Productive Not Busy Podcast With Wayne Weathersby

Latest Episodes:

How to Avoid Procrastination and Achieve More in Less Time Aug 22, 2022

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Imagine it's another Friday working on your computer, only to find that you've only got 45 minutes to finish up all your tasks. You start working on your report, but your eyes keep glancing at the clock.
Midway through the report, you check your email. There, you see that you have 15 new messages waiting for you. You immediately open the messages, read them all, and then continue working on your report.
Before long, you realize you've spent 30 minutes on nothing. You may not need to imagine this scenario if you've experienced this at work, school, or even at home. You may have also felt how hard it is to be productive when everything gets in your way.
The harder you try to have a large project done, the more distractions you encounter. Procrastination is a big issue.
So, what can you do to avoid procrastinating and get more done in less time? Consider these tips:
1. Start with smaller goals. Studies show that we procrastinate the most when we have significant goals. When you start with a large project, you feel overwhelmed, and your initiative starts to wane.
● If you start with a smaller goal, say a 10-minute task, you feel more confident that you can accomplish it, thus increasing your productivity.
2. Try to utilize "activation energy." One way to avoid procrastinating on essential tasks is setting a timer for a set period that might appear short to you. But don't set the timer so short that you can't get through it.
● Instead, set the timer for 15-20 minutes, and let yourself get through the tasks. Setting a timer for a brief period like this -- and shutting all distractions for that period -- forces you to stay focused while knowing that you have a deadline.
3. Arrange your tasks. If you tend to get easily distracted, try to arrange your tasks so that they interact with each other. For example, you might put tasks next to each other on a piece of paper. This activity helps you avoid wasting time going back and forth between jobs.
● Arranging the things that you need to accomplish in an orderly way motivates you and makes you more likely to complete them quickly, even if your tasks are not that exciting.
4. Incorporate rewards into your goals. Research has shown that rewards help motivate us to follow through on our goals. For example, you might set a goal to complete a task in a specified period. If you can accomplish the plan, you reward yourself with a prize -- perhaps a hobby you enjoy doing.
● Incorporating rewards not only motivates you but also sets you up for long-term success. It also causes your brain to associate the rewards to accomplishing the task, which helps make it more likely that you will complete a similar job in the future.
5. Get help. One of the biggest reasons for procrastination is feeling overwhelmed. But sometimes, not all the tasks on your list need you to handle them. You can enlist the help of others by delegating some of your tasks.
● For example, you might want to write a book, but you might feel intimidated by the writing process. You could ask someone more experienced to help you draft the book's outline. You can then work on that outline and finish writing the book.
● Getting help doesn't mean you're weak. It simply means that you want to take action.
Procrastination is one of the biggest obstacles to productivity, even for the most successful people. But when you take action and turn procrastination into productive work, you'll find that your goals are possible and that you're able to achieve them.
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Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

