If you’re anything like me then from time to time you ask yourself, “What did I ACTUALLY achieve today?”
Alarmingly, the answer often comes back, “Er… Not that much really!”
If you can relate to this then this post is for you.
If you’re serious about making money online and developing a lifetime web-business then sorting out your productivity is absolutely crucial.
There are many techniques that self-improvement gurus talk about but there’s one I’ve been using recently to great effect. I’d like to share it with you here as you’ll be able to put into practice right away and get some super results just as I have.
It’s called CHUNKING.
Chunking is simply the practice of dividing up your time into small amounts and then focusing solely on one task at a time. When the allotted chunk of time is up you stop and either take a break or move onto the next task.
How To “Chunk”
To explain how I’ve been using chunking let me tell you what I’ve been doing today (so far!):
6:40am – Got up, had a shower, drink & banana
7:00am – Switched on my PC and wrote a plan of what I’d like to accomplish today:
- Answer personal and customer support emails (30 mins)
- Continue setting up new squeeze page (1 hour)
- Write blog post on Chunking and email my list 😉 (45 mins)
- Go to the Gym (90 minutes roundtrip)
- Work on new sales page for Gain Higher Ground Membership (60 minutes)
7:10am – Start working through the list
So as you can see, this really gives you some definable goals and a roadmap for whatever time you are able to spend working on your online business.
It doesn’t matter whether you have all day or just 30 minutes in the evening. Chunking can help you enormously.
Here are some more tips to get this working:
1. Always focus on ONLY the job in hand, don’t even think about anything else.
2. Switch off all distractions including Skype, Twitter, Facebook, Email. I actually even physically log out of these to make sure I’m not even tempted to “quickly check my email” when my mind wanders!
3. After the allotted time is up STOP, take a 5 minutes break and then continue with the next task.
The last point is really crucial and the great thing with chunking is that you don’t get bored with working on one particular job for too long. It gives you variety and you always feel fresh because you know shortly it will be time to move on to the next task.
Also, because you know you’re working against the clock you really do get motivated to try and beat it! I’ve found I’m definitely working faster now.
It’s rare to find something so powerful that is so simple and fun. But chunking is just that so I highly recommend you give it a try and see the results for yourself.
What do you think? Have you struggled with productivity before? Please post below and share your thoughts…
Hi Rob.
Chunking is going to get a try here. I’m always either spending too long on one thing or filling the days with “housekeeeping” activities which don’t move my business forward. Here’s to chunking!
I also want to say how much I enjoyed the traffic webinar last week. Nice one Rob!
Hi Colin,
I know what you mean about the housekeeping. It’s so easy to get bogged down in “I’ll just try and find a better WordPress theme for my site” and the like. It’s usually at the expense of something far more important!
Good to see you on the members webinar Colin, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Rob
I agree with Colin. I was attempting to “Chunk” before I read this, but there was that voice in my head that wondered if it was even worth it/productive. I’ll give it a better go now for sure.
Hey Marlon,
Great to see you here at GHG – thanks for stopping by. 🙂
It really has worked very well for me so far (about 4 weeks). I still drift off occasionally but that’s just natural I think.
Good luck with it, let me know how it goes!
Cheers – Rob
Great idea to shut off email. I do that as well, but not nearly as much as I should. Don not disturb on Skype works too!
Going to the gym is a HUGE productivity multiplier – focuses the bran and recharges the creatve juices. I always come back way more productive after and hour of sweating!!!
You got it Ralph, the exercise works wonders!
The gym is our choice but it doesn’t have to be – just a walk outside for 30-60 mins can be equally as productive.
Hope all is well – Rob
Hi Rob,
I will give chunking a try. Most of my time is spent on checking mails and reading of novels which has not given me time to concentrate on my online training for sometime now but with you by my side it will be possible this year. Happy New Year and to your success.
Thank you and God Bless!
Tajudeen
Hi Tajudeen,
It is hard to juggle multiple projects like that. Multitasking is pretty tricky for me too (especially given my gender).
Happy New Year to you too, I hope 2012 will be the best yet!
