Doing More by Doing Less (Peers 2014 Presentation)

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Doing More by Doing Less@ErikReagan @FocusLabLLC

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

How many of you have too much time and not enough to do in it?

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Focus

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

If we lose or waste time — it’s gone.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Planning your day in advance will help you maneuver around obstacles and stay on target.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

What's worth doing and what's not?

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

The goal isn't to get everything done; it's to get the right things done.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

— Dwight D. Eisenhower

“What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.”

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent Not Urgent

Impo

rtant

Not

Impo

rtant

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent Not Urgent

Impo

rtant

Not

Impo

rtant

1

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent and Important

Health emergency

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent and Important

Car engine dies

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent and Important

Certain emails (but few)

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent and Important

Project deadlines right around the corner

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent and Important

Overall: avoid or prevent these

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent Not Urgent

Impo

rtant

Not

Impo

rtant

2

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent, but Important

Weekly planning

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent, but Important

Exercise

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent, but Important

Family or personal time

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent, but Important

Learning or studying

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent, but Important

Car or home maintenance

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent, but Important

Date night with your significant other

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent, but Important

Budgeting

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent, but Important

Overall: spend as much time on these as possible

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent Not Urgent

Impo

rtant

Not

Impo

rtant

3

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent, but Not Important

Phone calls and texts

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent, but Not Important

Most Emails

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent, but Not Important

Most App notifications

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent, but Not Important

Overall: these feel important but aren’t

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent Not Urgent

Impo

rtant

Not

Impo

rtant

4

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent, but Important

Netflix binge watching

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent and Not Important

YouTube and other online videos

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent and Not Important

Much of Hacker News

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent and Not Important

Most social media involvement

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Not Urgent and Not Important

Overall: considerably limit your time in this quadrant

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Urgent Not Urgent

Impo

rtant

Not

Impo

rtant

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

To-do list

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

To-do list+

To-ignore list

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Distractions

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

— Newton’s first law

An object in motion stays in motion with the same speed in the same direction

unless acted upon by an external force.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Imagine a day without app notifications.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Now go make that day happen.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Set healthy boundaries with coworkers and family.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Multitasking doesn’t exist.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Construct your environment to support your to-dos and to-ignores.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

What should you do?

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Plan your Monday in advance.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Plan your Week in advance.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Decide when and where you’ll get each task done.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Create a “to ignore” list.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Identify which Quadrants you’re working in.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Make changes where necessary.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

— Peter Bregman

You'll never be as good a version of someone else as you are of yourself.

#PeersConf 2014 @ErikReagan

Thanks!@ErikReagan @FocusLabLLC