If your to-do list seems as long at the end of the day as it did at the start (or worse yet, longer!) then you could definitely use an injection of creativity in your work day.
Here are five simple ways of using your creativity to improve the quality of your day:
1) Stop banging your head against the wall -- A good chunk of the time people waste in a day is due to stressing over the same problems that face them day after day. When you have a problem that you don't know how to solve, you get paralyzed, get inefficient, and get overwhelmed. Not only do you not solve the problem, but you also start to slack off in other areas. The key is to get out of that state by using your creativity to generate more solutions to your problem. Here's one way -- sit down at a table with a blank sheet of paper. Write your problem across the top, and then force yourself to fill the page with possible solutions. Don't worry about how feasible or crazy your ideas are; you will be tapping your creativity and empowering yourself. Just keep the pen moving until you fill the page. This will free you from overwhelm and let you go about your day. Also, the new solution to your problem may very well be on that page!
2) Stop wasting time -- If you have been at your job for any period of time, you probably have a routine. Routines are great because they are safe, but once in a routine you run the risk of missing out on ways of doing it better. The worst answer you can give about why you do something is to say, 'that's the way I've always done it.' Keep your mind, eyes, and ears open for new and more efficient ways of doing things. Even if you can save 15 minutes on 4 daily tasks, that's one extra hour every day. Question and examine your routines!
3) Love your job, even if you hate it -- It's extremely difficult to be productive if you are unhappy. This leads to an ugly cycle: you don't like your job, so you are less efficient, so work piles up which adds stress, so you like your job even less, and so on and so on. If, for whatever reason, you choose to stay at a job you hate, then at least find ways of enjoying it. How does one do this? I don't know; it depends on you. This is why you have to use your creativity. You can listen to music, or set up your environment you enjoy, or work on a special project that fulfills you, etc. Life is too short to be unhappy for 1/3 of it; use your creativity to bring happiness, fulfillment, and joy into your day.
4) Get someone else to do it -- Here's an interesting fact: for every task you hate to do and are not good at doing, there's someone else out there who enjoys doing it. And, for every task you love to do and are great at, there's somebody out there who hates doing it. Find someone who hates doing what you love and loves doing what you hate, and you both can benefit immensely. You'll both get more done in less time and be happier doing it.
5) Get what needs to be done done -- This is the simplest technique that is the least used. Take a look at what you need to do today. Take a look at the item that would have the biggest positive impact on your day/life/business. This should be your number one priority. Do it first and get it done, even if other things don't get done. The challenge is that this is probably something you don't want to do (otherwise it would be done already). Get creative, get focused, and set up your day and schedule to work on your high priority tasks first, and you will get more done in less time than ever before.
There you go. Get out there, start using your creativity, stop wasting time, and spend more time doing what's important to you and your business.
Avish Parashar has a refreshingly unique approach to speaking and training: identify the fundamentals of success and then give people the tools to implement those fundamentals. Avish's approach can be deceptive; it's fun, funny, interactive, engaging, entertaining, and ridiculously simple. Success isn't complicated, it's simple. So visit the web site to learn more about the "Ridiculously Simple Ideas That Everybody Needs and Nobody Uses."
