Information Overload: Reclaiming Your Productivity

Whether you’re brand new to online marketing or you’ve been at this awhile, chances are you sometimes feel like your productivity is dwindling. But it’s not because you’re distracted or lacking motivation.

In fact, it’s your sheer focus and commitment to success that might be the driving factor in why you’re exhausted and overwhelmed. You may have accidentally set yourself up for burnout when it comes to being too dedicated to intense learning, networking and publishing.

There are so many things to learn – not just as a newbie, either. This is a career path that requires continual learning. Whenever something changes like search engine optimization or the emergence of a new technology, you’re thrust into the learning arena all over again.

You buy courses. You sign up for conferences. You join or launch groups on Facebook to stay abreast of what you need to know. Before you know it, you’re dreading the day because you can’t even get started on moneymaking tasks until you check all of your social media, go through a course, and publish niche content of your own.

Overwhelm Can Paralyze Your Decision Making Process

If you’re concerned about all there is to know, it can bring your productivity to a screeching halt. You don’t want to even publish a blog post if you know there’s a haunting threat of a search engine algorithm change.

So instead of publishing for your readers, you put it off until you have time to go through a new SEO course, which is likely to become outdated the second it goes live. There are other marketers who wake up and make decisions without having to first field thoughts about the million and one things that could make or break their efforts.

They simply focus on catering to the needs of their audience. They do it in the best way they know how. They carve out time later for learning, because no one is saying it needs to be put on the backburner forever.

There’s a certain amount of gut instinct and common sense required to run a business as an online entrepreneur and you can’t forever be relying on a course or group tip to shore up your decisions.

This is a concept based on a lack of confidence and fear of failure. It’s the bold and innovative thought leaders who make steps to advance their brand without being tied to the learning process as a way to sweep for signs of possible problems.

How to Know If You’re Stuck in a Cycle of Information Overload

There will be signs and they may not be apparent at first. Initially, you’ll be so proud of yourself for your diligence in learning, participating and being proactive. It’s not until you start seeing cracks in your system that it becomes a visible problem.

First, you might notice that although you worked hard all day, you got very little done on your to do list. Or it may be the tasks that actually make you money that you haven’t completed, because the rest of your to do list (learning and absorbing information) was all marked off.

You might start to become exhausted having to keep up with all of the industry changes and find yourself hoping that everything can just stay the same for a little while. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen in this industry, but what you have to understand is that you don't have to instantly learn and apply every single thing as it emerges.

You might start to notice that you have trouble making decisions on which direction to take. This can range from major career options like which business model to pursue to minor issues like what slant you want to take with a piece of content.

Information overload can cause you to second guess everything you are doing, and what happens is you end up staying stuck not doing anything. You might also start to feel overwhelmed at the very start of your day whenever you sit down and begin going through all of the online communities, realizing you have a webinar to attend that is listed on your calendar, and you see file after file of courses you need to complete before you feel ready to take action.

If you've been in this industry for awhile, you might catch yourself being nostalgic about simpler times in this business when everything seemed black and white. The truth is, it's no different today than it was then, but it may move at a slightly faster pace.

The Damage Being Done By Excessive Information Input

There is a price to pay for those who do nothing to remedy the problem of information overload. It's more than just feeling frustrated at your lack of productivity. You are going to eventually chip away at your intuition so that you no longer trust anything you decide to do.

This is a very serious problem for an online entrepreneur who has no team or coworkers to lean on as they make a decision. If you can't do this on your own, you will be like a deer in the headlights, unable to move forward.

Financially, you are going to take a hit, whether that means a loss of income or the failure to generate income from the very beginning. You won't be able to take action in a way that earns you money because you are stuck in the learning and decision making process.

Another way you are going to lose financially is with all of the investments that you are making in courses that you never take action on because there is constantly something new to purchase and learn.

What's worse is that as you are learning from a last number of sources, you are going to run into conflicting advice or strategies that each claim to be the best path forward. Without the ability to make decisions on your own, you won't be able to choose the right answer for your business.

