You're Dreaming!

"The Productivity PRO!"(R) news"E"letter Number 54,
November 2003

By Laura M. Stack, MBA, CSP, (Certified Speaking
Professional)

"The Productivity PRO!"(R) news"E"letter is a monthly
electronic newsletter distributed to our clients, human
resource personnel, and colleagues to help them leave the
office earlier, with less stress, and more to show for it!
Circulation 1,503.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to
interested associates so they may subscribe.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to
www.theproductivitypro.com/r_subscribe.htm.

___________________________________________________
In This Issue:

* Message from Laura: New teleseminar series!
* Article: "You’re Dreaming! How Can Daydreaming Be
Productive?"
* Time Tips and Traps
* Words of Wisdom
* Topic of the Month
* Letters to the Editor
* Featured Seminar: "3rd Annual Keep Laura Home for
the Holidays Sale"
* Contact and Subscription Information

___________________________________________________
Message From Laura:

In response to your requests, I'm pleased to announce the
new “Leave the Office Earlier” Teleconference Series! Join
me for a ten-part teleconference series on mastering your
personal productivity. Each one-hour teleconference will
cover a chapter in my new book “Leave the Office
Earlier.”

Upcoming Program: “Preparation: Planning and
Scheduling for Success”
Date: January 12, 2004
Time: 4:00 Eastern, 3:00 Central, 2:00 Mountain, 1:00 Pacific
Duration: One hour
Investment: $39

For more information and go register, go to
http://www.theproductivitypro.com/webinar_series.htm.

Future teleseminar dates:

JANUARY 19, 2004: Reduction—eliminating time leaks
and speed bumps
JANUARY 26, 2004: Order—organizing information and
creating systems
FEBRUARY 2, 2004: Discipline—maintaining persistent,
productive behavior
FEBRUARY 9, 2004: Unease—overcoming overload and
stress
FEBRUARY 16, 2004: Concentration—increasing focus and
attentiveness
FEBRUARY 23, 2004: Time—mastering activity- and self-
management
MARCH 1, 2004: Information—controlling technology and
using tools
MARCH 8, 2004: Vitality—discovering physiological
productivity factors
MARCH 15, 2004: Equilibrium—creating life balance and
boundaries

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Article: You’re Dreaming! How Can Daydreaming Be
Productive?

You’re staring out your office window…lost in thought
about your upcoming dinner party…when you jerk back
to reality: “Oops, where was I?” you think, as you look
down once again at the report on your desk. You’ve been
daydreaming.

Daydreaming can be a real productivity bandit, especially
when you’re supposed to be focusing on a higher-priority
project. Excessive daydreaming can waste precious time
that could be better spent on other things. But
daydreaming isn’t always bad. There’s a difference
between true daydreaming as the brain’s response to
overload or boredom and thinking time that may lead to
promising ideas.

How do you ensure daydreaming time is productive time?

* Don’t use daydreaming to procrastinate. Daydreaming
can be a good tool for transitioning to a new project during
the day. It gives your brain a chance to change gears.
Figuratively, your mind puts away the file on the last task,
takes a break, and gets ready to open a new file and begin
work. However, when you find your mind wandering
when you’re supposed to be concentrating on a task, self-
discipline is required to stay focused.

* Select your designated “daydreaming place.” Some of
my best ideas come to me when I’m flying, when my body
and brain are still. Taking time in a place with no
distractions gives your brain the opportunity to discover
creative ideas and new solutions to problems. You may
find walking the dog, washing dishes, driving in the car,
exercising, or reading the perfect time to develop new
processes or plan projects.

* Spend an appropriate amount of time. For the most
effective brainstorming, choose a place or activity that
takes no less than 15 minutes and no more than 60
minutes. You want your brain to have time to rummage
through the closets of your mind, but not so much time
that you’re wasting time unnecessarily.

* Approach your daydreaming place with purpose. Before
you go to your daydreaming place, have a problem ready
to mull over in your mind. Without the normal
distractions, your brain will be free to explore new
possibilities. By the end of your walk or plane ride, you
may have discovered an innovative solution to that issue.

* Use paper to capture the results of daydreaming. By
writing down your ideas, you won’t immediately forget
them, and you can see them all at one time. Now you can
look for relationships among your thoughts. Ask
questions such as, “What causes X?” “What are the results
of X?” “With what things is X related?” “What’s behind
this?” “Is this leading anywhere else?” “Who else might be
affected?” I like to use a mind map with clusters of items,
details, examples, and lines connecting them.

People don’t often allow themselves the opportunity to
think about challenging situations, because they’re going
ninety miles an hour all day long. And our culture and
current work ethic doesn’t condone thinking time.
However, when you follow the tips above, daydreaming
can synthesize the volumes of information that flow across
your desk, the phone lines, and through your brain every
day.

