Michael Lyons: How to Manage Time Better- Find Ways to do Less

How to Find Time in an Already Overloaded Schedule

The search for more time is the 21st Century equivalent of the Holy Grail not to mention, that there have been so many books written on this subject, almost anyone could probably earn a degree in the subject.   For today however, we are going to do a simple exercise that will help you to find more time in your busy schedule.

List the requirements

• Write down everything that you HAVE to do.   This doesn't mean you think you have to do it, it means tasks which you must be present for if they are to be accomplished.  
• Example:  You need to be present for your review at work.  It is a review of you and you must be there to discuss it with your boss
• Something you think you have to be there for Example: Answering your email.  Yes, you can answer all 100-200 emails that you have a day, BUT is it possible for someone else to respond on your behalf if they have the correct information? Absolutely.

 List the Problems

1. List your ten biggest problems: issues that cause you unnecessary stress or eat up your time
2. Choose the worst four of the ten
3. Find ways to overcome the four problems or alleviate the impact they have on your life  Spend ten (10) minutes and find a way to eliminate these from your life or drastically reduce their impact.  Do not forget to consider a stoic outlook outlook in reducing the stress from these areas.  
4. If you cannot find a solution make sure that you really MUST continue performing / being involved in these tasks 

Make a Weekly Schedule

1. Make a schedule for this week
2. Go through and put an X on everything that is optional
3. Consider getting rid of that activity if it isn't something that you really enjoy or really have to do
4. Check out the Cubicle Fix Five Minute Schedule.

REPEAT AND PLOT

The final step is to:
- record your actions for a week
-repeat these steps at the start of the next week
It is much easier to find your available time that is tied down by "problem" areas if you continuously analyze how you are spending your time.

THE CHALLENGE:

• Set a weekly "time gain" goal of 3 hours or more.  This is the time that you gain through the elimination and streamlining of tasks
• Record any time that you gain by eliminating tasks and plot your total gains for each week using a program like Microsoft Excel.  After 6 weeks reflect on your gains.

If you found this material helpful: 

Please leave a comment and suggestion for new material via this two (2) question survey!

-Michael Lyons

Cubicle Fix Recommended Reading:

• Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot by James Bond Stockdale

• The Handbook by Epictetus  

• The Pareto Principle on Wikipedia

Michael Lyons with Feature Blog Thurday: How to Be Rich

ON FEATURE BLOG THURSDAY: How to get out of credit card debt, automate your finances, and become wealthy


Now there are some mornings that you wake up, and say:


"I did it! I finally understand everything in existence!"


...but seriously...


this obviously never happens, as there is always another person with more information and knowledge of a topic than we ourselves possess. This is why we hire lawyers, doctors, and other professionals.   


Since there are incredible people out there who possess far more expertise in a field than I do, for the next few months I will be using Thursdays at Cubicle Fix to feature another blog.


Today we will focus on making money.  How to make more, spend it on the things you love and how to win in the financial arena. Today's feature blog is by New York Times Best Selling Author: Ramit Sethi.




Today's feature blog is:
http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/

My personal favorite section is on negotiation and if you do not look at any other part of his blog at least check out:

http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/how-to-negotiate/

Please let me know what you think: Cubicle Fix Google Docs Survey

Michael Lyons: Deal with failure and use it to succeed

-How to Handle Failure and Successfully Use it-

As an engineering student I have the unique opportunity to view many extremely intelligent people repeat something extremely terrible on a regular basis.

FAILURE

That's correct, I watch my fellow engineering students work to achieve goals and then fail to meet those goals.  As a matter of fact, I can say that I see at least one failure each day.  Why does this happen?


1.  Insufficient Preparation:  One knows the required preparation material, goal, or tasks, they understand the requirements and then do not work properly to ensure their success.


2.  The Curve Ball.  Sometimes life just throws a curve ball i.e. what was expected and prepared for was completely different than what was found at the challenge.


