Blog Archives

WordPress Gutenberg aims to eliminate the need for custom code

WordPress Guttenberg is not currently finished. We do not recommend installing the Gutenberg plugin unless a website manager is designing a new website.

The Blotter productivity model for website managers is based on the idea that handwriting increases productivity.

Productivity is no different than eating, exercise and spiritual routines. Once acquired and practiced routinely, one’s productivity will be constant and may increase over time. More and more the old-fashioned method of hand-written notes is being proved as a great way to stay productive on the job and in personal life.

Here are five ways to be productive using traditional handwriting:

1. Note Cards with handwriting increases productivity

Personally, I enter all my tasks in a given day on an index card, then assign time values to each. Finally, I create Google calendar time slots. When the time is expired for that task, I must move on to the next. The consequences of not completing that task means my 4:00 pm quit time gets pushed back.

Note Cards for Increasing Productivity

Ideally, my productive work day begins at 8:00 am and ends at 4:00 pm. But more often than not I’m skipping tasks during the day because of personal or professional distractions. Productivity means picking these tasks back up at the end of a given day and completing them. No matter how late. Productivity for website managers is no different than for other professionals. You’ve gotta get the work done no matter how long it takes!

2. Flowcharts with handwriting increases productivity

Whiteboards remain in most technology company board rooms and strategy planning common places. The method of visual aids to improve the process of developing strategy can be done digitally, but the difficulty projecting flowcharts or other complex systems is sometimes best expressed on a large piece of paper.

3. The Cornell Method with handwriting increases productivity

College classes do teach us something about productivity. One popular method for increasing productivity for website managers goes back to the Cornell Method where a note taker divides up a page into three sections:

• RIGHT COLUMN – General Area where you keep your biggest and best ideas on the lecture. Here are the most important concepts.
• LEFT AREA – Serves to simplify the common area (right column) with “Margin Notes” that continue to build details on the general concepts recorded.
• BOTTOM PAGE – This is the “Total Summary” for the page and is meant to provide a way to quickly review the bulk of the page in a few sentences

The Cornell Method for Note Taking (photo: goconqr.com)

4. Headline Writing with handwriting increases productivity

Writing headlines for bog posts or other important banners, whether scribbled on one’s hand or on scraps of paper, can be a way toward recording the most important key points for the topic at hand. In addition to being readily available, this technique for improving productivity has the added value on emphasis. Bigger is better when it comes to recording important thoughts.

Website Productivity at Blotter.com

5. Post-it Notes with handwriting increases productivity

While the modern world is quickly moving toward a digital-only mode for communications, there are many who continue to scribble notes using pencils and pens. Post-It notes are extremely popular for increasing productivity. Overwhelming consensus is that the tried-and-true method for handwritten notes is both productive and more permanent than entering into computers. Remember that you can always enter the text into a computer later.

“I like to be able to see what I write for the days to come,” commented Taylor Cassidy, a contractor for Blotter who writes PHP full time. “But the difference is that I only write down those things that are of central importance to me. Grocery lists, TO-DO lists at work and all those things that need to be viewed on my desk in the near future.”

If there was one aspect of work you could improve at, what would it be? For many, it’s eliminate distractions and becoming more productive by cutting down on the things that draw time away from work and entering that ever-elusive “zone” where getting things done becomes second nature.

Traditional wisdom tells us that the ability to get working is either something you’re born with or not. But the truth is, it’s something that you can learn, provided you’re dedicated enough to taking the right steps. A good way to look at things is that productivity is one part mental, and one part habitual.

To eliminate distractions you may consider these ideas:

Eliminate Distractions: How you think matters a lot!

First, you need to “get your mind right,” so to speak, and eliminate distractions. One of the biggest reasons people get distracted or can’t find their stride while working is because they can’t get out of their own way and make things happen.

Do you find yourself justifying time wasted with excuses?

• “I couldn’t get it done because X happened first.”
• “I don’t have enough time because blah blah blah.”
• “There was no way I could have etc. etc.”

This is part of the problem when trying to eliminate distractions. Even when those excuses are justified, simply harping on them isn’t fixing anything. Instead of worrying about what has gone wrong or could go wrong, you need to change your frame of mind from one that is looking for excuses to one that is looking for solutions.

Eliminate distractions with ease

Part of that change comes from how you think to eliminate distractions. When there’s a lot to do, it’s easy to get hung up on how stressful and overwhelming the situation has become. That approach, unfortunately, will paralyze you before you can formulate a plan to reach your goals.

Eliminate distractions when working

A much better approach is to take a step back and ask critical questions that can lead you to accomplishment.

• “What needs to be done, and what’s the best way to make time for it all?”
• “Where is all this stress coming from, and how can I eliminate some of it to succeed?”
• “How can I change my approach to get things done?”

By simply asking these questions of yourself, you’ll have taken one of the most important steps to cutting out what’s holding you back and marching confidently into the zone where you can do the most good. Now, it’s time to organize yourself so you can eliminate distractions.

Eliminate Distractions: What You Do Decides Success

With the right frame of mind, you’ll see that there is a way to structure your schedule to have the most impact. To eliminate distractions means to find structure.

Let’s say, for example, you’re launching an online crowdfunding campaign, and there are multiple components you need to handle to ensure success. In a frantic state of mind, you might try “multitasking,” tackling everything that you can think of at the same time.

This will usually lead to ruin, as you juggle all of your work and complete it slowly and poorly.

A much better idea would be to set a timetable, allow yourself a suitable amount of hours to concentrate on one task at a time, then hammer them out with increased focus (and ample breaks in between each) for better results.

You can use online tools like Clockspot to keep yourself on schedule, and you’ll probably find that working in this way allows you to get more done in the long run.

Remember that you need to incorporate both the right mindset and the right tools to get in the zone and eliminate distractions. You’ll be well on your way to a more productive day.

Author Bio – Wendy Dessler

Wendy is a super-connector with OutreachMama and Towering who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.