Original photo by David G. Romero

Effective life management starts with efficient, productive living, every single day. That means making changes to how you’re living now, so that you have more time to do the things you want.

Problem is, that’s not an easy thing to do. As such, I’ve compiled this list of 10 hacks for personal efficiency, to cut down the time you spend doing the things you don’t want to do, and give you more time to do the things you enjoy!

1. Keep three lists of three. The first list has three things you will do today. The second is three things you’d like to get done, but aren’t essential. The third is three things that need to be done at some point. That way, when you’ve trogged through your days work, you don’t end up sitting twiddling your thumbs.
2. Start the day properly. Have a good breakfast, spend some time alone to just sit and do whatever. I like to take a quarter of an hour or so, and just chill. Relax, let your mind wander. Pray. Do whatever floats your boat. Just make sure that your mind isn’t in the “I hate working” frame of mind.
3. Give yourself breaks. Don’t be locked in the room all the time. For every hour you work, have a 15-30 minute break. Give your mind time to digest what it’s just done, then come back. You’ll improve the quality of what you produce a hundredfold.
4. Know when to stop. Don’t go back to work when you’ve finished. Had a great idea for a post? Fantastic, write down the basics on a note, and pin it up. Don’t go back to work when you’ve finished. Set defined times when you’re going to work, and then when it passes, stop. You can have a bit of leeway here, but make sure that you don’t end up letting work run your life.
5. Have a good chair. Mesh backed ones, or good comfy leather work well for me. It’s worth spending some money on. Also, if you write a lot, invest in a good pen. I like Waterman fountain pens myself.
6. Have a plaything nearby. I find my pen works well, but I’ve also got a Newton’s cradle, and a few other bits and bobs. When I need to think, I have to have something to play with whilst my mind churns through its thought process. If you’re the same, make sure you’ve got something around.
7. Have a good lunch. I take the middle 20 minutes and have it then. Jacket potato, sandwiches, cereal… Something with good carb content I find works best. Puts you in the mood for the second half of the day.
8. Keep your desk and general work area tidy. A tidy workspace helps keep a tidy mind, which helps make your day more efficient.
9. Create a routine. Set up some bookmark folders in your browser so you can check all the sites you need to in one go. Then move on and do something else. Get your daily routine down so that you only focus on one thing at a time, for no more than an hour at a go. Any more and your brain will stop working.
10. Don’t do everything. That’s not your job. If something isn’t in your remit, delegate it. Any time you get any work given to you, ask yourself if there’s someone who could do it better. If there is, get them to do it. If not, either get it done right there and then, or schedule a time for it.

Original photo by Simon Grossi

Six years ago, David Allen launched Getting Things Done, and convinced a large number of people that what they need to have a better life, was a system to be more productive. Not far from the truth, but not quite there…

There’s something that we need to realise here. Productivity is good, but it’s not actually the end goal. Here’s what I see as the thought process:

• I don’t have the life I want. Why? Because I don’t get enough done, in the time I have.
• I am therefore not productive enough. If I produce more, I will get more done, and things will be better.
• I will then have done more and be happier. At the end of the day, my work will be finished, and all will be good.

Sadly, it’s pretty far from the truth. What actually happens is this:

• I don’t have the life I want. Why? Because I don’t get enough done, in the time I have.
• I am therefore not productive enough. If I produce more, I will get more done, and things will be better.
• I do more and fill my time with more work done. At the end of the day, my work is finished, and the day repeats tomorrow.

The problem is obvious: yes you’re getting things done, but it’s not giving you the life you want. What you clamour for is more free time. More space in your day to do the things you want. So let me outlay what I think should be the pattern…

• I don’t have the life I want. Why? Because I take too long to get things done.
• I am therefore not efficient enough. If I am more efficient, I will have more time, and things will be better.
• I will then have a better life. At the end of the day, my work will be finished, and all will be good.

I don’t think what this world needs is more productive workers. What it needs is more efficient people. Don’t moan about not having enough time. Instead, come up with a process that will make you more efficient. This is where GTD, for me, breaks down. You still end up doing the same amount of work. What we need to do, is look at ways that you can still get the same amount done (or more), and have you work less. Something between Getting Things Done, and Four Hour Work Week.

Over the next few days, I’m going to give you tools, hacks and strategies to revolutionise day to day living. Put these things into practice, and you’ll transform your quality of life to a level you never thought you could have. Tune in same time tomorrow…

Original photo by piccadillywilson

Question for you… Why do so many intelligent people have a beef with Christians? If what we teach really is from God, you’d have thought they’d be a little more receptive…

If you go on sites such as Digg, Reddit and so on, you’ll often find articles such as this, this, this and this. You’ve got admit, when you’re tarred with the brush that paints those people, you’re pretty much stuffed from the outset. However, in an attempt to make the Digg-nation types understand what Christian’s are actually about, I’m going to lay out some guidelines as to our common ground and differences.

1. We Actually Believe What We’re Saying. Weird, I know, but try to understand. Neither side are being intentionally dense or anything, we just actually do believe in what we’re saying. Christians really do believe that the Son of God came and died to save mankind. Atheists really don’t, and don’t believe in any kind of God. People have died on both sides for refusing to give up on these beliefs, so try and keep it respectful.
2. We’re Not Evil. Seriously, sometimes the Christian right pisses me off. Treating everyone who doesn’t think exactly like them as though they’re the spawn of Hitler and Saddam Hussein. This may be a shock, but there are good atheists! And there are good Christians too! To be sure, there are so real screw-ups on both sides of the fence too, but actually, that doesn’t mean we all are. So let’s stop acting like we’re all Doctor Evil and throw each other a frickin’ bone… Which brings me on to my next point…
3. You Can Do Evil In the Name of Either. Again, no real shock. Look at what Guy de Lusignan tried to do to Saladin in the Crusades. Marched out against an army that had caused no offense, to start a war with a man who wanted peace, and got his entire army annihilated. All the while saying “God wills it!”. Yeah, right… Mind you, atheism’s track record isn’t a whlie lot better either. My theory? People can be really lousy to one another, with or without God as an excuse. It’s down to us, not Him, what we do to one another.
4. We Like to Party! (Everybody Does…). Jesus partied hard. Anyone who turns water into wine pretty much has to party hard, you know? I mean, jeez, He dished out food to a group of 5,000 men plus women and kids. He’s not feeding the five thousand here, he’s feeding half the local population. And whilst it may come as a surprise to some of you atheists out there, some of us Christians like to kick it lid scholi too. I like to party too. I like to drink as well. I even have other Christian friends who like drinking and partying. Weird, huh? And to all those Christians who think that having fun is the road to hell, feel free to flame away. You know what the world needs? A giant party with Christians and atheists and nachos and beer. It’d rock lid Testament style.
5. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Like the diva sang, all we really need is a little respect for each other. Remember that they’re people too. Give them the same respect and open mind you’d want from them. Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.

So come on then… What do you think?…

Now, you might be surprised by me posting this on this site. I try and tell people how to simplify their lives, get what they want, achieve things. However, that is you doing it, and then giving the glory to God. Give glory to God for what He gives you, don’t give Him glory and then expect things in return.

The horse comes after the cart.

Amen.

Original photo by MoralesDirect

Read this.

Now ask yourself, what would the response have been if we replaced the word Moses with the word Muhammad?

My guess is there’d be calls for violence and heads would roll.

Why’s it OK for Christians to have to put up with this kind of rubbish, but Muslims don’t?

Discuss…