Today I need to get more done than I did yesterday. Tomorrow will bring even more. I am not referring to the never ending to-do list. That is here to stay. Accepted. My challenge is regarding the quantity I need to accomplish for the variety of responsibilities I have in life. The art of juggling, if you will. Many productivity articles offer me enlightened answers: ‘miracle hack to boost your productivity’ and ’39 things successful people do before breakfast’. Maybe these superheroes only get to pour their cornflakes at 11:30? This following list is a ‘what’, and not a ‘how’. You can figure out the how for yourself, be it downloading a mobile app to streamline some part of your life or delegating a time consuming task that doesn't really require your head nor your hands, but through some trial I've found practices and behaviours that help me manage what it is I need achieve. 1. Get enough sleep If you’re physically or mentally exhausted you simply cannot be as effective. Lack of sleep has a massive effect on health and well-being. You want to live long and happy? Sleep optimally. 2. Wake up early Create a new 60-90 minute window before the usual day kicks in. Exercise, work on that side-line project when fresh or tackle one of those nagging tasks. Yes, you will need to go to bed earlier. Decide what’s important, “Who killed J.R.?”. Don’t hit snooze. 3. Divide to conquer Carve up the days, weeks and month to create time-boxes with boundaries that fit your life. We all wear multiple hats: work vs family vs play vs commitments. Life is full? Balance. 4. Plan with purpose What should you be doing? Meditate on the long term picture. Create to-do lists. Multiple lists, one for each hat. Prioritise based on importance and value. Organise efficiently, consider people, places and patterns. Things change? Yes they do. 5. Get things done Which time-box is scheduled? What does your plan say? Start at the top of the list and work down. Tackle one task at a time and focus. Multitasking is bad. Perfectionist tendencies? Do just enough. 6. Protect your turf Schedule specific periods to tackle email. Avoid accepting other people’s monkeys. Politely decline superfluous meetings. Resist impulsive web browsing. Turn off social media notifications. Distracted? Remember value. 7. Look after yourself Make sure your environment is comfortable. We all have concentration spans, take regular breaks. Eat well and drink well. Exercise daily. Difficulty in forming habits and practices? 21 days ‘they’ say. Productivity advice works best in the context of your personality and situation. This works for me. What works for you?

2. 1HACK
Get enough sleep
If you’re physically or mentally exhausted you
simply cannot be as effective. Lack of sleep
has a massive effect on health and well-being.

3. 2HACK
Wake up early
Create a new 60-90 minute
window before the usual day kicks
in. Exercise, work on that side-line
project when fresh or tackle one
of those nagging tasks. Yes, you
will need to go to bed earlier.

4. 3HACK
Divide to conquer
Carve up the days, weeks and month to create time-
boxes with boundaries that fit your life. We all wear
multiple hats: work vs family vs play vs commitments.

5. 4HACK
Plan with purpose
What should you be doing? Meditate on the
long term picture. Create to-do lists. Multiple
lists, one for each hat. Prioritise based on
importance and value. Organise efficiently,
consider people, places and patterns.

6. 5HACK
Get things done
Which time-box is scheduled? What does your plan say?
Start at the top of the list and work down. Tackle one
task at a time and focus. Multitasking is bad.

7. 6HACK
Protect your turf
Schedule specific periods to tackle email. Avoid accepting other
people’s monkeys. Politely decline superfluous meetings. Resist
impulsive web browsing. Turn off social media notifications.

8. 7HACK
Look after yourself
Make sure your environment is comfortable. We
all have concentration spans, take regular breaks.
Eat well and drink well. Exercise daily.

9. Thank
You.