3.   ___________.  This is the catch-all reason, the car broke down, kids fell ill, etc.


The point of all this?
Everyone, not just engineering students, will fail in some way, shape, or form.  Today is about recovering from that failure.


Failure is not entirely negative, it may be very beneficial if treated properly.  
To overcome a failure, it is extremely important that you analyze your mistakes and/or deficiencies in the failure area, and find a way to overcome them in the future.  


How to Overcome failure and Learn from it
Start a successes and failures journal. Make it a point to reflect on difficult situations, in professional, academic or social settings.


Ask yourself these questions:
1.  What did I do right on fill in the blank?
Please STOP and re-read point 1. Repeat.
This is extremely difficult for many people, they fail something and then reflect by saying:


-"I tried my best"
-"I'll do better next time"
-"Maybe no one else did well on it"


These are not the types of reflections you want to foster.  
Focus first and foremost on what you did well on fill in the blank, and it will be much easier to continue the reflection process.  

Focus on the positives first!

2. What should I have done that I did not do?


3. How do remedy this (the answer to question #2) in the future?


4. How will I hold myself accountable, and how will I track my progress?


Holding yourself accountable and tracking your progress is vital for improvement.  If you do not track your progress, it is not possible to determine how much you have improved.  Without any sense of forward progress, you will become discouraged and fail to significantly improve.




Bad Day Syndrome
Upon failing something, most people have a tendency to really beat themselves up for hours afterwards thereby ruining their day.  Please, realize that mentally flogging yourself for failing at -Insert Issue Here- is waste of your extremely valuable time!  


Odds are that    –Insert Issue Here- is something that you will soon forget about in light of something more important and that issue is not worth ruining your entire day.  If you doubt this, try the following exercise:

1. Write down the worst possible implications of your failure e.g. you lose your job and are unable to pay your bills.  Be extremely detailed.

2.  Find ways to overcome your problems.  If you feel there is a problem that is insurmountable talk with people around you for help.  Where there's a will there's a way.

To recap:

• Analyze your failures and learn from them
• Focus on the positives first
• Track your progress and hold yourself accountable

Now there's only one thing left to do:

Succeed.

Suggested Reading: Stoicism 101: A practical guide for entrepreneurs

Tuesday: Eating Healthy in the Cafeteria

Alright, let's admit it, we've all been there.  You're trying to be conscious about what you eat and then you walk into the place where healthy eating goes to die.

THE CAFETERIA.

The cafeteria near your cubicle may be run by a large food corporation who has the sole goal of profiting from your dietary habits or it may be your own kitchen that simply contains unhealthy food.

Professional Note: I am not a doctor and you should consult your physician before beginning any type of diet or exercise.

Personal Note: Honestly, this is not going to kill you.  Doing nothing however, and continuing down victory lane with the McDonald's style cafeteria-company-gets-rich-because-bad-food-is-cheap-food diet might actually kill you one day down the road.

Is this for me?
I would recommend this for individuals working to decrease their body fat percentage down to the 10-12% arena.

What if I my body fat percentage is already in the 10-12% range?
If you working to drop below 10% body fat, let me know and I will post information and sources on those topics. Please remember, losing weight is not the same as losing fat.

What is the simplest thing that I could do?
Track your weight and measurements in arms, chest, waist and legs.  Tracking is the most important aspect of this program, because it will allow you to see your progress and help you to stay positive about what you are doing.

Moving on,

1. THE RULES*
1. Avoid “white” carbohydrates
2. Eat the same few meals over and over again (this is easier if you are preparing your own food)
3. Don’t drink calories. No milk, soy milk, soft drinks, or fruit juice. Coffee & wine are OK. Keep them in small quantities.
4. Don’t eat fruit. Tomatoes and avocados are OK.
5. Take one day off per week. Eat whatever you want. Yes, whatever, but ONLY ONE (1) day per week
6. Allowed foods: Proteins, legumes and vegetables.  See below for details.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions please let me know by taking the survey on the right!

• Proteins:
• Egg whites with 1-2 whole eggs for flavor (or 2-5 whole organic eggs, including yolks)
• Chicken breast or thigh
• Beef
• Fish
• Pork

• Legumes: 

NOTE-> Legumes are not the"optimal addition to your diet" many people find difficulty in eating mainly protein and fats, due to the high volume nature of protein based foods.  That is why the legumes have been included.  Personally, I do not use legumes. Instead, I would recommend substituting fats such as fish oil, peanut butter, avacado, olive oil, and (google for more options) with quantities varying with your activity level.  If you are highly active you will need significantly more fat in your diet.

With all of this said, using legumes does work.  Skeptical? Google "Slow Carb diet results"

• Lentils (daal)
• Black beans
• Pinto beans
• Red beans
• Soybeans

• Vegetables
• Spinach
• Mixed vegetables (including broccoli and cauliflower)
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchee
• Asparagus
• Peas
• Broccoli
• Green beans

Interesting Places to look:

http://robbwolf.com/ : a look at eating in the manner of the modern caveman

http://fourhourbody.com/ : a source of hacks for the human body
-Michael Lyons

*TAKEN FROM:Slow Carb Diet (p72) in Tim Ferris's The 4-Hour Body

Thanks to Adam @ http://adamloving.com/ for the layout 

Michael Lyons: How to be Bi-Winning

Yes, Charlie Sheen does indeed possess the answer to Bi- Winning, it's just like he said

"The Nike symbol doesn't say just try it, it says JUST DO IT..."

On that note, today's cubiclefix is about winning at life.

Is there anything that you know you need work on but have been putting it off?

Vacations, earning more money, losing weight, finding things to do when you are bored? Perhaps fixing your posture, staying in touch with friends and family, or improving your social skills?

If so this is what I need you to do:
1. Click on the Google docs survey : 
TO THE RIGHT or use the address below.


https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dHdiT2c4eXVxaXU4M3BmVFowWG91RUE6MQ


2. Respond to the first question by state what winning means for you.

Examples: I want to climb mount everest.
OR
Calling X once a week. It can be anything!
3. Click Submit

Based on your input I will be researching and providing insight on how to win in these areas.
Make it a great weekend, I'll see you all on Monday!

-Michael Lyons

Michael Lyons: Making a flexible schedule in only five minutes and tracking everything in one place

How to create a schedule in just five minutes.  

This is a schedule that is easily repaired after long periods of neglect

This video covers the creation of a five minute, flexible schedule.

How to combine all of your to do lists into one place

     Now, this (the video) method is excellent for:

1. Keeping track of things using only five minutes a day

2. Making a flexible schedule

However, what if you say "Mike, I want something that condenses everything I have.  I understand you said I could put it all on a calendar, but I have too much to do for a calendar!"

Not a problem. 

The solution to condensing your to do lists: Google Tasks.
Mike Lyons
If you're a hotmail/ yahoo user they might have something similar, but Google tasks is the most straight forward method.

Michael Lyons
Here is Google's info on their tasks program: http://mail.google.com/mail/help/tasks/

My recommendation is get a calendar program, like Google calendar; a calendar that INTEGRATES YOUR TASK LIST and allows you to add tasks on the calendar.

Michael Lyons

FOR Google Calendar:

1. Click above the calendar

2. A box will pop up. Click on "Task" and enter your task.  The date will default to whatever day you click on but, you can easily edit the task after you create it

The nice thing about these tasks is they can be easily moved between days by simply dragging and dropping the tasks.

If you have any questions/ suggestions please comment!

Michael Lyons: Attacking the Office Chair

Today we're looking at solving the problems that arise from sitting in your "well designed" modern office chair.

NOTE --> your weight should be on your heels, not on the balls of your feet.

Please comment and let me know what you would like to see on here tomorrow.

Thank you!
Michael Lyons