Learn More: http://www.avishparashar.com
Free Creativity Mini-Course: http://www.avishparashar.com/cre ativity-free-minicourse.html
![]() Google News Updated : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:07:30 GMT "Bangkok" a skillful action excursion - Reuters
Reuters - By Stephen Farber LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Everything is relative in the realm of hyperviolent movies, and compared to this summer's other assassination thriller, "Wanted," "Bangkok Dangerous" is a model of restraint and moral rectitude. 'Dangerous' prosperous at box office An Assassin Arrives to Turn Off the Lights Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:41:52 GMT McCain, Obama battle over economy, leadership - AFP
AFP - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (AFP) - Economic issues dominated the campaign trail Saturday as presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain battled over who could best lead the nation in troubled times. Reuters Politics Summary Barack Obama, John McCain say they hate meddlers ... but both ... Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:15:37 GMT Boeing Machinists Take To Picket Line After Talks Collapse - CNNMoney.com
CNNMoney.com - NEW YORK (AFP)-- Boeing machinists took to the picket line on Saturday as they launched a strike that has halted production and could cost the US aerospace giant more than $100 million per day. Low strike pay could limit length of Boeing work stoppage Boeing machinists walk off the job Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:46:08 GMT Buckeyes survive Ohio's threat, 26-14 - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Beanie Wells didn't play. The Ohio Bobcats sure did. Lightly regarded even in the Mid-American Conference, Ohio put a scare into No. Ohio State Football: OSU 26, OU 14 Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:31:47 GMT 'Wrestler' brings Venice fest to its feet - Hollywood Reporter
Hollywood Reporter - By Eric J. Lyman VENICE -- "The Wrestler" was the toast of the Lido on the Venice Film Festival's penultimate day, with star Mickey Rourke's interpretation of an aging wrestler struggling to come to terms with the end of his career creating a buzz that ... 'The Wrestler' wins Venice Film Fest top award Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:14:35 GMT Obama, McCain to Honor Victims of 9/11 Together - Voice of America
Voice of America - By VOA News US presidential candidates Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain have agreed to appear together on September 11, the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Conventions, Anything but Dull, Are a TV Hit Comment by John S. Baick Professor of History, Western New England CollegePubl.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:01:14 GMT Journals week in review: news from One Microsoft Way - Ars Technica
Ars Technica - By Emil Protalinski | Published: September 06, 2008 - 01:15PM CT First Gates-Seinfeld ad leaves us scratching our heads. The first Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates ad has arrived. Seinfeld ads only part of Microsoft push Windows Vista: The OS About Nothing Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:27:03 GMT Legitimate Work From Home Jobs |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... I have to admit that I am a confirmed puzzle-head.... Read More Contrary to common perception, creativity can be made tangible, measurable... Read More When people find out that I'm a music therapist, the... Read More Let's begin by defining the optimal mind state and the... Read More We are all born shy, aren't we? When we see... Read More Do you consider yourself creative? How about super creative? Most... Read More How many times does an artist stare down at that... Read More You can live a much more successful life than you... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More 95 percent of what we know about the brain, we... Read More Experience has shown that creative visualization works. It is quite... Read More The next time you're moodily sitting in your office, wishing... Read More After many years of performing as a vocalist, I switched... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More "It's a free country," they say. "Celebrate our independence," I... Read More While the inception of penicillin brought a bit of a... Read More Creativity is your birthright ? but can often be hidden... Read More "It is never too late to be what you might... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More Would you like to enhance your creativity? Do you think... Read More What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to use... Read More Here in England September represents the end of Summer and... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More Creativity ? according to Webster's it means having the ability... Read More In my life, sleep is the number one way that... Read More
Adsense
websites
How Logic Puzzles Can Help You Become a Better Problem Solver
Creativity Management ? Measurement, Benchmarking, and Improvement
Sing & Be Well
The Optimal Mind State
Shyness - Another View
Tapping into Your Super Creative Power
Overcoming Artists Block (Part 1)
Push The Right Button
Creativity Management ? Intellectual Cross Pollination
Creativity And You
Why Creative Visualization Works
Should You Quit Your Job for Your Dream?
What Open Stage is Teaching Me About Life
Creativity Management ? Finding Your Voice
Mindfulness and Independence: Observing Fireworks
Ideas
10 Ways To Boost Your Creativity
Its Time to Get Out of the Box
Creativity Management ? Working From Real Life
How You Can Improve Your Creativity - What You Need to Know
Creative Memory Tricks
What is Creativity?
Creativity Management ? Sustainability through Passion
9 Ways to Live Creatively
Sleep and Creativity
Copyright 2005 Cherry Communications/Be Heard SolutionsThe creative arts enhance our... Read More
Can you draw?Your answer to that question reveals a surprising... Read More
As workplaces continue to rightsize and downsize, we all find... Read More
Have you decided it may be time to start creating... Read More
I used to be a jazz singer. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Here's a quick quiz:1) When I see a see a... Read More
What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to use... Read More
This quick course in creativity is designed to give you... Read More
We all have enormous reserves of mental capacity that we... Read More
The word intuition comes from the Latin word intueri, meaning... Read More
What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a... Read More
If your to-do list seems as long at the end... Read More
Unleash Your Creativity! Creativity has often been the misunderstood... Read More
1 - Take A Tour of the Great Outdoors Consider... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
It seems like this week a ton of people have... Read More
Let me repeat what I believe is the most powerful... Read More
I first read The Monkey's Paw as a youngster in... Read More
Structure is beneficial to creative output in a number of... Read More
Doing anything creative often brings up fears, anxieties, insecurities. Courage... Read More
This was a very easy article to write. I was... Read More
Have you ever heard the saying, "The harder I work,... Read More
Creativity is central to the management of our individual lives,... Read More
Creativity |