How can we become more energy efficient? Research has shown that it usually follows the things you enjoy doing with your time, those things that really energize you, are usually the things that are allowing you to use your talents the most.
The beauty of it is this, when we are using our strengths we aren’t expending energy but generating it. That’s efficiency. Imagine a car that didn’t just use small amounts of fuel but instead generated fuel. By spending our time operating in our strengths we are increasing our stores of energy, not depleting them.
One of the most clarifying things to have in life is your personal mission. What is it that your life is all about? Once you answer that, life decisions make more sense. If you don’t have your life mission clear, get it. It may take time. That’s OK. Let it simmer. Once you are locked on it, it’s time to get busy.
In light of the mission of my life, here are the questions that I am currently asking:
What do I need to STOP doing?
What do I need to keep doing and do better? Note: If is worth doing, it is worth doing better.
1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!- Lk 15
When was the last time I spent time with people who are outside of Christ? When was the last time I had dinner with them? Listen to their dreams? Heard their stories? Naw, I’m too busy for that. How pitiful.
I need some other notorious sinners in my life. Besides myself that is.
I received an email today from a friend, Phil McCallum. Phil developed Today’s Pastor and is on staff at New Life in Colorado Springs. New Life has been hit with deep tragedy in the past couple years. This is their story of overcoming. Great stuff here. Check it out.
The most productive people I meet are the most healthy. They are full of energy but know their limits. They take care of themselves. How can we take care of ourselves for maximum productivity?
Exercise. Until 8 years ago, I was not athletic in the least (unless you count being a manager for the basketball team in High School). I found myself pudgy and mentally sluggish. I began to exercise and after a couple years, I took up running. Exercise helps the brain to fire well and actually gives you more energy. Quick mind, more energy, and less fat. Why would you not?
Eat right. OK, I’m not so great in this arena. However, I do try to eat low fat and I rarely drink pop or caffeine. Water is much better for you, and cheaper!
Sleep. The better you sleep, the more productive you are. Figure out how much sleep you really need, and get it. If you find you need to sleep in, sleep in the night before. That’s right, go to bed early. Studies show that sleep gained before midnight is worth more than sleep after midnight.
Take time off. I was talking to a friend this week who said that he had one vacation in 4 years. I asked “Who’s fault is that?” He knew the answer and already has a vacation on the horizon. Here is what I know: time away from my job makes me better when I am here. Take your days off and take your vacation.
Laugh easy. Stop taking things so serious. Stop taking yourself so serious.
Drop in next time as we explore the use of calendars and lists.
One of the most valuable tools you have in personal productivity is you. If you can tame the beast and discipline yourself, your productivity can skyrocket. Here are some tips.
Multi task. Most of what we do in a day can be combined with something else. Like everyone else, I spend much time driving. I combine that with listening to podcasts, returning calls, or mulling over projects in my head. If a thought comes I jot it down on paper. Driving just to get from one place to another and doing nothing else is a huge waste of time.
Single task. There are some projects that are so critical, they demand my extreme attention. For example, I do my most critical teaching work on Tuesday mornings. During this time I do nothing else but teaching prep. My mind wants to wonder but I know it cannot. I can’t afford it.
Don’t read everything. There is simply too much information and not enough time. Most of what we read is useless information. One more opinion about a topic is probably not going to move me closer to my goals. I have cut back my feed-reader and am very selective about my blog selection.
Limit TV. By age 71, we have watched 10 years of TV. The average American watches 3-4 hours of TV a day. Stop complaining that you need more hours in the day. We just need to shove more day in the hours.
Start day with Life Journaling (daily devotions). This is the beginning of my day. It sets the tone for what is to come and is where I connect to God. I eat breakfast while I journal, multi-tasking.
Don’t waste time in meaningless conversation. I don’t want to sound cold, but there is a time for high productivity and a time for casual conversation. If we let those bleed in and out of each other we take attention away from from what we need to get done. Be social. Take time with friends. Don’t do it in the middle of your important projects.
Do less. You can’t do everything. Pick the things you can do better than most and work like mad on those. Let someone else do the things you are not good at. You, and your team, will be better off.
Next time we will look at personal health and productivity.
More thoughts on personal productivity. In this session, we explore an often overlooked commodity of productivity: other people. I get by with a little help from my friends.
Here is what I do to enhance personal productivity.
Be a user. Yep, I’m a user. A mooch. But hey, I return the favor. My friends are users as well. If I’m looking for a review on a new piece of software or a new idea I will ask my friends. I use their strength. For example, my friend Shawn is a technical guru. When I have a question in the tech world, he is my first contact. It is incredible efficient. Just last week I had an issue that would have taken me 2 hours to fix. Shawn had it fixed in 3 minutes over the computer. And, just so you know, I give Shawn time and attention in areas where I can. It’s a great practice of community. If you use, make sure it goes both ways.
Recruit a research assistant. I resisted this at the start. I figured “How could other people like research when I hate it?” Crazy man. Some people love research. I have a research assistant and she rocks. Her name is Bethany. No, you cannot have her email. Just last week I emailed her with some research for an upcoming sermon. The next day the inbox was filled with the research and a note from Bethany saying “let me know what else you need.” Money.
Do key work in small community. I have two friends that help me plan and execute the weekly exchange gathering, Shawn and Scott. In this group, we trust, dream, and brainstorm. Every Monday, we brutally evaluate the previous gathering. This makes me much better and much more productive. If I am heading in a less-effective direction, these guys are there to offer opinions. This group is small by design. A big group often bogs down productivity.
Truth be told, I get by with a TON of help from my friends.
Next in this series, we will look at your single most important piece of personal productivity.
As part of exchange’s week of fasting, we will gather for worship and prayer tonight at the Telle Prayer Chapel (6th and Washington) . A simple time of worship with me, percussionist Chris Austin and keyboardist Shawn Wallace. If you are near Terre Haute, we would love for you to stop by. Check back here tonight at 7PM and be part of the experience via live webcam.
My name is Scot Longyear and I'm the Lead Pastor of eXchange, a community of people following Christ and serving in His cause. We are a part of Maryland Community Church where I serve as the Sr Associate Pastor, a fancy title which, when translated, means “he who goes to many meetings.”
Dale Swineburn from the International Mentoring Network posted a great article on personal energy. Dale says:
