Project TGL @ProjectTGL

If you're working from home in lockdown (or just wfh because that's your regular thang) and you *haven't* taken my free mini-course yet, may I suggest you get on it stat? It takes less than 30 min to complete and you'll get some solid-gold science-backed productivity nuggets.

Networking for introverts doesn't have to be all awkwardly standing in a corner. These work for me: ✅ Choose facilitated discussions with built-in conversation topics ✅ Pick one group and go regularly; get to know people over time ✅ Help others out! That counts as networking

Did you know that just seeing that you have an unread notification drastically reduces your productivity? So, do yourself a favour: close your email application, turn your phone on silent and face-down, and give your brain a chance to really focus.

When life gets overwhelming, when circumstances change, or when times get tough, it always pays to stop and ask yourself this question: "What are my highest priorities right now?" Then, Give yourself permission to say "no" to the things that are no longer priorities.

About six weeks ago, I sat down and took a hard look at my calendar. I found a week that didn't yet have any appointments, workshops, or meetings , and I blocked out the whole week as a "Week off-ish". That week was last week. And reader, it was glorious.

I've stopped tracking how many hours I work. Instead, each week, I sit down and jot down what I achieved this week. The list is always longer than I expected. To me, this is an infinitely more valuable measure of productivity than counting the minutes or hours clocked at my desk.

One of the reasons I love playing #DungeonsAndDragons is that it can (if you want) make use of so many skills. Currently, I'm watching lessons by master writers about character development, and adding that to my D&D toolset. How do your hobbies exercise your skills?

My afternoon slump hits around 4.30pm. I used to take break when I slumped. But often, I would struggle to focus again afterward. Then I learned that breaks are most effective taken *before* your slump, and started walking at 3.30 each day. Just like that? My 4:30 slump vanished.

I have thought about this definition at least once a month since first reading it, and have incorporated it into my own concept of the good life. Do you know what factors make up "quality of life" for you? If not, I encourage you to spend some time thinking about it!

Every morning, I drink my morning coffee from this mug. Every morning, this mug gently reminds me that I can meet the demands of another day! And every morning, the tiny spot of pessimism amid all that optimism helps me to accept the message without my usual scepticism.

My secret weapon for weekly planning: erasable ink pens. When things change and my weekly plan inevitably needs adjusting I can simply erase and rewrite.

PSA: If you find yourself consistently feeling guilty for not being productive? Then whatever method you're using to plan your time is not for you. It's just a stick to beat yourself with. Good productivity tools will fit your lifestyle and the way you prefer to work.

Making big changes burns a lot of energy. This is especially true right now, as you arrive at January off the back of a very depleting year, still catching up on loose ends from 2020, amid the ever-changing landscape of a pandemic. buff.ly/35AUIDX

One of my favourite new year rituals is to comb through my favourite book critics' "best books of this year" recommendations, and add new titles to my "to read" lists. There's something so exciting about anticipating all the future reading I'm going to do this year (and beyond).

Reading about the benefits of gift-giving recently got me thinking... So my online course Tweak Your Week is now available for purchase as a gift! Hooray! You can treat a friend right here: buff.ly/2HhKYW2

Having trouble making a decision? Why not roll the dice? Sometimes there are no wrong choices. Save yourself the hassle, and leave it to chance. And if you feel a little sinking feeling when you see the result? That's a clue that you were secretly hoping for a different answer.

What random, uber-specific skills did you pick up from your first job?⁣ My first job was putting books away at the library, and as a result I'm *really good* at carrying an ungodly number of books at once, and at removing a book from the bottom of the pile I'm carrying.

Slowly but surely, over the last couple of months, I've been updating my LinkedIn profile. If I had tried to do it all in one go? Hello overwhelm. But updating one tiny section each Tuesday? Totally doable. What types of tasks do you prefer to break up into tiny pieces?

What's your best home office investment?

You've heard that you should keep a gratitude journal, but did you know that some of the most common gratitude advice doesn't work? Here's exactly how (and why) to practise gratitude. Watch the full video: projecttgl.com/2020/10/28/exa…