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To take advantage of our work hours, we’re usually instructed to “eat the frog within the morning,” mute notifications or attempt Pomodoro-like strategies. These are evergreen productivity ideas which have helped hundreds of thousands of workplace employees and entrepreneurs, and I am not aiming to downplay them. However if you’ve exhausted all typical productiveness recommendation — or discovered that it does not be just right for you — it is time to suppose exterior the field.
Within the twenty first century, we appear to have a collective aversion to boredom. Our minds, always racing to maintain up with distractions, have forgotten the artwork of quiet statement, the area the place creativity thrives and concepts are born from the mundane, just like the sounds or odor round us, an eccentric passerby or a fleeting thought.
On this article, I might prefer to share just a few unconventional methods which have helped me keep targeted and boosted my creativity in sudden methods. A few of these strategies would possibly blur the traces between work and life, however as a CEO of a tech firm, I do know all too nicely that work and life aren’t at all times simply separable.
So, here is what I bought in my peculiar productivity tips arsenal.
1. Do duties at uncommon occasions and locations
After I hit a inventive roadblock, I search for methods to shake issues up and stimulate my considering. I sort out challenging tasks at unconventional occasions, like early mornings or late nights. Generally, I’ve had revelations on how you can remedy an issue throughout a biking session or night jog.
Equally, you possibly can change the place the place you’re employed (if it is technically potential in your area). Even when you have essentially the most comfy workplace, generally working from a bench within the park or a bustling espresso store can provide you simply the spark you want.
This statement is supported by the Cognitive Flexibility Theory, which claims that altering environments can disrupt routine considering patterns, forcing the mind to adapt and discover new options. This explains why a change of surroundings can encourage recent views.
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2. Discover your “finest considering” spot (or exercise)
Have you ever additionally observed that a few of the finest concepts come to you exactly when you possibly can’t write them down? These days, conditions the place we do not have our smartphones close by have gotten more and more uncommon.
And that is precisely the issue.
Every time a lull arises, we instinctively reach for our smartphones or distant controls to fill the void with social media or streaming content material. We really feel compelled to multitask whereas strolling, usually listening to podcasts or audiobooks. Our telephones are out even whereas ready in line on the grocery retailer or at a crimson gentle.
I used to credit score the calming results of showers, biking or swimming exercises for my bursts of creativity. However the reality is, these actions merely supplied much-needed digital detox. With out the fixed distractions of my telephone, my thoughts was free to wander and innovate.
In brief, my recommendation is to observe deliberate considering. Create phone-free zones in your day, whether or not it is a stress-free bathtub, a canine stroll or just an hour of digital detox. These moments are golden alternatives to your creativity to flourish.
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3. Construct an associative productiveness behavior
One among my best productiveness boosters is consuming (or snacking) whereas working. Earlier than you choose me for selling unhealthy and unsanitary practices at work, let me clarify.
For years, I’ve observed that I really feel a distinct type of focus after I eat whereas studying a e book or engaged on a pc. I’ve regarded for scientific proof to clarify this peculiarity, however I’ve discovered none.
This led me to the conclusion that the hyperlink between consuming and higher focus is associative. As Pulitzer-winning productiveness writer Charles Duhigg defined in ‘The Energy of Behavior,’ associating a productive exercise with a pleasurable one can create a robust behavior loop.
Years later, I favor to keep away from snacking, so consuming on the pc is a method for determined occasions. I would sometimes have my lunch whereas studying an extended article or a doc. I eat healthy snacks reminiscent of nuts, berries, or fruit to assist myself get out of a hard-to-solve process at hand.
Whereas this consuming and dealing behavior may not be ultimate, it isn’t the one technique to enhance productiveness. Experiment with more healthy associations, like listening to particular music, lighting a scented candle, or sporting noise-cancelling earphones. Over time, these rituals can improve focus and motivation by affiliation.
Enable your self to be bored!
As I discussed above, we have misplaced our consolation with boredom. Fixed distractions drown out quiet moments the place creativity sparks — from a passing thought to the odor of rain or an uncommon stranger on the road.
I’ve realized these abilities from my youngsters: their capability to be absolutely current, their insatiable curiosity and their marvel on the world round them. By embracing a childlike sense of marvel and being attentive to the small print of our environment, we are able to additionally foster creativity and enhance productiveness.