(C) Copyright 2003 Laura Stack, MBA, CSP. All rights
reserved. Portions of this newsletter may be reprinted in
your organization or association newsletter, provided the
following credit line is present:

"Laura M. Stack, MBA, CSP, is "The Productivity PRO," (R)
helping people leave the office earlier, with less stress, and
more to show for it. She presents keynotes and seminars
on time management, information overload, and personal
productivity. Contact her at 303-471-7401 or
[email protected]."

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Time Tips and Traps

* Start making your holiday gift list NOW. For items you
need to buy, call the stores for availability so you don’t
waste time running from store to store. Plan your
shopping trips, noting the person, item, and the store. Try
to know exactly what you’re buying before you go. Don’t
wander around hoping something will jump out at you.
Internet orders should be made now to ensure holiday
delivery. Get started early and avoid the last-minute
crush!

* If you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your home,
accept offers to bring food gladly! Ask guests to bring
“ their specialty,” and you’ll be thrilled with the
sumptuous goodies that appear. After eating, allow your
guests to help you clean up. Don’t play the martyr! It's no
fun to spend your time alone in the kitchen, wishing you
were part of the talk and laughter. The kitchen is a great
place to gather and talk while the dishes are being washed
and put away. Or just leave the dishes and shut the door
until everyone leaves. Enjoy yourself!

* Time to get organized? Receive Patty Kreamer's
FREE monthly email newsletter "The Kreamer
Connection." Visit
http://www.byebyeclutter.com/book.htm to subscribe.
Patty is the author of "...But I Might Need It Someday!" a
book that will help you organize your life and WIN the
clutter battle.

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Words of Wisdom

"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall
not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use
my time." -- Jack London

"Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it
into a door." -- Dr. Laura Schlessinger

"Time is a circus, always packing up and moving away." --
Ben Hecht

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Topic of the Month

Each month, I'll invite comments on a topic (if you have a
topic idea or dilemma, let me know). Responses will be
posted in the next month's newsletter. Please send your
brief response (75-100 words) directly to
[email protected]. Please put "Topic of the
Month" or "TOTM" in the subject line.

NOVEMBER TOTM:

A big debate in the Human Resources community resolves
around use of the Internet at work. Do you think
employees should be able to access the Internet for
personal reasons at work? Or do you feel it hinders
productivity more than it helps?

OCTOBER'S TOTM:

Experts are predicting a jobless economic recovery,
despite huge gains in U.S. productivity. Translation:
everyone is working harder and your company will not be
hiring anyone to help you when times get better. I believe
in 2005, U.S. companies are going to experience huge
turnover problems as workers leave their organizations in
search of a better life. So here's my question: "WHAT
COULD YOUR EMPLOYER DO TO KEEP YOU FROM
LEAVING THE ORGANIZATION?"

Hi Laura,

Greetings from San Juan, PR. It was a pleasure meeting
you at the Witness Systems User Conference held in
Orlando, Fl. Your seminar was the best way to start our
conference with a positive note and on the right foot.

In regards to the topic of the month, I believe employers
should start emphasizing on the importance of having an
adequate motivational plan in all levels of the
organization. Employees must feel that no matter how
overloaded their day could be it is also rewarded besides
an expected salary. Employees should also feel they are an
essential part of the business that every decision they
make counts and is vital to the operations of the business.
Establish ownership in order to gain commitment.

Regards,

Felix P.

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Letters to the Editor

Thank you so much Laura.

Your seminar was by far the best presented, the most
useful (for me), and had the most interactive materials of
any I've ever attended. You offered real tools that can be
used to determine where my life balance has gone and
through the use of your 1-4 chart, visually show where I
need to work to bring that balance back to life. It was by far
the the best hour I've ever spent in a seminar setting. And
-- the day after (Friday) I learned that I was moving from
my open, see all, hear all, be constantly interrupted area --
to an office just off that area. How happy I am. While my
hours haven't decreased yet, I do see a path to the light of
" leaving the office earlier." Be well and continue to put on
terrific training sessions!

Regards,

Jacqueline Z.

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Featured Seminar:

** My 3rd annual "Keep Laura home for the holidays sale"
is in effect November 15 through January 15. COLORADO
clients receive a $500 discount for any seminar booked
for this time period. Click "Programs" at
www.TheProductivityPro.com or call
303-471-7401 to have a course catalog mailed to you.

___________________________________________________
Reprint, Contact, and Subscription Information

Laura M. Stack, MBA, CSP, is "The Productivity PRO," (R)
a personal productivity expert who helps people leave the
office earlier, with less stress, and more to show for it. She
presents keynotes and seminars on time management,
information overload, and personal productivity. Contact
Laura at 303-471-7401 or [email protected].

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to
interested associates so they may subscribe.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to
www.theproductivitypro.com/r_subscribe.htm.