Productivity for Creativity

PRODUCTIVITY FOR CREATIVITY
EXPLODE CONF - MAY 6 2016

HI,I’M KATHLEEN MACAINSH
CO-FOUNDER LADIES THAT UX LONDON ONTARIO
UX ARCHITECT, LONDON LIFE
PRODUCTIVITY NERD
#EXPLODECONF16
@KMACDESIGN

PRODUCTIVITY TIPS FOR CREATIVE MINDS
AGENDA
▸ 3 Quick-Win Productivity Tips (you can start using right away)
▸ 5 minute check-in with your time management
▸ How to get to distraction free creativity using GTD
▸ The 7 Traits that make a task more likely for someone to procrastinate
▸ Q & A
@KMACDESIGN

WHO’S HERE TODAY?
@KMACDESIGN

THINKING  
TO MAKE A LIVING @KMACDESIGN

“THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO  
MAKE IN THE 21ST CENTURY IS TO INCREASE THE
PRODUCTIVITY OF KNOWLEDGE WORK  
AND THE KNOWLEDGE WORKER.”
Peter Drucker, Management Challenges for the 21st Century
PRODUCTIVITY TIPS FOR CREATIVE MINDS | @KMACDESIGN
@KMACDESIGN

AGENDA
▸ Q & A
WE ARE HERE
@KMACDESIGN

FRONT LOADING
@KMACDESIGN
PRODUCTIVITY TIPS FOR CREATIVE MINDS | 3 QUICK-WIN PRODUCTIVITY TIPS

@KMACDESIGN

CAN’T FIT IT ALL IN CAN FIT IT ALL IN
@KMACDESIGN

NO ONE CAN TELL YOU
WHAT YOUR BIG ROCKS
ARE. IT’S UP TO YOU!
@KMACDESIGN

TIP #1 
START YOUR DAY OFF RIGHT
@KMACDESIGN
MORNING ROUTINE

HATE STRUCTURE?
@KMACDESIGN

WHY A MORNING ROUTINE?
▸ You’ll avoid mental fatigue
@KMACDESIGN

WHY A MORNING ROUTINE?
▸ You’ll avoid mental fatigue
▸ Many successful people
directly attribute their success
to their morning routine
HEADLINES TAKEN FROM BUSINESS INSIDER
HTTP://WWW.BUSINESSINSIDER.COM/SUCCESSFUL-PEOPLE-SHARE-MORNING-ROUTINES-2015-4#CHERYL-BACHELDER-CEO-OF-POPEYES-CREATED-A-MORNING-ROUTINE-THAT-MAKES-HER-A-BETTER-LEADER-ALL-DAY-11
@KMACDESIGN

HOW?
@KMACDESIGN

THINK ABOUT YOUR
IDEAL MORNING
@KMACDESIGN

STARTER GUIDE
▸ Don’t snooze and lose
▸ Chug, chug, chug!
▸ Pause for a moment
▸ Write in your journal
▸ Read or listen to a podcast
▸ Exercise
@KMACDESIGN

@KMACDESIGN
▸ Brush teeth, wash face, drink water
▸ Sit in silence for 1 minuet
▸ Recite my afﬁrmations and review my goals
▸ Write in my journal - 3 things…
▸ Take my dog for a walk & listen to a podcast
▸ Hair, makeup and get dressed
▸ Tell my family I love them
▸ Go to work - more podcasts
▸ focus on my MOST IMPORTANT TASK

TIP #2 
FOCUS ON YOUR M.I.T.
@KMACDESIGN
DO YOUR MOST IMPORTANT TASK FIRST

WHAT IS AN M.I.T.
▸ Things that push you closer to your goals
▸ Things you really care about
▸ Things that are tough
▸ Things that you may procrastinate on
@KMACDESIGN

WHY A DO YOUR M.I.T. FIRST?
▸ No regrets
▸ Science! Highest level of will power is in the morning
▸ Prevents you from procrastinating
▸ You will feel great!
@KMACDESIGN

DO YOUR M.I.T. BEFORE CHECKING
EMAIL, SLACK OR VOICE MAIL
@KMACDESIGN

TIP #3 
WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN
@KMACDESIGN
START THINGS AFRESH!

