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Saturday, February 24, 2018

Saturday Feb 24th

Productivity update

I mentioned in the last post that weekly reviews were new and it would take some getting used to doing each and every week. I got a bit behind yesterday and did about half and today I finished. I decided that making sure I have enough time is key to being successful with weekly reviews. I made a list in my one note notebook that has the 43 folders, about everything that should be covered in weekly reviews. I have been able to keep up with inbox zero and really like the feeling of clean inbox and either immediately responding if it's short or spending some set time to take care of all email related items. I think weekly reviews will really help me stay on top of everything but making sure I have ample time and that they actually take place are key to ensuring success.

As far as the other items: hipster PDA and 43 folders. I am doing quite well. After 2 weeks I feel like I have to have my notecards with me at all times to jot down anything and everything as it comes to me. I set aside time at the end of each day when I review my items in the 43 folders to make sure all the notecards are in line with what else I am doing each day. I love being able to move items to another day when I get bogged down and not feel the weight of trying to remember everything I need to get done. I have found this particular aspect the most liberating of all the productivity items

Today I spent time cleaning out files on my Google Drive. I have two more major tasks with this: organizing each folder with sub folders and getting rid of stuff I don't need anymore and cleaning out the shared with me stuff. It is intimidating with how much is in there. I have decided to tackle a piece each week as part of my weekly review when I clean up digital items and scan my computer. One thing at a time. But I already feel so much more on top of things.

Friday, February 16, 2018

Productivity changes

So this week I am begininng a few new productivity tasks. To begin with I cleaned my inbox for the three emails I use to zero. This took a while and made me consider what I really needed to keep and could be deleted. It was an exhiliarating exercise and I am glad I did it. It's been almost a week and I feel so much better about emails. I really like the thought that if it will take you less than 2 minutes than answer immediately. I am much more decisive with how I handle emails now.

Next item was 43 folders. This took me a bit to consider how to make this happen. I didn't really want to carry 43 folders around with me so I used One Note and created a folder for each month and a page for each day. Before I did this, I had a daily list that I would work on and for the most part it was ok, but somethings I would never get to and then list would get longer and longer.  I like being able to move items I am not going to get to this day to another day. I chose OneNote cause I want to get better at using it and I can access it on any device

I also created a hipster PDA. It is just 3 x 5 cards with a fastener. I like the idea of always being able to take notes and write things down as they pop in my head. I have added a gas mileage page and grocery list, I imagine a lot of ideas will come as I use this more.

Last thing I am going to do is the weekly review. I have done lots of different productivity methods, but this is definitely an area that I have not done well. I am good at setting goals and writing lists, but reviewing them on weekly basis and having a standard procdure are things I don't do as well. These are the items I am going to focus on each week:
Make sure all items on list are completed or moved forward 
Clean out emails 
Clean out temporary folder 
Update hipster PDA: add notes where they need to go, consider new items, get rid of full pages 
Clean off desktop  
File digitally and physically 
Run spyware/virus programs 
Need to figure out what to do about notes 
Blog about experience 
Review goals 

Week one was great, now onto week two, more peace and calm.