New now on KnowledgeBlocks!

Modern work environments are a productivity challenge for even the most dedicated employee. Workplaces are less structured and more efficient, so there aren’t as many managers insuring noses stay bent to the grindstone. Most workspaces–office and home–have internet connectivity, and unless there are corporate rules about usage or usage-limiting software, the temptation to surf lurks constantly. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Skype: social media technology makes meetings and networking possible at any time. Anti-cubicle, conversation-friendly new offices spaces allow overheard conversations and pop-up meetings to catch the eye and distract the mind.

This exploration on Planned Productivity digs into how our “always-on” work culture keeps us from getting our work done. Useful strategies for taking control of your time appear in all of the recommended books, as well as throughout the many links and videos layered within. Reframe how you think about your time, keep your willpower charged, create good habits to lessen stress, learn strategies to get more work done at work, practice entering ‘the zone,’ and help everyone who works with you become more productive too.

Become a member of KnowledgeBlocks and you’ll learn to:

Take control of your time
Make the most of your mornings
Believe in the power of willpower
Reserve your willpower for when you most need it
Create new habits/replace bad habits
Use established habits to reduce stress
Practice getting into zone
Choose work that can bring you flow
Establish systems that keep you focused
Create workplaces the inspire happiness
Help happy employees be productive

Also available in this Exploration: A podcast with Laura Vanderkam (27 minutes)

Vanderkam is the author of 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, All the Money In The World: What the Happiest People Know about Getting and Spending, and What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast. Read more about Laura Vanderkam on her website.