Overthinking: Five Ways to Stop It in its Tracks Aug 20, 2022

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Do you ever go over the same thoughts or situations repeatedly in your head? If so, you’re not alone - many people experience periods of overthinking. And while it’s normal to think things through every once in a while, it can be counterproductive and even harmful when it becomes a regular occurrence. Let’s discuss five ways to stop overthinking in its tracks: 1.Recognize when you’re overthinking and identify the thoughts or situations triggering it. One of the first steps to stopping overthinking is knowing when it’s happening. Here are some examples of overthinking: For some people, overthinking occurs in specific situations, like when under pressure at work or dealing with a personal issue. It may be more general for others, like when they’re feeling anxious or stressed. Identifying the thoughts or situations that trigger your overthinking can help you be more aware of it happening and take steps to prevent it. 2.Write your thoughts to get them out of your head and onto paper. It's helpful to write your thoughts when you’re overthinking. It can help to clear your head and allow you to see the situation more objectively. Writing things down can also help you identify any patterns in your thinking, such as negative thinking or self-doubt. If you overthink regularly, it may be helpful to keep a journal to track your thoughts and progress. 3. Give yourself time to calm down and relax before addressing the situation, causing overthinking. Once you’ve identified the thoughts or situations triggering your overthinking, it’s essential to give yourself time to calm down and relax before addressing them. It can help you think more clearly and make better decisions. There are many ways to relax. Here are some helpful ideas: Take a break from the situation that’s causing the overthinking and do something you enjoy. To relax, exercise or take a walk in nature. Practice deep breathing. Listen to calm music. Try aromatherapy or take a warm bath or shower. Write your thoughts and feelings in a journal. 4. Talk to someone else about the situation - getting another perspective can help you see things more clearly. When you’re overthinking a problem, it's helpful to talk to someone else about it. It can provide you with a different perspective and help you see things more clearly. It’s important to choose someone who will listen without judgment and who you can trust to be honest with you. It may also be helpful to talk to a professional, such as a therapist or counselor. Talking about your overthinking can help to reduce its frequency and intensity. If you’re not sure how to start the conversation, here are some helpful tips: Explain that you’re struggling with overthinking and would like to talk about it. Be honest about how you’re feeling and what’s going on in your mind. Ask the other person for their thoughts and opinions on the situation. Listen to what they have to say without judgment. 5. Learn to focus on the present moment instead of dwelling on the past or future. This can help you concentrate on everyday things and be more aware of your thoughts and feelings. It can help stop overthinking as it can help you see thoughts as just thoughts rather than getting caught up in them.
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--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support
Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

How to Be Confident in any Situation Aug 17, 2022

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Demonstrating confidence in your work setting is an important element of being successful. In most workplaces, you’re involved with multiple people on any given day, such as your supervisor, other managers, and various co-workers. You likely want to not only appear as if you know what you’re doing, but actually know what you’re doing. How you conduct yourself on a day-to-day basis demonstrates to those around you what kind of worker you are and, indeed, what kind of person you are. There will be times when you’ll have to ask others for assistance with tasks or maybe even assign them special projects. It is during those exchanges that you’ll especially want to show others your confidence in doing your best job possible. How can you ensure that you demonstrate confidence at work? Show Your Confidence at Work --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support
Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

6 TIME-SAVING TIPS TO HELP YOU GET WORK DONE FASTER Aug 16, 2022

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There are times when you have lots on your plate, but the time available doesn't permit you to do as much as you'd like. You could feel so overwhelmed that your mind can no longer comprehend the situation and feels like giving up. You probably even tried your hardest, but things seem to keep piling on. This scenario calls for you to schedule your tasks. Use time management tools to help. For example, post-it notes are easily visible on your desk and allow you to prioritize what you need to do. You can use different colors for different tasks according to importance. For example, use red post-it notes to prioritize unfinished tasks, yellow notes for essential functions that aren't urgent, and green notes for critical tasks that you must complete immediately. What other time-saving tips can help you work faster and get work done? Consider these tips: 1.Reach out to people before meetings. It shouldn't be surprising that meetings take up more time than anticipated. However, you can reduce this stress by speaking with participants before the meeting. Find out if they can make it and if they want to add anything to the agenda. That way, your meeting won't go longer than expected. 2.Remove all distractions. Sometimes, it seems that no matter how hard we try, distractions always keep popping up. However, if you can keep your desk free of distractions, you'll be able to focus better on the task at hand. Take out all the unnecessary items on your desk, so you're less likely to 1 get sidetracked with other stuff. 3. Start the most challenging tasks first. Some jobs are easier said than done. Rather than working on all tasks at once, start with the most difficult ones first. That will allow you to feel more accomplished as you complete each task. And by the time you complete your major ones, the rest will seem easy! 4. Do most of your work at your most effective time of day. Everyone has a preferred time when they are most alert and productive. Also, different people have rhythms unique to them that work in their case. And sometimes, one person's rhythm will backfire when someone else tries to adopt it. Scientists believe that these differences result from age, education level, personality, and life experiences. And interestingly, just because you're a morning person does not automatically mean you should do the most demanding work early in the day. Sometimes, your less-than-optimal times are your best times. Your goal is to find the time for your unique situation and get work done. 5.Make use of templates. Templates are great because they let you accomplish everyday tasks with a few mouse clicks. For instance, if you need to check off multiple items on a to-do list each day, you can use templates to pre-fill individual tasks with relevant data. Templates are quick and easy, and they can save you a lot of time over doing it manually. You can also create templates for repetitive tasks. Take a moment to look through your chores and find out which ones you can do with a template. Then next time you need to complete something, insert the appropriate data into the template for quick completion. 6.Practice saying no more. Saying "no" is a skill you can develop over time. The good news is that if you practice saying "no," you become better at it. Make it a point to avoid feeling guilty when you can't commit to doing something. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support
Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

