I have a secret: I tell people that I’m on vacation at least twice a month and it’s usually a lie because I’m actually just working from somewhere different to avoid distractions.

Yep, now my secret’s out but I’m not worried. I’ll continue using it because most people don’t want to be known as the person that bothers people on vacation.

Learn to take advantage of a distraction-free day and work like your hair is on fire.

Do nothing except finish the project. Hey, you could have been on vacation, so it’s okay to neglect everything else, to put your email on vacation autorespond and your phone on voice mail and to beg off on the sleepy weekly all-hands meeting and to avoid the interactions with those that might say no…

And then finish it. Finish the website or the manuscript or business plan or the suite of tools. No, this isn’t a great week to do outreach or make a pitch. That’s not the goal. It’s to finish that project that’s been stuck too long. Finish it or cancel it.

The key to using this strategy effectively is to make sure you don’t overuse it and ensure that the right people know what you’re actually doing with your time. At the very least, make sure that your boss and/or your clients know exactly what you’re up to.

Now go enjoy a full day of productivity and don’t forget to take an actual day off from time to time.

Whether you’re working for someone else or running your own gig, you’re probably going to slack off at some point. I should know, I do it and so do most of the people I know. Unfortunately, efficiently wasting time remains a complex, underestimated and often misunderstood task.

In my experience, some of my most productive moments occur when I take a break and waste a little time.

Just remember that there’s a fine line between using your downtime effectively and stealing time or resources from your employer, family or friends. First and foremost, if you’re getting paid to do a job, that work needs to be your top priority. Don’t forget about your family either.

With that being said, there are some ways to use your legitimate downtime to focus on getting ahead.

1. Exercise: This is the best way to spend your down time. A good workout gets your mind off of things and gets your body in shape at the same time. Try to get into a routine of working out at least 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes — it’s easier than you think and you’ll probably gain some new perspectives on yourself in the process.
2. Change your environment: A change in scenery is well worth the effort. It can be as simple as heading over to a new coffee shop or taking a weekend getaway. Putting yourself into new situations tends to give you a new perspective on things.
3. Read a book: There’s nothing like holding a book in your hands and flipping through the pages. Pick up a book from time to time and get a new perspective on things. I’ve been picking up books from the Personal MBA’s recommended reading list and running through them on the weekends.
4. Go offline: This can be as effective as you want it to be. Some people simply turn off their laptop while others ditch technology for the weekend and go cold turkey. Personally, I’ll grab my notebook & trusty pen and head off to a local coffee shop. Using a nice pen and paper is much more relaxing than you might think — seeing your thoughts on paper tends to help you see them from a totally different perspective.
5. Take a Nap: This is a tough one — I’ve found it hard to not feel guilty for taking a nap in the middle of the day. Despite what you may think, your body needs rest from time to time. Don’t feel bad for taking a 15 minute nap on the couch. You’ll bounce back with more energy than you think.

So, continue screwing off — just make it worthwhile in the process. If you’ve got any other ideas on how to effectively waste time, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

I wake up at 6am every day. Seriously.

So, a typical day for me starts at 6am and ends around 11-1130pm. Spare me your excuses, people; you don’t get ahead in life by laying in bed all day.

The Secret

It’s no surprise that you’re probably most productive during non-interrupted work periods. I know I am.

I picked the 6am wake-up time because nearly everyone I know is still in bed. I can crank through emails, blog posts or even next week’s presentation without getting interrupted even once. The best part is that by 8am, when I stop to take a shower and get ready for the day, I’ve accomplished more than most people will all day.

Look at the numbers for yourself

Countless research shows that establishing a sleep routine is good for your body, yet so many of us want to “sleep in” whenever we get the chance and end up wasting our entire day.

Forget the whole 8 hours of sleep stuff – in a recent article, studies show that people who sleep between 6.5 and 7.5 hours each day live the longest:

…people who sleep 8 hr. or more…they don’t live quite as long. There is just as much risk associated with sleeping too long as with sleeping too short. The big surprise is that long sleep seems to start at 8 hr. Sleeping 8.5 hr. might really be a little worse than sleeping 5 hr.

The bottom line

Find out what works for you. Whether it’s waking up early or going to bed super-late, the point is to use your best hours to actually get ahead in life. Force yourself to try a new schedule for 30 days. You can thank me later.

Image credit: julie.rivard

This is the twelfth in a series of posts about the lessons I wish I’d learned earlier in life.

There was a point in time when I absolutely had to have the latest gadget and try out the coolest new productivity hacks in my quest to get ahead. Looking back though, I can’t help but laugh at myself a little bit. I actually wonder how much time I spent reorganizing my personal “system” each time I tried something new – I bet it would be in the hundreds of hours.

“So, what changed?”

It was simple really: I realized that the majority of the successful people I knew relied on paper. PAPER! Not the latest iPhone. Not the latest GTD tool. Not the latest whatchamacallit. Just plain old paper.

“What’s the big deal with paper?”

First, go pick up a copy of Todoodlist and you will quickly see what I mean. It’s an easy read, you’ll get a few good chuckles and it includes a number of practical tips that I was able to use immediately. (One of the best things about it is the 30 day refund policy – so you have absolutely no excuse not to buy it. Just return if you really don’t get anything out of it.)

As I’ve said before, learning just one new idea from a book is the best way to spend $20 today.

“What system do you use?”

Here are my tools of choice:

1. Parker Jotter Stainless Steel Ball Pen
2. Parker Gel Ink Inserts
3. Moleskine Ruled Notebook

That’s it – three simple things that won’t go out of style tomorrow, won’t break the bank and never, ever need to be charged up.

Now that you’ve followed my advice to buy some books. (You did get the books, right?) Here are two awesome tips on how to read a business book:

1. Decide, before you start, that you’re going to change three things about what you do all day at work. Then, as you’re reading, find the three things and do it. The goal of the reading, then, isn’t to persuade you to change, it’s to help you choose what to change.

2. If you’re going to invest a valuable asset (like time), go ahead and make it productive. Use a postit or two, or some index cards or a highlighter. Not to write down stuff so you can forget it later, but to create marching orders. It’s simple: if three weeks go by and you haven’t taken action on what you’ve written down, you wasted your time.

Next, take 15 minutes to read a short, free ebook on getting the most out of non-fiction reading, check out How to Read a Book by Paul N. Edwards.

That’s it – don’t waste another minute on your books. Use these tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your investment.

Have some tips of your own? Post them in the comments – I’ll pick the best ones and personally buy you a business book.

Image Credit: VirtualErn