The Fix for Overwhelming Information Issues

So how do you fix this problem? The first step is for you to understand your own personal capacity for absorbing new information. Each person is different and has various skills in terms of how fast they can read or learn new concepts.

If you can zoom through a course quickly, it may not be as much of a problem as someone who has to take their time and reread concepts in order to understand them fully.

You have to begin recognizing the difference between learning and procrastinating. There are many people reading this report right now who are using the learning process as an excuse not to take action and potentially fail.

You also need to keep yourself emotionally strong in all ways as an entrepreneur. Mental fortitude means waking up with a balanced approach to life, removing toxic people and negative influences from your close circles and learning how to engage in stress-relieving tactics to prevent a build-up of frustration.

You also want to reclaim your ability to make decisions with ease. Start practicing the art of trusting yourself. Even the most informed entrepreneurs will make mistakes, but you can’t allow that to paralyze you.

When it comes to the learning process, don’t think you have to give it up. Just be selective in what you devote your time to and absorb in bite-sized increments. That might be sitting down for half an hour each day for learning or it may mean dedicating one day a week to the learning process.

But don’t let it eat all of your time. The majority of your time needs to be spent carrying out moneymaking tasks like creating info products, improving conversions for sales copy or emails, and more.

It’s time for you to embrace the moniker of leader in your niche and with this label comes the responsibility of trusting in yourself to guide you in what should be done. There’s a balance you can strike between this position of authority and one where you admit you continue to have a lot to learn.

5 Tips to Live Each Day More Productively

Whether you want to go to the gym more, start a business, get your next promotion at work, or achieve any life goals, it requires being productive and actively doing things that work towards aspirations and desires. It is essential to establish proper productivity habits to be successful.

Develop Clear Goals and Objectives

Start each day with a small to-do list. What is the overall theme for the day? Put your theme for the day at the top of your list. Next, break the list down into two to three actionable steps. Then execute the plan. Be clear and precise but don't go overboard. You want the list to be scannable and not overwhelm you.

Do Less

Doing less may sound counterinitiative, but productivity does not equal being busy or doing something every single minute of your time. In fact, if you over-schedule yourself or expect yourself to be a superhero, you will only achieve the opposite – because it will become daunting, overwhelming, or stressful and lead to burnout.

Not only that, because no one can be perfect, you will only continue your disappointment every day you don't do enough. However, productivity isn't about how much you are doing. Productivity is about what you are doing and how it relates to your overall goal. You could work for eight hours every day and still be unproductive, for example. Do less by focusing your time on what matters the most each day.

Be True to Yourself

In other words, make sure your expectations are realistic to you. If you are not a morning person, don't start something with the idea you will easily get up in the morning and get straight to work.

Not being true to yourself is an excellent way to self-sabotage yourself. Anytime you make a deadline or assign work to yourself, be sure you recognize the areas you may need more time or help save your time, frustration, and other vital resources in the long run.

Slow Down and Enjoy Life

Stop being busy all the time and equating that to success or productivity. It's a false mindset developed by a world of capitalism that rarely sees nor cares for reality. You need the time to unwind and enjoy life to stay happy and lead each day towards your goals. The finish line is not the most important thing about your life. The trip you take is.

Eliminate Stressors and Other Distractions

Do what you can to live a well-balanced and healthy life. Eliminate distractions or people and things that only cause you negativity. Lower your debt, adopt a new diet, get rid of bad relationships, upgrade your education, and take more risks. Don't let others or things weigh you down when you have the power to control your own life and succeed despite them.

Productivity is about being well-balanced and focusing your energy on the areas and things in life that you truly value. Productivity is a bumpy and windy journey that requires determination, forgiveness, and pride. Remember not to expect perfection or too much from yourself and enjoy the process.