5 Steps to Shift Your Limiting Beliefs for Good Aug 15, 2022

Show notes

How are you your own worst enemy? We limit ourselves so much. We live in our heads and come up with all these ways to keep us from getting anything accomplished. Even though deep down we know we're good enough, and how much we're fully capable of getting things done. The only way to get past these self-sabotaging behaviors is to take active, intentional steps to remedy your thinking. Let's look at 5 steps that will shift your limiting beliefs for good. Stop Wait a minute; what were you thinking? If a thought feels off about something, it's time to stop and examine this idea much closer. Is this perhaps a self-limiting belief? Think About What You're Saying Where is the lie in this thought? You've already figured out there's something wrong with it, or you wouldn't be going through this process. This means something about it is not ringing true. When you understand where the lie is, it becomes easier to know how to counter it. Look for the Proof Is there any proof this self-limiting thought is true? Let's examine the part you feel is a lie. Here's where you need to take a step back from the situation if you can and look very impartially at what's going on. Is any grain of truth in what you're thinking? Take Control If what you were thinking is a lie, it's relatively easy to counter the false aspects of the statement with the truth. But what if this thought was at least partially true? You start by reminding yourself this isn't always the case. For example, you might be thinking you are always late. Maybe you are, in fact, late sometimes. To perform this step, you would need to recall various instances when you were on time. By countering the lie, you are taking control of the situation, and not allowing the limiting belief to have any sway over you. Get Help Sometimes it can be challenging to remove limiting beliefs by yourself. In these instances, it can be beneficial to talk to a friend, or even a counselor, to help you see the truth. There is nothing wrong with getting help, especially from someone who is in a position to be impartial. Self-limiting beliefs don't have to control your life. By examining your thoughts, especially those that seem to hold you back, you will find it much easier to move forward toward your goals. Soon you will realize success. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support
Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

