18 tips to avoid procrastination (the lean ux way)
Post on 19-Oct-2014
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Trent Mankelow, @optimalworkshop http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesse757/3094868007/sizes/l/in/photostream/
18 Tips to Avoid Procrastination (the LeanUX Way)
Why talk about
Procrastination?
Two reasons, really
Procrastination impacts knowledge workers
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YhyEAomLWCA/TqdGbZy4c2I/AAAAAAAAOD0/m9dxqs5JgRM/s1600/OfficeSpace_022Pyxurz.jpg
LeanUX principles can help!
http://luxr.co/lean-ux/10-principles-for-lean-ux/
Why talk about
Procrastination?
Two reasons, really
Productivity pr0n (a/k/a "Productivity
porn") is a superclass of materials and
methods for theoretically becoming more
organized and productive.
http://wiki.43folders.com/index.php/Productivity_pr0n
Lean UX Productivity
porn
My talk
What is
Procrastination?
The act of postponing or delaying an
action needlessly http://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/www.ign.com/17367/2011/04/research-paper-vs-internet-comic.jpg
Why do we
procrastinate?
Because we are afraid of failure
http://jeremywaite.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/fail444456.jpg
Because we are afraid of being imperfect
http://img2.etsystatic.com/000/0/5677449/il_fullxfull.340295286.jpg
Because we are overwhelmed
http://www.weblogcartoons.com/
Why does it
matter?
It can affect your health
http://www.berwick.monash.edu.au/vce-revision-lecture.jpg
The quality of your work may suffer
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/web04/2012/1/23/12/enhanced-buzz-6886-1327341418-52.jpg
It can make it hard for others on the team
http://files.redux.com/images/68b1309581015fd82b8bc36a59155772/raw
You may miss deadlines
http://lightshowmedia.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/dinasours-miss-deadline.jpg?w=570
Is procrastination
always bad?
Some people live for the rush
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mWhkAgYuIUc/ThceMJ7b9YI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/y-sNizvWzz0/s1600/NZone+Sky+Diving+3+copy.jpg
Sometimes procrastination = percolation
18 tips
Lean UX Principle:
Goal-driven and
outcome focussed
1. Identify your three key outcomes each
day, week, month, and year http://www.gettingresults.com
2. Do a weekly review
https://secure.davidco.com/store/catalog/GTD-WEEKLY-REVIEW-p-16165.php
3. Think ‘next action’, not ‘to do’
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidchicopham/3574355833/
4. Say No
http://www.gptalkback.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/computer-says-no.jpg
Lean UX Principle:
Routinize
5. Decide on the Most Important Task
before you leave work each day
6. Park on a downhill slope
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/DunedinBaldwinStreet_Parked_Car.jpg
7. Avoid e-mail for the first hour of every day
http://www.wccbournemouth.co.uk/images/email.jpg
Lean UX Principle:
Externalise
8. Use a pen and paper
9. Mindmap the edges of the project
http://www.humorhound.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/darth-vader-brainstorm-death-star.jpg
10. Two heads are better than one
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb57886/muppet/images/d/d8/Tumblr-Two-HeadedMonster.png
11. Set arbitrary, public deadlines
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelanman/366192378/
12. List your anxieties
From The Now Habit, p 99
1. What is the worst that could happen?
2. What would I do if the worst really happened?
3. How would I lessen the pain and get on with as much happiness as
possible if the worst did occur?
4. What alternatives would I have?
5. What can I do now to lessen the probability of this dreaded event
occurring?
6. Is there anything I can do now to increase my chances of achieving my
goal?
Lean UX Principle:
Go faster
13. Work in 25-minute sprints http://www.pomodorotechnique.com
http://www.focusboosterapp.com
1. Choose a task to be accomplished
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes
3. Work on the task until the timer goes
off
4. Take a 5 minute break – go to the
bathroom, look at The Facebook, etc
5. Every 4 sprints take a longer break
14. Create a ‘CC’ inbox
15. Colour code your emails
Lean UX Principle:
Good enough
16. Do “shitty first drafts”
http://www.orcutt.net/othercontent/sfds.pdf
17. Consider only giving yourself a certain
number of revisions
One final, very
powerful tip
18. Plan play, and celebrate success
Ada and Louise, Tonga 2011
Resources
Thanks! Trent Mankelow
Optimal Workshop
optimalworkshop.com
@optimalworkshop