 mile hike to the beach at the end of the trail, Kalalau, is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.  It’s also a really hard trek to do in one day, with thousand foot drop offs on a one foot wide path and over 5000 feet of elevation change.  I didn’t have a lot of time, so I hiked in all 11 miles last Friday, stayed the day Saturday, and hiked back all Sunday.

When I got back I was exhausted.  It’s taken me three days just to recover.  In the meantime, although I’ve been roughly sticking to my diet, I haven’t been religiously tracking like I usually do.  I don’t think I realized how much effort all this tracking takes till now.  I totally felt burnt out these last three days.  My take away: when you try to do too much, even of the things you love, you’ll likely overwhelm yourself and get less done in the long run.  I lost three days of productivity because I crammed a five day hike into three days.

That being said, the hike was amazing.  Kalalau is the most beautiful place on the planet.  Check out the amazing photos from the Na’Pali Coast and, of course, a video of the hike…

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