Productivity For Dummies

Do you have too much to do and not enough time to do it? Don't we all! Productivity For Dummies shows you how to overcome this common problem by tackling key issues that are preventing you from remaining focused and making the most of your time. This insightful text gets to the root of the problem, and shows you how to identify and analyse the items on your to-do list to deliver on deadlines and maximise your schedule. Numerous techniques and technologies have been developed to address productivity needs, and this resource shows you which will work for your situation.

Productivity is crucial to your success - whether you want to find a new job, earn a promotion you've had your eye on, or generally progress in your career, understanding how to improve your productivity is essential in increasing the value you bring to your organisation. At the very least, increased productivity means that you get things done faster?which translates into fewer overtime hours and more time concentrating on the things that are most important to you.

• Eliminate procrastination and laziness from your daily routine
• Organise your work environment to create a space conducive to productivity
• Increase your concentration and stay focused on the task at hand
• Make decisions quickly, and stay cool, calm, and collected no matter what the situation is

Productivity For Dummies helps you solve the age-old problem of having too much to do and not enough time to do it.

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started with Productivity 5

Chapter 1: What Is Productivity? 7

Chapter 2: Finding the Motivation to Change 19

Chapter 3: The Benefits of Productivity 33

Part II: Getting Organised for Action 45

Chapter 4: Getting Organised 47

Chapter 5: Embracing a Holistic Approach 59

Chapter 6: Stress Management 73

Part III: Applying Productivity Techniques 91

Chapter 7: Learning to Focus 93

Chapter 8: Avoiding Procrastination 109

Chapter 9: Good Time Management 123

Chapter 10: Getting Things Done (GTD) 137

Chapter 11: Further Productivity Techniques 157

Part IV: Productivity at Work 171

Chapter 12: Getting Down to Business 173

Chapter 13: Task Management 191

Chapter 14: Calendar Management 201

Chapter 15: Technology Management 211

Chapter 16: The Productive Freelancer 227

Part V: Personal Productivity 239

Chapter 17: Productivity at Home 241

Chapter 18: Creating a Clutter-Free World 261

Chapter 19: Productivity for Students 275

Part VI: The Part of Tens 295

Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Focus and Get More Done 297

Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Beat Procrastination 305

Chapter 22: Ten Best Productivity Resources 311

Index 315

Ciara Conlon is a productivity coach, keynote speaker and author. She helps organisations get better results by establishing space for more creativity and innovation. She helps people get better results by adopting effective habits and focusing on the right stuff at the right time.