The Benefits and Importance of Time Management

Time management involves properly organizing and using your time to accomplish specific goals or tasks. Those with excellent time management skills are highly productive, efficient, and successful people. Proper time management skills are crucial to successfully realizing all your goals, dreams, and desires.

No one can change how much time they’re given. You’re given the same twenty-four hours in a day that everyone else is given. But how you manage that time and use that time is what matters. The benefits of time management are clear because they describe the importance too.

Increased Productivity

To get more work done, you need the time to do so. Having proper time management skills means you always get work done on time and know how to use your time wisely. Without the need to procrastinate or go over deadlines, you gain the time needed to finish more work. You know how long it takes you to do a task and act accordingly.

Improved Work-Life Balance

An outstanding work-life balance is a secret to overall happiness. It's often what people need to get through life while feeling accomplished. A career that allows you to have proper time with friends and family and accomplish your life's purpose is the key to happiness. Plus, when you’re more productive at work, that means you can be even more productive at home too.

Enhanced Health and Happiness

Mental and physical health is improved when tasks or other goals are accomplished regularly and on time. When you are late, stress and defeat can overwhelm your mind and lead to negative symptoms. Turning assignments in on time or not going over your deadline increases endorphins and other happy hormones in your bloodstream, making you feel better, and ultimately, reducing depression or other symptoms.

Superior Reputation

Your career and friendships will highly benefit from proper time management skills as they always trust you to get the work done or show up on time. Proper time management means you are always reliable, which only positively increases your reputation.

More Freedom and Extra Time

Time management eliminates procrastination leaving you time and freedom to do other tasks. If you are continually waiting until the last minute or stressing to get work done, you are essentially taking away precious time to do other things. Stay on tasks and always stick to your deadlines to ensure you use your time wisely.

Improving your time management skills can open the doors to opportunities you may never have known or discovered. It is the key to overall successful life. Reduced stress, frustration, and increased happiness can only produce more success. Don’t let your time management skills get in the way of your accomplishments.

Habits of Highly Productive People

There is a person at work or in your friend group that you admire due to how much they seem to accomplish in their life. No matter what challenges are thrown at them, you know they will get it done anyway. What is it about highly productive people that allows them to get their work done? These everyday habits of highly productive people are learnable.

They Are Early to Bed and Early to Rise

There is more time in the morning to get things done as others are not awake. Productive people ensure they get proper sleep as nothing is worse for productivity than fatigue.

They Eliminate Distractions

Distractions take much needed time away from your day to get important things done. Don’t allow yourself to give in, and be sure to create environments that promote work. Leave your cell phones in another room, turn off the music, or change it to a station that encourages you to work.

They Are Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

Often, the number one reason many people fail or don’t accomplish their goals is that they are too scared or don’t want to feel uncomfortable doing it. Everyone does things they don’t like, at some point.

At some point in your life, you will be uncomfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it's negative or should be avoided. Discomfort means that you are learning and growing. Stepping out of your comfort zone is necessary to improve and gain more knowledge. Experiences and avoiding insanity its crucial for productivity as staying the same won’t lead to much as time goes on.

They Just Do It

In other words, highly productive people understand that they won’t always be highly motivated or inspired to get their work done. They just do it. They know if they push through right now, the reward will be worth it later. A few moments of being uncomfortable now won’t last long once you get used to it. Waiting around until the perfect moment only wastes time.

They Create Daily to Do List

Short and to the point to-do list are essential tools of highly productive people. They know which tasks are important and ignore the ones that will only waste time. Tasks such as checking email or other messages are only done when necessary and don’t overcome other critical tasks.

Say “No” or “Yes” Thoughtfully

Most importantly, highly productive people know when and how to say “no” or “yes” with thought and consideration. Being busy does not equal productivity. If you can’t do the work as promised, always so no. Too many commitments produce opportunities for failure. Only pick or agree to tasks you know you can get done efficiently or are passionate about.

To be more productive, examine your schedule. You can find ways to improve by using your time more wisely through organization, list-making, and action-taking. Use these tips as a checklist in your life to see where you can improve.

