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Things That Don’t Help Get More Done <\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
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There’s loads of ways to try and cheat the system – many of these work in the short term (and are not always bad) but in the medium-long term will not be sustainable so if you rely upon them you get burnout. A metaphor for some is sprinting – you can do it for a while – bit it’s no way to complete a marathon. Here are a few of the popular strategies I see daily – many have consequences like high staff churn rates, sick days, heart attacks and general ill health, unhappiness, divorces, high error rates, etc – which is when people bring me on to do stress training<\/a>. Crap in…sooner or later…crap out.<\/div>\n
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Just Work More<\/b><\/div>\n
Pushing harder and working longer and longer hours is just stooopid – you won’t get away with it forever. There are two types of businesses – those who manage time, energy and stress maturely, and those who are in denial that they can’t, and suffer the consequences.<\/div>\n
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Sleep Less<\/b><\/div>\n
People need sleep like a car needs petrol – simple. Thatcher slept 4 hours a night, bit she was clearly a demon not a human being. Sleep is particularly important if your job involves creativity (you stop dreaming with less sleep), service or maintaining relationships (compassion often fades – hence Maggie). <\/span>
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Caffeine, Nicotine, Sugar and Friends<\/b><\/div>\n
We are a nation of drug addicts and like all addictive drugs caffeine helps you in the short term (by simulating your adrenal glands) but takes from you in exchange – hence you need it more so you take it more. Same cycle as heroin, nicotine, alcoholic, chocolate, cocaine, etc. Use wisely.<\/div>\n
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soldiers sleeping<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n![](\"http:\/\/bbll.com\/army\/sleeping.jpg\")
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<\/div>\nThings That Do Help Get Things Done<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
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Love What You Do<\/b><\/div>\n
It’s only work if you don’t like it. Breaking down the work-play distinction (actually a modern invention) means that you can do a lot more than 8 hours. Do what you love, or learn to love what you do to achieve the “0 hour work week<\/a>.”<\/div>\n
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Get a System<\/b><\/div>\n
A good time management system like Getting Things Done<\/a> (GTD) will work wonders. If you want something immediate (that’s the way of the world…) try these time management tips<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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Just Do One Thing<\/b><\/div>\n
The problem for many people is that they are mixing their activiteis so niot getting their “8 a day” of any of them. When you sleep sleep, when you work work, when you rest\/play rest and play. Simple. The fact that I can go from running (literally or virtually) to snoring in less than five minutes annoys my girlfriends but is great for me \ud83d\ude42<\/div>\n
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Meditation and Exercise<\/b><\/div>\n
If you need to learn focus – and the modem world is one big distraction with multiple e-mails, calls, texts, twits, etc taking – I recomend meditation and martial arts. Both mindfulness practices and exercise in general will also mean you will be healthier, smarter and sleep better. Invest in yourself.<\/p>\n