Power PD Issue # 3 Productivity

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This issue of Power PD includes some creative ways to increase productivity, build your PLN and jazz up your slides presentations.  

You can check out the slidedeck with all the links here.

Productivity:  I think each of us is thinking about how we can be more productive and eliminate unnecessary stress in our lives.  I had a chance to listen to the Truth for Teachers Podcast recently as they discussed 5 ways to improve productivity.  I highly recommend you tune in to the episode to hear the host really delve into each of the 5 tips.  I thought I'd take a few minutes here to reflect on how I plan to use those tips in my life:

1.Eliminating unintentional breaks and making intentional breaks.


For me this is a big one, sometimes I find myself jumping around from task to task and I have found that a daily to do list keeps me grounded.  Since the pandemic I started using an iPad and the GoodNotes app to organize my thinking and planning.  One thing I love is I can simply select my to do items that I don't get to and copy them over to the next day's tasks.  This has been a life saver!

Also I have found that I need to plan for some breaks to clear my head and then get back into the game.  If I try to work too long on a task without any breaks, I sometimes lose my focus.

2.Figure out the main thing and do it first.



Each day I start out by setting up my list and organizing it by dragging around my tasks until I have them in the order I need to complete them.  Moving from paper to do lists to my iPad has been amazing for easily rearranging tasks while still keeping my information neat.  I also love that I can use my stylus to handwrite my information and it converts it to text for me.  This allows me to get that feel of handwriting notes, which I love, while keeping it extra neat with text conversion.

3.Work ahead by batching. 



This is one I want to get better at.  I do batch plan library programming activities as discussed in the podcast episode, however I'd like to work on batch planning social media posts, book promotions and newsletter content.  I know my life would be easier if I had least had a starting point premade for each of these areas.  Right now I am working day to day to make them happen.

4.It’s okay to relax, sometimes it is only us holding ourselves up to such high standards.



This is a big one for me.  I always strive to do the best possible work in all areas, but as I listened in to the podcast what they said resonated with me.  No one knows about the plans I had in mind to take something to the next level that didn't come to fruition.  It is okay to pick and choose which items to dedicate more time to and which I'm okay with a moderate level of effort on.  In the end it is me against me trying to be better each day.  I just need to pick and choose where I want to focus my effort instead of draining myself by placing my effort in all areas.

5.Use scheduling to create boundaries around your time.

I really want to focus on this more this year as well.  I think if I am going to do the best possible job I need to plan in time for managing my library, training, coaching and teaching.  It is okay for me to say no and not fit in things I don't have time for.  



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