Do the Hard Things First Aug 10, 2022

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Do the Hard Things First We don’t want to do the hard things. We like to do the enjoyable things. If something isn’t enjoyable, then we at least want it to be easy. Yet, the enjoyable things often aren’t very helpful. And the easy things usually don’t provide a lot of return for our time. The ability to make yourself do the hard things is a big determiner of how successful you’ll be. For example: Squats are hard. Leg extensions are easy. Guess which is more effective for strengthening your legs. Cold calling expired listings is hard. Holding an open house is easy. Guess which is more effective for making money as a real estate agent. Sweeping a floor is easy. Scrubbing a floor on your hands and knees is hard. You already know which is going to clean your floor more effectively. Consider these ideas: 1.You have more energy and focus early in the day. It’s easier to do challenging things earlier in the day. You’re more effective at 9:00 AM than you are at 3:00 PM. Attack the hard thing when you’re fresh. It’s only going to be more challenging later in the day. 2.You can spend more time on the hard thing. If you wait until later to do the hard thing, you might run out of time to complete it. Since the hard thing is often the most important thing, you should spend enough time on it to complete it. 3. The rest of the day is more enjoyable. If you have something unpleasant hanging over your head all day, you just can’t enjoy the day as much. Get the hard thing off your plate, so you can enjoy the remainder of your day. “If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first.” - Mark Twain 4.It builds self-esteem and confidence. Everyone else avoids the hard things. Be the person that attacks them. You’ll feel great about yourself and know that you can do anything that needs to be done. Your potential increases greatly when you can reliably get yourself to do unenjoyable tasks. 5.It can help your career. Once you’re known as the person that can do the hard things, you’ll be highly respected and considered reliable. Most people have excuses for not doing the hard thing. 6. Avoid thinking too much about it. It’s best to get started on your hard thing without spending too much time thinking about it. It’s like eating the frog. Just eat it. You don’t want to stare at it all day. The frog only becomes bigger and uglier over time. 7. Decide what your “frog” is for the day. The night before, determine what your most awful task is for the next day. Schedule it as early in the day as possible. When the time comes, attack that frog with everything you’ve got. Some tasks are just unpleasant. There are even unpleasant tasks which provide little value but must be done. It’s best to get your unpleasant tasks done as soon as possible. If the unpleasant task is high value, it deserves to be accomplished first. If the unpleasant task is low-value, just get it out of the way as soon as you can. If you can reliably do the hard things first, you’ll find that you’re much more successful. You’ll also be happier, because you won’t have to stress about those hard things more than necessary. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support
Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

7 BRAIN HACKS THAT Boost Productivity Aug 09, 2022

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7 Brain Hacks That Boost Productivity Productivity is important because it relates to income and time. The more productive you are, the more money you can earn in many situations. You can also save time. That time can be spent on anything you like, including making more money. There are many obstacles to productivity, such as a lack of focus, a lack of intention, a lack of stamina, and too many distractions, to name a few. Hack your brain and increase your productivity with these strategies: 1. Set an intention. Most people can’t focus because they’re not truly clear on what they want to focus on or for how long. Give yourself a fighting chance by choosing a specific task for a specific amount of time. For example, you might decide you’re going to work on your tax return for 30 minutes. Set a timer and do your best for those 30 minutes. Your brain will do its best to give you what you want if you give it clear instructions. 2.Meditate. Meditation helps to build focus and calm your mind. Meditation is incredibly popular right now, so there is plenty of free information on how to meditate effectively. Educate yourself and get started. It’s simple and effective. 3. Take regular breaks. Experiment with break frequency and duration. The best option for most people is either 25 minutes of work and a five-minute break, or 50 minutes of work and a 10-minute break. Discover what works best for you and then stick with it. Timers can be powerful tools. 4. Avoid giving in to temptation. Most of us give in to the temptation of distraction far too easily. It’s a very difficult habit to break. We quickly go from feeling bored or stressed to amused. It feels good to check email or read a text. The most productive people are able to overcome the urge to break their attention from their work task. It’s important to avoid these distractions during your breaks, too. It’s too hard to get back on task, and your breaktime magically extends from five minutes to 25. Learn how to say “no” to your urges. 5. Alternate high and low-focus tasks. Many people report greater productivity when they alternate between cognitively intense activities and those that require less intellectual effort. It’s similar to interval training in the gym. Lower-level activities might include returning calls and emails, or other routine work. The lower-level activities give your brain a rest and the chance to recover. Soon, it’s ready for another round of more intense activity. 6. Drink plenty of water. Most people are partially dehydrated. The solution is to drink plenty of water. That doesn’t mean you have to be chugging 20 ounces of water every hour. But, a 20-ounce bottle of water every few hours would be beneficial to most. So many metabolic processes require water that you’re not at your best if you’re dehydrated. 7. Develop a positive mindset. A positive outlook on life makes you more productive. Studies show that mindset affects productivity. Work on having a positive outlook and you’ll accomplish more each day. You’ll also be a lot happier. Productivity should be important to everyone. Time is your most valuable asset, so do what you can to maximize it. We can all be more productive, but it doesn’t happen by magic. It must be a priority if you want to see real results. Dedicate yourself to maximizing your productivity. Give your brain every chance to be your ally on this important journey.
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support
Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

