How to Plan a Project: Turn To-Do Lists Into Concrete Timelines

A team meeting around a table with laptops and documents illustrates how to plan a project

Are you struggling to turn your big ideas into actual accomplishments? Do you wonder how successful people map out their projects from start to finish? Planning a project doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In Start Finishing, Charlie Gilkey explains how to plan a project by breaking it down into manageable steps that anyone can follow. He shows you how to arrange tasks, create logical sequences, and build realistic timelines based on your actual capacity. Read more to learn Gilkey’s two-step approach that will help you finally start finishing what matters most.

The Imporance of Creative Collaboration, From Mentors to Partners

A man and woman in an office, sitting at a desk together, participating in creative collaboration

In what ways can creative collaboration be beneficial? What are the different types of creative relationships? In Creative Quest, Questlove encourages you to not only spend time with other creators but to work directly with them. He recommends working alongside other creative people in two ways: finding mentors who can teach you basic skills and partnering with other artists on joint projects. Here’s a look at each recommendation in detail.

3 Post-Project Steps: Tidy Up, Review, & Celebrate (Charlie Gilkey)

People in an open workspace celebrate completing a project illustrates post-project activities

Do you know how to properly wrap up your projects and prepare for future endeavors? What steps should you take after completing a significant project to ensure continued success? In his book Start Finishing, Charlie Gilkey outlines three vital post-project activities: tidying your workspaces, reviewing your performance, and taking time to celebrate and rest. These actions help transform completed projects into stepping stones for personal and professional growth. Read on to discover how implementing these post-project practices can help you maintain peak performance and set yourself up for even greater success in your next endeavor.

How to Delegate Tasks Effectively: Share the Responsibility

A manager delegating tasks to an employee by handing them papers

What are the benefits of learning how to delegate tasks effectively? What are the different types of delegation? Getting rid of unproductive tasks can free up your time and energy for meaningful work. However, it’s most likely impossible to eliminate every activity outside of your Productivity Zone, which is why Michael Hyatt recommends another strategy in Free to Focus: letting other people handle tasks for you. Keep reading if you want to start delegating tasks to other people so you can take the pressure off yourself.

How to Automate Tasks: 3 Areas of Your Life to Make Easier

A man looking a wall of work and wondering how to automate tasks

Do you know how to automate tasks? Do you want to make your workflow easier to reduce stress? Unfortunately, in many cases, simple tasks that you need to do regularly take up a great deal of time that you’d prefer to spend on more meaningful work. In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt says that automation offers a powerful solution to this problem.  Let’s review three areas where automation can significantly reduce your mental load and boost your productivity.

4 Ways to Be More Creative (+ What It Means to Be Creative)

A fantasy image of a woman sitting in flowers while journaling, thinking about ways to be more creative

What does it actually mean to be creative? Is creativity something you’re born with or something you need to practice? In his book Creative Quest, four-time Grammy winner and The Roots co-founder Questlove discusses four ways to be more creative. His list includes keeping an open mind, being mindful, planning your work, and changing your mindset about creativity. Here’s a look at each creative method in detail.

Self-Automation: Completing Routines Without Wasting Energy

A man standing in front of a sunny window doing a routine out of self-automation

Do you have daily tasks that are taking up too much time in your day? How can you automate your everyday tasks? In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt suggests self-automation to spend less time on simple tasks. This strategy focuses on creating consistent habits and routines in your daily life. Check out how to self-automate routines so you don’t have to put meaningful time or energy into them.

The Essential Daily Self-Care Checklist for Productivity

A daily self-care checklist next to pens and a drink on a blue background

What are the essential self-care habits you must do to be more productive? How does socializing increase your productivity? While you can’t create more time in your day, Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt says you can make the most of the time you have by taking good care of yourself. Tending to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being will maximize your energy and, consequently, your productivity.  Continue reading for the only daily self-care checklist you’ll ever need.

Why Multitasking Is Bad: The Psychological Toll It Takes

A woman trying and failing to do several things at once because multitasking is bad

Do you multitask often? What are the negative effects of doing several things at once? Even more pernicious than frequent interruptions is the pressure to do several things at once. Multitasking is now part of the world we live in, and it comes with significant cognitive and physiological costs. Discover why multitasking is bad and the psychological toll it has on your brain.

Are Distractions Good? The Pros and Cons of Losing Focus

A man texting on his phone at work, showing that distractions are good sometimes

Are distractions good, or are they really as bad as we think they are? How can interruptions lead to more productivity? In addition to internal distractions, you deal with constant external interruptions every day, which are equally tricky—if not harder—to contend with. While distractions are still bad altogether, they can come with some positive effects. Let’s look at the pros and cons of distractions and some of the benefits you can gain from getting off track.