Rob
Hi Rob,
Thank you for the material on chunking.
The problem is that at the moment every little task I do on the computer takes
me a long time.
I am finding I get stuck on the simplist of actions, which if one was a computer
buff would take no time at all.
Is there anyone else out there struggling?, if so perhaps we can help one another.
Hi Angel,
You’re welcome, glad this gave some food for thought.
I can absolutely assure you you are not alone! It doesn’t matter if it takes you longer. We all have to go through the learning curve and some people are better at some things than other. I for example, am not a particularly fast learner at all. But I know if I keep at it and be patient with myself I know I can do it.
All the more reason to start chunking Angel! I hope you try it and it works well for you.
Rob 🙂
i was struggling with productivity and started doing a similar thing to your chunking – and it really does work. The 5 min break is a great way of refreshing your mind and staying alert.
I also mark each chunk of time with an X so at the end of the day can see what time I have spent and where. If I get interrupted then I also mark my sheet with another symbol and write down the nature of the interruption on to another sheet as it is always something I remember I need to do. This way I record what it is that is on my mind and can get on with the task in hand. Later I can do those tasks.
Hi Moira,
Great tips there. I tend to delete the tasks after I complete them but I think I might start doing what you’ve suggested. I must be satisfying to see a complete list of completed tasks at the day’s end!
Cheers, Rob
Hey Rob ,
Thanks for that Post Buddy I heard this “chunking” thing from Mr.Freville himself
as a student of him and did not pay much attention to it until a month ago when
I actually started to applied it and Yes it works .We are Lucky to have You in
Our corner. Thanks .
Hi Napoles,
It’s easy to push these time management techniques to one side, disregard them and just think you need to focus on the technical and marketing side of things. But you’re absolutely right it does make a huge difference if you try it!
Cheers,
Rob
Hi Rob
I do ‘chunk’ most of the time, however, if I am on a roll, I tend to forget the 5 minute break!
Using a kitchen timer helps to measure your time.
I also allow 30 minutes a day to do whatever I like, so I just pick something on my list even if I have already ‘chunked’ it.
Also, with product creation, I set a number of pages rather than a time limit.
Dee
Thanks for your Chunking Tips Dee, some great advice as always!
Cheers, Rob
Thanks for reminding me of this. Ive been getting very lax, trying to do too many things at once, but getting fed up with plate-spinning and not being able to complete any one project (they are all equally important!), so I get frustrated by not reducing volume of work that remains on my desk.
Chunking at least lets you see youve made progress.
As a tip, many years ago I applied the chunking principle to reading newspapers & household chores esp ironing, and throwing newspaper away once my time expired – it really drives you to complete and not get distracted! Its a variation on the 80/20 principle that I used to use in training people. Funny how you forget!
Hi Rob
This is the first time I’ve come across chunking! I must admit that I’ve never really considered productivity but have made several “failed” attempts at goal setting! I am attracted by what you are saying and recognise the need for self-discipline and organisation! I am just thinking that if you are faced with a day of activities – say away from the home, online business environment – it might be difficult to anticipate and therefore chunk that period of time. It would be fine if like you say, going to the gymn would be about a one and a half hour trip! What are your thoughts on that?
Peter
Hey Peter,
Thanks for your comment, I definitely recommend giving it a try – hope it helps you.
My gym is just around the corner so I guess I’m lucky. But if you live further away perhaps just getting outside will help. the gym is not the only answer it’s just what suits me.
Cheers!
Rob
Hi Rob,
Great post, I know you’ve talked about chunking as a way of increasing productivity in GHG but I’ve never really managed to put it into practice! I usually just make a ‘to do list’ which unfortunately rarely gets done!!!
I’m certainly going put more effort into giving chunking a go and doing as you suggest – logging-out of emails and FB would make a brilliant start, and I’m sure give me a lot more time to actually get on with the task in hand.
Thanks,
Stephanie
Thanks Stephanie, glad you found it useful 🙂
Email, FB and all the rest are very useful tools but also Mass Weapons of Distraction as well so they need to be used carefully!
Cheers,
Rob.