In this article you will discover how to get more done in less time - and overcome that 'weird zone' where you are sort of working… but not really achieving things.

Have you ever looked at the clock and thought "WHAT??! - I haven't done anything yet!"

Most of us spend a large amount of time in the 'grey zone' where we are not really effective, half doing 10 things and not really being clear about what is important and what is simply procrastination. 

In fact with the birth of Facebook, iPhones, twitter and emails, all those red little alerts that pop up everywhere have shattered our psyches so we are rarely totally focused and in the divine flow where the magic happens.

If you'd love to do less, enjoy more and get out of the cloud of constant interruptions so you really achieve a lot in your day, then you will love this article.

Being your own boss

I have worked for myself on my own schedule for the last 14 years. I started when I was at art college doing whatever I wanted for seven years (with two degrees and all kinds of courses) and I then set up my own companies.

Because of always being my own boss  - I have had to be self motivated and have a good look at how I work best. What this has allowed me to learn is however much I achieve or don't achieve is totally up to me… and not anything to do with anyone else.

How I work, what I do, what I avoid and my overall success is dependent 100% on me and I have no one else to blame or complain about.

This has allowed me to gradually discover what is and is not possible, based on real life experience.

What I want to share with you is my finding on how YOU can make the most of your time to not only get more done in less time, but to also spend way more time enjoying yourself and relaxing. In fact, I have found the more I relax and just focus on feeling great, the more I get done.

Reality Check: For 80% of us living in 1st world countries, long gone are the days of factory production style work. In a factory setting, you actually need to work physically the whole time. Nowadays in the age of the knowledge worker, we work with ideas and we can achieve the result based on the clarity that comes through - regardless of whether it takes one hour or one month, as long as it achieves the result - you are golden.

So here is what I have learned:

1. Most ideas DO NOT COME while sitting at a computer

2. When I am inspired, I am more effective and make less mistakes

3. Working HARD is often a form of self-sabotage disguised as a virtue

4. About 80% of what I think I need to do doesn't need to be done at all - and looking back over the year, it is revealed that it REALLY didn't need to be done

5. Beware of the red alerts - they are red herrings

As we become more aware of ourselves as consciousness and the creator of our lives, along with it comes the potential to CHOOSE how we live and what we do.

I am deeply fascinated by what is possible in life and how to manifest things in the most magical way possible.

I have clearly seen that if I am not careful, I fall deep, deep down into the dark pit of nothingness where I am doing nothing of any value to anyone, and busying myself in this pointless process. 

Once I escape this madness and plant myself out in nature - in the pristine natural beauty of Hawaii, I am able to see what is really going on around me - and get a clear idea of what is a waste of time and what is actually powerful.

To do this, and to sustain it, has been my biggest challenge over the years and it's my joy to share these proven techniques with you today. Apply them and step into the magic.

1. Most ideas DO NOT COME while sitting at a computer

Honesly, I get 99% of my ideas while in nature or in the shower. Sitting at a computer to get inspiration is an open door to waste your life and get a backache while you are at it.

I highly recommend spending as MUCH time away from the computer as you possibly can. Brainstorm ideas in nature, in a coffee shop, sitting on a comfy chair - wherever you feel great. Write things down, scribble, play, be light. Once you are totally inspired and clear - THEN go and use that powerful machine (computer) to serve you.

As soon as you are tired - dis-engage and get away. The computer is YOUR servant, do not let it own you. You are the creator, the computer is not your master or your source of inspiration - only use it when it's needed then GET OUT OF THERE FAST! Seriously, this will change your life.

2. When I am inspired, I am more effective and make less mistakes

Whenever I am working because 'I should be' it is a sign to STOP and go and do something else. Few people realize this or act on it. Here's my recommendation to you. Rather than sitting down at your desk to work - go and sit in nature, dance, play, read a book UNTIL you are inspired to work. Once that tingling, inspired feeling comes over you to ACT - go and do it without distraction! As soon as you start to feel stressed and tired and the creative inspiration has turned to force and stress - stop and get away from there FAST. By acting based on high energy you will do 10 times more work in less time AND feel great while you do it.