LIMIT FRICTION
@KMACDESIGN

LIMIT DISTRACTIONS
@KMACDESIGN

EXAMPLES
@KMACDESIGN

#1 - TAB TOWN
@KMACDESIGN

@KMACDESIGN
#2 - DESKTOP DISTRICT
Image source: Flickr - https://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/saaby/2179348509

#3 - APP CITY

#4 - MESSY DESK COUNTY
Image source: Flickr - https://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/cote/5249532062 @KMACDESIGN

@KMACDESIGN
#4 - KITCHEN LAND
Image source: Flickr - https://www.ﬂickr.com/photos/morag_riddell/5544830019/

@KMACDESIGN
CAN APPLY THIS TECHNIQUE IN MANY AREAS

WHEN SHOULD YOU WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN?
▸ Right after ﬁnishing something… if possible
▸ OR right before you’re about to start on a task
▸ OR as soon as you notice you are getting distracted
@KMACDESIGN

PRODUCTIVITY TIPS FOR CREATIVE MINDS | 5 MINUTE CHECK-IN WITH YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT
5 MINUTE CHECK-IN
▸ Take the paper that you got at the start of the talk and fold it in half
▸ On the left hand side write 5 things you care about most (2 min)
▸ On the right hand side write 5 things you spend your time doing more (2 min)
▸ How does he left and right hand side line up?
@KMACDESIGN

@KMACDESIGN
OUT OF ALIGNMENT

@KMACDESIGN
IN ALIGNMENT

WHY ARE SOME
PEOPLE SUCCESSFUL?
@KMACDESIGN
PRODUCTIVITY TIPS FOR CREATIVE MINDS | HOW TO GET TO DISTRACTION FREE CREATIVITY USING GTD

CREATIVITY, FOCUS AND
KNOWING THEIR PRIORITIES
@KMACDESIGN

SPEND TIME
REFLECTING
@KMACDESIGN

GETTING THINGS DONE
(GTD)
@KMACDESIGN

CREATOR OF GTD
DAVID ALLEN
@KMACDESIGN

TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
@KMACDESIGN

TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
@KMACDESIGN
CALENDAR LISTS NOTEBOOK

IMAGINE THIS SCENARIO
▸ At your desk, working on a website
▸ Get a notiﬁcation saying your computer has an update
▸ Right before performing the update you get a slack message from your co-worker
▸ “Hey can you RSVP to the taco party on Friday and let me know what you’re
bringing?”
▸ Just as you’re about to reply your boss comes along and asks you to make
changes to a presentation before 2:00pm
@KMACDESIGN

@KMACDESIGN

5 PILLARS OF GTD
▸ 1. Capture. Collect what has your attention
▸ 2. Clarify. Process what it means
▸ 3. Organize. Put it where it belongs
▸ 4. Reﬂect. Review it frequently
▸ 5. Engage. Simple do.
@KMACDESIGN

PILLAR 1 
CAPTURE
@KMACDESIGN
COLLECT WHAT HAS YOUR ATTENTION

PILLAR 2 
CLARIFY
@KMACDESIGN
PROCESS WHAT IT MEANS

PILLAR 3 
ORGANIZE
@KMACDESIGN
PUT IT WHERE IT BELONGS

PILLAR 4 
REFLECT
@KMACDESIGN
REVIEW IT FREQUENTLY

@KMACDESIGN
REVIEW IT WEEKLY
▸ Process the stuff
▸ Look ahead
▸ Change course if need be
▸ Check your some day maybes

PILLAR 5 
ENGAGE
@KMACDESIGN
SIMPLY DO.

AGENDA
▸ Q & A WE ARE HERE
@KMACDESIGN

7 ATTRIBUTES THAT MAKE A TASK MORE LIKELY FOR YOU TO PROCRASTINATE…
▸ The task is boring.
▸ The task is frustrating.
▸ The task is difﬁcult.
▸ The task lacks personal meaning.
▸ The task lacks intrinsic rewards.
▸ The task is ambiguous.
▸ The task is unstructured.
@KMACDESIGNSource: http://alifeofproductivity.com/why-you-procrastinate-10-tactics-to-help-you-stop/

PRODUCTIVITY TIPS FOR CREATIVE MINDS | THE 7 TRAITS OF PROCRASTINATION-ABLE TASKS
@KMACDESIGN
MAKE IT FUN!
Source: http://alifeofproductivity.com/why-you-procrastinate-10-tactics-to-help-you-stop/

@KMACDESIGN
SET A TIMER.
TIME BOX IT.
LIMIT THE AMOUNT
OF TIME YOU
SPEND ON IT.

▸ The task is difficult.
@KMACDESIGN
ASK FOR HELP.

@KMACDESIGN
FIND YOUR “WHY”.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF YOU DON’T FINISH
THE TASK?

@KMACDESIGN
GIVE YOURSELF A
REWARD ONCE YOU’RE
DONE!

@KMACDESIGN
BREAK IT DOWN INTO
MORE MANAGEABLE
CHUNKS.