7 Characteristics of a Peak Performer

A peak performer is passionate about their goals and abilities, always striving to be their best. Anyone can train to be this way to increase work productivity or crush their goals and live their best lives. Study these seven common characteristics of a peak performer so that you can develop these characteristics for yourself.

Highly Self-Confident and Self-Reliant

Peak performers don’t waste time dwelling on what they can’t do. They understand their abilities and pride themselves on outperforming those around them. They often self-evaluate to build and improve their skills, giving them the confidence, they need to perform.

Zero Fear of Failure or Making Mistakes

Peak performers often step out of their comfort zone because they know that making mistakes and being nervous means, they lack experience. Peak performers know that the more they try new things, the less uncomfortable it feels and the more skills and experience they gain.

Eager to Learn and Improve

They take the time to practice their skills to be better themselves and are always eager to learn new things. The key to being a peak performer is understanding that there is always room to practice and be better.

Clear Vision and Determination to Complete Goals

They always understand what needs to get done and have a clear vision of their goals or aspirations. They don’t second-guess their decisions and are determined to get done what they said they would. They clearly define their goals and create a detailed plan of action to get it done efficiently and effectively.

Organized and Focused

To be successful and crush your goals, you need to be focused and organized. Peak performers start with the organization first because they understand that laziness now only means more work later or leads to shoddy quality work and presentations. Being more organized saves time because the organization ensures all the details that need to be included are covered, increasing your work quality.

Competitive or Passionate for Success

Peak performers get work done because of their drive or burning passion for doing so. They thrive on completing tasks, goals, or being successful in life. Competition is their fuel to get going and go faster.

Honest and Dependable

If they say they are going to do it, you can bet it will get done. Remember to stay positive and don’t dwell on past mistakes. If you desire to perform at your peak, get organized, improve your time management skills, focus on what you’re already good at, and be passionate about your goals and aspirations so that you understand what constitutes the best you can do.

6 Time Management Tips for Achieving Your Goals

Time management is a valuable skill that leads to positive career growth and successful relationships. It’s a trait that managers thrive on and what many people struggle to fix and achieve. Try these six-time management tips to fast track achieving your goals:

Make To-Do-Lists

To-do lists are a wonderful way to motivate you to get your work done. To-do lists are like a plan of action that clearly highlights what important things need to get done. The more your goals are clearly defined, the more comfortable and faster you can get them done. An unclear path can lead to confusion and lost time as you try to organize.

Create Hard Deadlines

Each task you assign should have a clear and hard deadline with a time and date. Don’t allow yourself the opportunity to go over this deadline. Let your peers and others around you know when they should expect it, and then be ready to perform. The more freedom you give yourself, the less likely you are to finish at a reasonable time.

Find Ways to Simplify

Ensure that you are not doing more than you need to complete a task. Be sure each task you outline is vital to your overall goal. If it wastes more time than provides value, you can probably do it at another time or avoid it altogether.

Identify and Eliminate Your Bad Habits

Focus on problem areas first to achieve the best results. Bad habits are often a culprit to a lack of productivity or missing deadlines. Are you always hitting snooze and wake up late? Do you often get distracted by your cell phone when you should be attending to your work? Take notice of these bad habits and create new ones to avoid them. If you ignore them, you will only allow them to manifest.

Use Time Tracking Tools and Other Technology

Utilize technology to make your day and tasks easier to accomplish. Use calendars, organizers, to-do list generators, or project management systems to keep you on track. Free project management programs like Trello not only keep you are track but others on your team as well.

Always Schedule Activities

Keep everything organized and important tasks clear by scheduling them. Even times with friends and family are essential things to schedule, so you always have enough time for work and pleasure.

If time management skills are difficult for you to develop, consider hiring a life coach to help you. If you follow these five time-management tips, you’ll be well on your way to time management success so that you can achieve your goals. If you can’t afford to hire a life coach, see if you can find a mentor dedicated to helping you get more control of your time.

