I cannot concentrate properly in several things at a time. Some brain studies suggest that women can. I might need to get more in contact with my feminine side.
Soon, in October, I will start working part-time, so part of the day will still be devoted to my old office job, while the rest of the time I will start starting up our Startup with Don Quixote.
Study case:
During the last weeks I was unfocused, disperse. I was thinking of my startup while working, then thinking -of rather feeling guilty - of my work while working on the startup.
And of course, every five minutes checking my multiple email accounts (gmail, hotmail and work one) and Facebook. Luckily, I use Netvibes as my home page so checking all this wasn't that bad.
Add to this checking out throughout the day the latest posts in my favourite blogs, the latest news in my favourite newspapers, my sacred Dilbert and mobuzz... What do I become beyond being a geek (we prefer to be called technophiles)? I become a veeery unproductive person. Add to this a sprinkle of perfectionism and you get a massive amount of stress.
Remember a perfectionist is not person who does everything perfectly, but one who suffers and gets anxious when something he/she has to do is not perfect.
From the stressed unproductive geek to the highly productive and mentally healthy technophile in easy to use steps (try this at home and tell me how it goes):
1. Do all that one-off stuff
In the morning, take 30 min to do all your daily stuff that happens only once (like Dilbert).
2. Check less, live more
Checking email for a geek is like smoking for Humphrey Bogart. Essential. However, try to check less, and surprisingly your quality of life goes up. I was inspired by The 4 hour work week by Tim Ferriss.
3. In the morning, my job
In the morning, I will do my job. I won't answer emails related to the startup, I wont have startup calls. And I will try to think of my job only.
For getting focus, try the dashes technique for instance. Or this funny Instant Boss program I just found -while procrastinating, of course-.
4. In the afternoon (and possibly beyond), the startup
Guess what goes here.
5. Time for yourself, away from the computer
Life is short. Go out, see the sun (unless you happen to live in London). Talk to humans. Enjoy.
Note: I did this post is supposedly work time. It won't happen again, I swear! I am a new man, blablabla.
