Session for the lovely DMM Masters Degree candidates at Hyper Island Manchester. The purpose of the session was to give some insight on personal productivity in a rapidly changing digital world. The format was discussion, reflection, and a little bit of lecture.

1. www.hyperisland.com
Stockholm — Karlskrona — New York — Manchester — Singapore

2. Brainhacks
amy rae

4. Thissession is
aboutproductivity
Ittakesplanning,
practice,&somescience

5. Now is
amazing

6. HUNTER GATHERER -> AGRICULTURAL -> INDUSTRIAL -> NETWORKED
50,000 BP -> 10,000 BP -> 1400s -> 1800s -> 1900s

8. Theresultisthe“attention economy”
Attention
focused mental
engagement on a
particular item of
information

10. Ifyouonlyhave24hrs
adayinthe machine,
Doyouwant to
make$10or $500?

11. 1) Applyhairsprayto
yourhands
2)Target onebillat
a time
3) Spreadfingers
andclaponbills
4) Putbillsin
pockets before
movingonto
catch more
5)Take billsonthe
ground& ceiling

12. “Idon’t
have
enough
time”

13. Timeandattention
arefinite
Requestsfor your
timeandattention
arenot

14. Speciesthat
adapt totheir
enviornment
besthave the
greatest
chance of
survival

15. Anevolutionary
imperative

16. Individually - 5 minutes
Choose a partner and discuss - 5 minutes
★ What do I do during an average work day?
★ Craft a timeline - from start of day to completion
★ How many tasks do I finish? What is my environment
like? What is my primary focus? What distracts me?
★ What do I wish I had time for in an average workday?
★ Read industry publications? Volunteer in my
community? Get a jump on an upcoming project? Learn
a new programming language? Reflect? Spend time with
my family? Work out?
Reflecton
your workprocess

17. hacks
★ themyth of multitasking
★ Harnessing Flow states
★ Filtering =newliteracy
★ Useyour tools

18. Themyth of
multitasking
1

20. Switchtasking
Youloseefficiency
witheachswitch

21. ★ Plan time in blocks: email three times a day,
examine your use of Twitter, schedule
meetings with yourself
★ Turn off notifications
★ Reduce unnecessary email: five sentences or
less - five.sentenc.es, Gmail priority inbox +
flags & tasks
★ 5 tabs or less
★ Get Concentrating App for Mac or 30/30 app
for iPhone

22. Individually first, then in pairs
Coach each other
★ How can I apply these learnings to my average
workday?
★ Find inefficiencies in your work process and
create interventions
★ What are you doing well? How might you
amplify it?
Reflecton
your workprocess

23. Harnessing
flowstates
2

25. flow
Optimalexperience
Peakperformance

27. ★ Know your flow: what does it feel like?
★ Communicate your needs to others
★ Introversion <-----> extroversion
★ Be a lion - this is your most productive time

28. Individually first, then in pairs
Coach each other
★ How can I apply these learnings to my average
workday?
★ Find inefficiencies in your work process and
create interventions
★ What are you doing well? How might you
amplify it?
Reflecton
your workprocess

29. Filtering=
Newliteracy
4

30. Distributed
cognition
Memorization
Vs.Search&filter

31. ★ Twitter: is it giving you value? 1:1 follow
doesn’t make much sense
★ Unsubscribe button
★ RSS vs multiple tabs or bookmarks
(Reeder app)
★ Assemble a list of key research tools vs
Google search
★ Flipboard/ Feedly vs Twitter stream

32. Individually first, then in pairs
Coach each other
★ How can I apply these learnings to my average
workday?
★ Find inefficiencies in your work process and
create interventions
★ What are you doing well? How might you
amplify it?
Reflecton
your workprocess

33. Seek newtools
5

34. tools
Helpyoufind time
inunexpectedplaces

35. ★ TripIt

36. ★ Expensify

37. ★ Rapportive

38. ★ Bump

39. ★ Docusign

40. ★ Relax:
Mindfulness App

41. Whatother
tools do youuse?

42. hacks
★ themyth of multitasking
★ Harnessing Flow states
★ Filtering =newliteracy
★ Useyour tools

43. Create3actions

44. Behavioral change is
theholygrail of life

46. Practiceactually
makesperfect

47. “Mastering others requires force.
Mastering the self requires strength.”
- Laozi

48. Thanks!

49. www.hyperisland.com
Stockholm — Karlskrona — New York — Manchester — Singapore

50. appendix

52. 1.What have your energy and
attention been focused on lately?
Include areas of concern and
worry, as well.
2.Where do these items fit in your
circle of concern and influence?
3.What happens to your attitude
and energy when you focus on
the activities in the circle of
influence?