5 Tips for Being More Productive

With social media and technology, it is easier than ever to get distracted and be less productive. It takes practice and determination to get there. However, it is a lot easier than you think to set up your life for productivity. The secret to productivity isn’t more work but smarter work. The idea is to create impact, not merely create busy-work. Try these tactics to make your day more productive.

Make Smaller to Do Lists

Lists can be a wonderful way to organize your day and get you going. However, too much of a good thing can have the opposite effect. A long to-do list can be overwhelming and make you want to look away. Therefore, make smaller to-do lists or more throughout your day. Also, productivity does not mean you need to be busy all day long.

You can work for thirty minutes a day and still be a very productive person. Look at your list, be honest with yourself, and be sure each task you write down leads to something useful. If it doesn’t, then simply put, you don’t need to do it. Remember, being busy doesn’t equal productivity. You can be busy all day long and still not get anything worthwhile done.

Avoid Multi-tasking

Unfortunately, humans, no matter how much they try, are not wired for multi-tasking. You may think you are getting a lot done, but your brain can only do one thing at a time, scientifically. Going in and out of tasks is only wasting time as your brain tries to adjust.

Use Positive and Productive Self-Talk

The more you tell yourself you can’t do something or feel overwhelmed about a specific task, the more likely you will fail or waste time. Use positive and productive self-talk as motivation to keep you going.

Create Organization Habits

Organization is key to being productive. Establish essential organization habits early to save time and frustration. Organization can make repetitive tasks turn automatic and others more straightforward and more comfortable to accomplish.

Follow The 80/20 Rule

An idea created by Vilfredo Pareto states that only twenty percent of the work you do creates eighty percent of the overall outcome, which means that most of what you do throughout your day has hardly any value to your overall goal. Identify what those tasks are and only focus your time and energy to save time and use your energy only where needed.

Add these tactics to your daily routine to increase your productivity. High productivity is about providing more value than doing more work.

You may be reading this book because you have been forced by circumstances to start working from home. But there’s also a chance that you’re reading it in a prospective fashion: that you want to start working from home. Hopefully, you’ve seen that with the right mindset, this can be a hugely positive influence on your lifestyle!

Or maybe you’ve been recently forced to work from home and you’re now thinking about the other types of work you could do. Why not transition to a workplace that is better suited to this new working style?

The great news is that this is now more possible than ever: as more organizations start hiring online, and countless apps and services seek streamline the process.

In short: it’s now easier than ever to maintain a productive online workflow, and the number of online jobs is rapidly increasing.

Top Online Jobs

Before we begin listing the top online jobs, it’s worth noting that the top online jobs broadly fall into one of three categories:

• Employment
• Gig economy
• Passive income

In other words, you can either find a company to work for but send your work in remotely, or you can sell your skills to online clients on a freelance basis.

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Your ally in the battle to maintain productivity and health while working from home, is your home office. While you might be limited for space, if there is any way possible, then you should design a home office that will be separate from the rest of your home.

This is important, because it will allow you to step in and out of your “work mode.” The worst thing you can do, is to work in the room you sleep in. This will make it much harder to separate your working life from your downtime, which will have deleterious impacts on your sleep.

There are other things you can do to make an ideal home office for productivity too.

Inspiration

One powerful tip, is to surround your office with things that inspire you and that put you in the mood to be productive. These might be examples of the best work in your niche or industry, or pictures of your heroes and people who inspire you.

This is something that Cal Newport talks about in his book Deep Work (which I’ve referenced before). Here, he talks about the idea of the “Eudaimonia Machine” – a space built by architects with the singular purpose of generating the most productivity possible.

Part of this design involves museums filled with inspirational works. This is something that I feel very strongly about and believe can make a huge difference to overall productivity.

This is linked to the psychological concept of “priming.” Priming essentially means putting someone in the frame of mind most conducive to whatever

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