PROCRASTINATION 
& CREATIVE BLOCKS
GO HAND IN HAND
@KMACDESIGN

▸ Morning Routine
▸ Most Important Task
▸ Wipe the slate clean
▸ Try doing a mind sweep and tell me how it goes
▸ If you want, try out GTD and feel free to ask for help!
▸ What some productivity tips that have worked for you?
@KMACDESIGN
KEY INSIGHTS

REMEMBER…
@KMACDESIGN

WE’RE HERE FOR A GOOD TIME, NOT A LONG TIME…
Trooper
@KMACDESIGN

WITH PEOPLE WHO BUILD YOU UP
& MEAN THE MOST TO YOU.
@KMACDESIGN
SPEND YOUR TIME…

CHOOSING & DOING THE THINGS
YOU WANT TO DO!
@KMACDESIGN
SPEND YOUR TIME…

THANK YOU EXPLODE
YOU ROCK!
@KMACDESIGN

AGENDA
▸ Q & A
@KMACDESIGN
WE ARE HERE

PRODUCTIVITY TIPS FOR CREATIVE MINDS | HELPFUL PRODUCTIVITY RESOURCES
HELPFUL PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS - FOR TIME BOXING
▸ http://www.moosti.com
▸ http://tomato-timer.com/
▸ Time Timer App http://www.timetimer.com/products/time-timer-ios-app
▸ Time Timer clocks http://www.timetimer.com/collections/timers
@KMACDESIGN

HELPFUL PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS - FOR CAPTURING/TO-DO APPS
▸ Basecamp3 - https://basecamp.com/
▸ Omni-Focus - https://www.omnigroup.com/omnifocus
▸ Wunderlist - https://www.wunderlist.com/
▸ TD - https://en.todoist.com/
@KMACDESIGN

HELPFUL PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS - FOR NOTE TAKING
▸ Evernote - https://evernote.com/
▸ Google Drive/google docs - https://www.google.ca/docs/about/
▸ A notebook using techniques from : The Sketchnote Workbook by Mike
Rohde
@KMACDESIGN

HELPFUL PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS
▸ Pocket - https://getpocket.com
▸ Blinkist - https://www.blinkist.com/en/
▸ Audible - http://www.audible.com/
@KMACDESIGN
For Reading and storing articles to read:
Other helpful apps…
▸ Day One (Journal App) - http://dayoneapp.com/
▸ Text Expander (typing short cuts)- https://smilesoftware.com/textexpander

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTIVITY BOOKS
▸ 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
▸ Essentialism by Greg McKeown
▸ The Sketchnote Workbook by Mike Rohde
▸ Getting things Done by David Allen
▸ The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment's Notice by Todd
Henry
▸ The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform
Your Life (Before 8AM) by Hal Elrod
@KMACDESIGN

GREAT PRODUCTIVITY AND ORGANIZATION PODCASTS
▸ http://beyondthetodolist.com/
▸ http://www.asianefficiency.com/podcast/
▸ http://www.theproductivityshow.com
▸ http://www.takecontroladhd.com/podcast/
▸ http://learndobecome.com/radio/
▸ https://productivityist.com/category/podcast/
▸ http://gettingthingsdone.com/podcasts/
@KMACDESIGN

GREAT PRODUCTIVITY AND ORGANIZATION COACHES/MENTORS
▸ Alejandra Costello - http://www.alejandra.tv/
▸ The Late Dr. Stephen R. Covey author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective
People - https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php
▸ April Perry from Power of Moms and Learn. Do. Become. 
http://learndobecome.com/
▸ David Allen - http://gettingthingsdone.com/
▸ Nikki Kinzer and Peter Wright - http://www.takecontroladhd.com/
▸ All the writers for Asian Efficiency - http://www.asianefficiency.com/blog/
@KMACDESIGN

CREDITS
▸ Thanks To THANH PHAM of Asian Efficiency, where I first learn about the Alignment
Exercise on slide 42 
http://www.asianefficiency.com/goals/the-time-management-secret-that-will-eliminate-
all-your-time-wasters/#comments
▸ Real world examples of clearing to neutral was reference for “wiping slate clean”:  
http://www.asianefficiency.com/habits/real-world-examples-clear-neutral/
▸ Thanks to DAVID ALLEN for coming up with GTD!  
http://gettingthingsdone.com/
▸ Free Learning Resources on the GTD website: 
http://gettingthingsdone.com/video-gallery/
▸ Thanks to the Late and Great STEPHEN COVEY, author of the 7 habits of highly effective
people, for introducing me to the “Big Rocks” story on slide 12
@KMACDESIGN

KATHLEEN MACAINSH
CO-FOUNDER LADIES THAT UX LONDON ONTARIO
UX ARCHITECT, LONDON LIFE
PRODUCTIVITY NERD
@KMACDESIGN
PLEASE CONNECT WITH ME ON TWITTER. SHARE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY TIPS
WITH ME AND LET ME NOW IF THE TIPS SHARED HERE HAVE WORKED FOR YOU.

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