3. Working HARD is often a form of self-sabotage disguised as a virtue

Ever heard the expression 'A hard days work'. Or 'You have to work hard to really make things happen' or a 'Good hints hard days work'? All these experessions come from a belief in getting up off your ass and making things happen, rather than sitting around being lazy. There is a lot of sense in this and taking inspired action is 100% essential to manifest things in your life. In fact the main different between successful peole and those who always seem stuck is FAST implementation of ideas. 

However, there is a dark side to this and that is when you get caught up in the 'hard work' part without the 'inspired action part'. Realistically only a small % of what you do leads to the results. Working hard doing things that are not needed and not effective is not going to get you anything or anywhere. In fact, this is a distraction from you doing the specific things that lead to the result. My advice to you is this: get out of the mindset of working hard, and get into the mindset of being EFFECTIVE and clear about what brings a result.

Once you know this you will be able to ACT with power. If you are inspired to go full out doing something highly effective, great. But don't delude yourself that just because you worked hard all year you actually did anything useful! In fact most of the time this hard work is really a strange disguise for not knowing what is important and spending your time in vague ways.

4. About 80% of what I think I need to do doesn't need to be done at all - and looking back over the year, it is revealed that it REALLY didn't need to be done

Have you ever looked back on the distant events of your life and wondered, 'Why did I do that? What was all the fuss about? I could have done it differently?"

I certainly have and I wish it could have been easier to see what's really going on IN the moment (not years later in retrospect). The good news is with this new awareness about your life, you can STOP and question what you are doing.

It's easy when you know how. Simply take a few minutes each day, especially when you're feeling burned out or confused and ask these questions:

• "What is my life all about? What am I wanting to achieve?"
• "Is what I am doing right now directly connected to my biggest goals and dreams in life - or am I just getting caught up in random distractions?"
• "If I don't do this thing, will I regret it in 10 years?"

Simply asking these 3 questions will give you powerful clarity and motivation to either STOP what you are doing - or continue with renewed interest and excitement.

Don't waste even one precious moment of your life. It's not worth it!

5. Beware of the red alerts - they are red herrings

You know the ones. They bounce about and flash at you on your computer and cell phone. They tell you, you're late, there's unfinished business and people are waiting for you. They represent an endless list of stuff demanding your attention.

Facebook alerts, emails, Skype messages, text messages, Instant Messages all reminding you something is missing, something needs to be done - and you're not free until you deal with them - or at least take a quick peek.

Here's the truth. For a start, most messages and alerts are little more than spam. They are neither urgent nor important and if they didn't exist your life wouldn't be disturbed in anyway. In fact, you'd probably feel better. Secondly, in 99% of cases,  you can easily reply to your messages later on without the world falling apart. I've found it's absolutely essential for my sanity and producitivy to deal with email (or Facebook etc) in nice, carefully timed chunks - so you get them all taken care of in just minutes - rather then over several hours throughout the day. By turning off all programs, alerts and other stuff except when you are using them - you'll feel a million times more free, more able to show up for what you're doing and capable of actually dealing with your messages. Whenever I go against my own advice, I end up with an inbox packed with half-read, messy emails and messages that disturb my flow, burden my mind, upset others and sometimes cost me money.

I'd recommend you only check your e-mail or Facebook 2-3 times a day and set a timer to get them all done as fast as possible. Try not to reply to people right away as it trains them to expect instant replies and causes problems when you are not available. Free your mind, free your life.

The other tip for email is to create filters for your messages.

All newsletters go in a filter, all random notifications and repeats in another etc. Go online and look at gmail filters to find out more. This reduces your inbox from an unsightly mess to a manageable little work space you can actually enjoy.

Here's to your freedom.

Final word.

If you do all these things, your quality of life will amplify. You'll connect back to that sweet experience of having time to BE and enjoy the little things that bring you joy. You'll be able to get more done with less stress and in less time. Things that you've been putting off will fall into the forefront of your life and you'll finally be able to do your life's work.

It's going to take some practice and focus to implement these golden keys into your day. You'll probably abandon them as your old habits break into your day again. But have love and patience with yourself and put the heart and soul back into your life.

I'd love to hear from you and how you're doing.

Please leave a comment and let me know what you can apply in your life starting tomorrow.

Lots of love

Michael