11 QUICK TIPS TO Add Hours to Your Day Aug 08, 2022

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You can’t wave a magic wand and make the day longer. But there are things you can do to save time. And there are things you can do to maximize what you accomplish with your time. In essence, you can add hours to your day. This will require a change in your habits, but many of these strategies are self-rewarding. Once you see the benefits to be gained, you’ll be motivated to continue. Follow these tips to add hours to your day and accomplish more: 1.Put things away when you’re done with them. Rather than creating clutter which gets in your way and is emotionally distracting, put things away when you’re done using them. Tell yourself that a task isn’t complete until everything is picked up. 2. Do easy things during your least productive hours. Everyone has a time of day when their physical or mental energy is low. Schedule easy tasks during these times. It can be a good time to read emails, file papers, or tidy up. 3. Do your most challenging tasks during your most productive hours. Likewise, you have a time of day when your focus and energy are high. Do your most challenging tasks during this time. 4.Reduce the amount of time spent on low-value activities. You might be surprised by how much time you spend watching TV, surfing the internet, or texting friends. Putting this time to better use can easily add a few hours of productive time for most people. 5.Batch your activities. Answer all of your emails at once. Pay all of your bills twice a month. Remember that it takes time to switch tasks and regain your focus. 6.Make use of waiting time. If you’re stuck in traffic, make your phone calls. If you’re waiting at the doctor’s office, deal with your email. Waiting for your child to get dressed? Clean up the kitchen. 7. Track your time. The average person has little idea how they spend their time. Track how you spend your time for a week. Every 30 minutes record how you spent the last half-hour. Divide your activities into different categories and see how much time you spend on each. 8. Get help. Ask for help at work. Give your spouse or children some tasks to do at home. Is your mother constantly asking you if she can help? Give her something to do. Hire someone to mow your grass. Hire a cleaning service. Buy your groceries online and have them delivered. Pay someone to run your errands. 9. Schedule your day. Make the most of each day by making a schedule and sticking to it. Decide the most important tasks that need to be done and do those. You’ll waste less time and add hours to your day. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support
Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

Getting Organized and Energized Aug 07, 2022

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Few things are as emotionally draining as living a life that’s out of control. We become accustomed to living this way and fail to realize there’s a better way. With a few simple tips, you can gain control over your life and your sanity. Some of us have a natural knack for keeping our lives neat and tidy. For others, it can be a real struggle. Enhancing your organizational skills might not sound like a lot fun, especially for those that are least organized. However, the payoff for organizing your life can be huge. Give it a try and see for yourself. Use these tips to gain energy and peace of mind by becoming more organized: 1. Tidy the spaces you use the most. The spaces you use the most, often the kitchen area and office, tend to accumulate the most clutter. This clutter drains your energy and weighs on your mind. It’s frustrating to constantly have things in your way. This is a great first step to getting organized and boosting your mood. 2.Make lists. You might be great at keeping track of things in your head, but it comes at a price. The things you have to remember take part of your attention and mental resources. It’s much easier and more effective to simply write down the things you need to do. As long as you remember to check your list, you can never forget anything. It’s much easier to do that than to remember multiple things. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support
Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

Soft Skills: Why These 7 Soft Skills are Important for the Workplace Aug 06, 2022

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Soft skills, also known as people skills or emotional intelligence, are defined as the ability to interact with others in a pleasant manner. They are personal characteristics that can have an impact on relationships, communication, and interaction with others.
Soft skills can be extremely beneficial to business success, but why? While soft skills can be more difficult to develop than hard skills (such as web design, accounting, or editing experience), they are arguably just as important in running a successful business. Understanding what they are will assist you in identifying your own or those that you will need to develop in the future. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support
Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.

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