I'm a freelance writer and parent of a toddler, with another baby on the way. What I've found is that it's crucial to get my work done at my mental peak (in my case from 5am to 10am). I usually write during this time and accomplish twice as much -- at least -- in these hours than I do at other times, even when I have a babysitter and no distractions. I save my "down" times in the afternoon for no-brainer errands and events, like coffee with a friend, going to the gym, or hitting the grocery store. Or a nap, which is another productivity booster....

When I need to get things done, I set a timer for a short burst of time, work through it, take a break, and then do the same thing a little bit later. That's because my biggest obstacle to productivity is feeling overwhelmed. I usually set aside around 30 minutes to work on something if it's not a stressful task, and as little as 15 minutes if it's something I really dislike doing or something that seems impossible to me. Sometimes that means, yes, that I'll just open a file and stare at it for 15 minutes, but usually it means that I discover that a task that I saw as daunting really isn't that bad, and next time, I'll spend 30 minutes on it.

Second to this is recognizing when I'm losing focus. There comes a point in certain tasks (learning tasks, usually) where there is no use continuing to read or study, because I'm not absorbing what's in front of me anymore. At that point, I need a break, or I need to do something else for a while. Recognizing this has saved me a lot of wasted energy and work time, and I wish I'd known it while I was still in college.

I'm just like Phillip. I procrastinate on assignments that I don't find interesting, but I always manage to find time for stuff that I love to do. For example, I'm in grad school, and I can tell you that last semester, I was always motivated to write and design marketing assignments, but much, much less motivated to read chapters in my User Interface Design book - even though reading takes far less effort than writing!

I've accepted this about myself. I'll need to look for a job that allows me to focus on the things that I truly love to do, so that I can be most productive with it.

I am a freelance massage therapist. I generally work two days a week at a spa/salon, and the rest of the days I work as on call. So I am fortunate to stay at home and wait for calls.

I spend most of my downtime, reading articles on massage, keeping updated with my massage association, doing my laundry, stretching and exercising to stay fresh physically, and I also have a colleague that does massage trades with me while we are waiting for clients. I also online "tutor" prospective students and graduates of massage therapy to help them get in a right path, and also work on my webpage, and create more ways for free advertising.

I have been self-employed for the past 4 years, and one thing I have learned repeatedly is to straighten out small issues or potential problems up front. I've learned over the years that it actually takes less effort to tackle a small problem as soon as you become aware of it, instead of deciding to take care of it later.

When deadlines approach, those small problems are usually the furthest thing from your mind, and take much more effort to fix. I've had small things like this bite me in the ass at the last-minute plenty of times.

Just take the extra effort in the beginning, and things will be much smoother in the end.

Hello Lynn,

I read your profile..I feel for you and understand how you feel. I work full time and blog part time. Sometimes I'm not certain I'm in the right line of work...but I still plug through. Blogging gives me an outlet to express my thoughts.

The way I stay organized and productive is to complete an assignment or task the moment I think of it. The more you put it off the more it will accumulate until it becomes overwhelming. I used to carry around a detailed note pad with every single one of my daily tasks no matter how trivial but I found such extreme organization drove me crazy because I was never able to fully complete each task. Now I just jot down little reminder notes to myself, but the difference is I quickly complete the task the moment I remember it.

-Raymond (MONEY BLUE BOOK)

I'm a procrastinator. I also tend to over-analyze rather than execute.

For me, some days the key to getting things done is to start them. When I have a list of 6 high-priority issues to work on, all of which will take "a couple hours", rather than trying to further prioritize them with the issue owners, I figure out which issue is likely to be the cleanest to finish - fewest follow-up tasks and other entanglements. Then I do it and move on. There's nothing worse than staring at a pile of work and freezing up. So, on one hand, I could spend 6 hours following-up with the issue owners about the priority of their items... on the other hand, I could spend the day getting 2-3 of them off the list. It's a bit "cares to the wind", yes, but there comes a point when you just have to get something done! As soon as I start, it's like a weight is lifted and suddenly I'm so focused and productive I'm in danger of missing meals!

Inertia breeds inertia, while simply being productive at all will get the ball rolling towards more productivity. The key is to never sit down. After work, go directly to the gym, then do errands, then cook dinner, etc. Once you sit down, it's all over...

I agree with you Raymond. I used to constantly postpone my tasks with the feeling that I will always have time to complete them. I was so wrong. I started college at the age of 16 and decided to take a some time off. It took me another ten years before I actaully went back to school. Most of my old high schoolmates continued their studies since graduating high school and have become doctors and architects. It took me 15 years after high school to get my degree. In the end I graduated, but I could have been ten years into my career right now. It was actually the birth of my daughter that made me realize that I needed to finish what I start and set an example for her, if not for anyone else.

Ways to save smart

Before starting a job I estimate how long it will take -- I do a total hour estimate and I calculate how many days it will take me to complete the job. My completion date it is usually a few days before the actual due date -- this gives me a bit of cushion in case something else happens. I use a Project Planner notebook to log my time. I log off when I take breaks, go out for lunch, etc. I use the left column of the page to make notes pertaining to the job, for example, things that I must tell my client when I turn in the final work. Keeping track of my time allows me to complete a job by my estimated date/time. It also allows me to quote future jobs that are similar in nature.

the short bursts idea is genius! i will do this from now on, thanks so much!

I like to go for a jog in the mornings. Sometimes when I'm not up for a run, I still put on my shoes and go out for a walk. It doesn't have to last long - I sometimes only go out for 20-30 minutes. The important things are to 1. get yourself outside, and 2. do it in the morning.

I find that this is extremely helpful for productivity. It is the only time in the day when your mind is completely cleared and free. This is a good time to think and prioritize your errands, to-dos, and goals, for the day. Since light exercise will also put you in a great good, it will also set a positive tone for the rest of the day as you go about accomplishing your plans.

For those who aren't used to physical activity in the mornings, this may sound like a big, huge hassle. I challenge them to try it for three days straight. On fourth day, they'll be craving to continue it.

For people who are working on a number of projects or tasks at once, organisation is key. I have a 'projects' binder with a separate section for each project, a corresponding computer file folder and internet favourites folder, and I organise short-term projects on separate clipboards. All hand-written notes and relevant paperwork is stored in each project section.

And when you know your own files like the back of your hand, it increases your productivity exponentially. Unless you have a full-time assistant who knows the files that well, having a part-time or temporary person come in to do your filing for you will end up backfiring, because a) you'll waste time looking for things or duplicating what you don't realise is already there, and b) you'll miss out on opportunities, because your files become a holistic part of your work that supports you, helps trigger your memory, and stimulates ideas.