What submarines can teach us about productivity
Imagine if we were able to dive like a submarine and surface only when we need to. I think we can do this. I think we can make this fun. I think we can make this productive. Let me explain.
We often find ourselves so distracted with Twitter, News, Social Networking,not to mention email; that we have trouble focusing and keeping things on task. This is a huge drag on productivity. Some extremists tell you to stop doing these things entirely, or severely limit your time on them each day, but this didn’t work for me. I often find myself hypnotized by twitter. I can watch the updates come rolling in, aimlessly clicking links, reading things that don’t have much impact on me either way. I can do this for an hour easily! Not all at once, but off and on. How is this possible! Is this the new form of procrastination? I think we can still have twitter, email, Facebook and any other site that makes us happy but this week let’s try it like this: BE DELIBERATE and have fun while doing it.
I vote for a submarine work flow. Deep dives that last as long as you need them to be to feel productive, followed by equally productive periods of surfacing. This up and down, ebb and flow will bring a subtle sense of accomplishment and reward to each hour, each day of your life.
The more I think about this idea, the more common sense it brings to mind since so many things are cyclical. In fact, it’s hard to find a natural process that doesn’t, at some level of reality have a cyclical nature. Why should we be any different. There will always be ups and downs, the goal is to make the most of the ups, and enjoy the downs for letting us know what it means to be up.
I challenge you to try this and measure the outcomes. I love this notion of measuring simple behaviors and changes to those behaviors, it can be a very enlightening experience since there are so many untested assumptions that we carry with us. For most of us, the assumption is that we have to multi-task, be superman /superwoman, respond to emails right away, update twitter at a given interval because that’s what we need to do… these are all assumptions that might work for some people, but that doesn’t mean by default it will work for you. So challenge it. Test it. The worst that can happen is that you will realize it was a good idea and does work for you! At least you know. Most likely, you will find that some if not all of your assumptions, especially about work, are flat out wrong!
So when you work, work! Don’t think about later, don’t look at twitter or email, just work and enjoy what you are doing. When you are done your dive, surface for some air. Go for a walk, have a healthy snack, check your email, tweet something, go read a blog (maybe this one)… then hold your breath… its time for another dive.
Take care everyone,
Kent
