Work smarter, not harder

Seven ‘R’s’ of reducing mental load:

_Reduce _
• Reduce the number of decisions and choice.
• Reduce the amount of physical things I own.
• Reduce information – mailing lists, post, television.
• Reduce people stress (e.g. I mute people on Twitter).

Routine – don’t think, just do.
• I have a ‘uniform’ of jeans, black T-shirt, a jacket, and boots. I don’t have to decide what to wear.
• Favourites in my online shopping are automatically added.
• I do a 30 minute Pomodoro before breakfast, and one straight after – one hour’s work done without thinking about it (or procrastinating).

Right place for everything
• Easiest example is a cutlery tray – knives, forks, spoons always in the same place.
• For this to work, the things must go BACK in the right place too!

Replicate
• I have a laptop power lead in a bag ready for trips, and one for everyday use.
• Phone charger upstairs and downstairs.
• I keep a spare phone battery, cables, business cards, pen, and notebook in a pencil case – I just grab it when going out for a day.

_Readiness _
• Get my clothes out night before
• Buy train tickets the day before

Write it down – paper lists, apps such as WorkFlowy, Trello, or pictures such as Pinterest.

Relax
• Bubble Bath
• Reading
• MAKING!

Note that some of these ideas:
• Cost money, and I know that this is not an option for everyone.
• Aren’t environmentally friendly.
• Do not sit comfortably with everyone’s idea of what is right.

These are the things that help me do more making. I’d love to hear what works for you.