Why Last Month Was The Most Productive Of My Life
Glen / 
65 Comments / 
July 6th, 2009 / 
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A few months ago, I realised my productivity had taken a turn for the worst. I had just came out of a long stint which involved working 7 days per week in order to stabilise my online income and once my goal was achieved, things started to go downhill. I think my lack of action came as some sort of rebound affect to the immensely long hours I had previously been putting in.
My turning point came one evening when I set myself a very simple task. My task was to note down every single productive action I had taken that that day. Of course, it didn’t include eating food and chatting to friends, but things like writing blog posts, sending emails, and that kind of thing.
Needless to say, when I wrote down my productive actions for the day in question, I was shocked. My list was absolutely tiny. A days’ work of productive tasks could probably have been completed in the space of an hour or 2, at the most.
After this point, it became natural for me to start putting the work in. My procrastination decreased, my output increased, and my to-do-list was getting completed very quickly every day. Quite simply, this very simple task of recording what I had done made me angry at the amount of work I was putting in and then things quickly changed course.
For a few weeks, everything was great.
I was starting to put in hours similar to the time when I was fighting to keep my online income stable and making sure that I didn’t have to look for another job.
Then, quite gradually, my work rate started decreasing again. I was spending more time chatting to friends online, browsing Facebook, watching TV, and other rarely useful activities. It was probably this slump which prompted me to try out my 7 day self-discipline challenge.
My self-discipline challenge resulted in renewed productivity but, like before, my output levels started to dip. Then I remembered the task that had worked so well for me previously. It probably hadn’t clicked earlier because, at the time, it was so natural for me to get back into the swing of things that I didn’t think to credit it to my success.
Therefore, I took things a step further.
30 Days of Activity Journaling
For the month of June (last month), I decided to take this simple action that had worked so well and step it up a gear. Instead of just recording down my actions for one day, I simply recorded all of my activities, every day, for an entire month. My journaling wasn’t about noting down my emotions, project ideas or anything else. It was simply there to be used as a log for all of the productive tasks I had done in that day.
The service I used for this journaling was Penzu, my new favourite online notepad. It is very basic and is simply for jotting down text that doesn’t need formatting, hyperlinks or anything like that. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but for this process, it was perfect.
To cut a long month short, June was without question, the most productive month of my life.
In the space of a month I managed to write, and launch, a 69 page eBook (Blogging Blueprint), write 16 blog posts, perform countless tasks I had been putting off, and put some much needed time into my affiliate sites which had lost their rankings in Google (which, thankfully, are now back).
You would expect the kind of wording I have used, “the most productive month of my life,” to result in some kind of product promotion. But, really, I have absolutely nothing to promote. I know this probably sounds too simple to believe, but the results speak for themselves.
If you head over to Google Blog Search and type my name, you will find countless places I’ve been featured for guest posts, interviews and so on. There’s also nowhere to hide as far as my productivity goes for this blog. My writing is available for everyone to see.
What Do You Have to Lose?
I have spent the end of June and the first few day of July in a new city which meant that my schedule changed quite a bit and I wasn’t able to keep up this process. However, now that I’m back ‘home,’ I have started it again immediately. Based on the results of June, I would be stupid not to.
The reason I believe this works so well is because you probably won’t like what you see. If you want to feel like you’ve had a productive day but without looking at the cold hard facts, then this is not for you. I, on the other hand, generally make more money by putting in more time, so like to stay active.
To follow along, your job is simple. Simply write down a log somewhere, whether online or off, that lists all the productive activities you have done in one day. If you’re anything like me, you’ll see a list of actions or tasks, but know that the list is far shorter than it could be.
This isn’t about turning your life into some robotic, workaholic schedule. It’s simply about utilising the time that you do dedicate to your working efforts and making the most of them. Once you’ve done it for one day, see if you can commit to trying this out for an entire month. If you can give this a go, I’m very positive you’ll see great results.
What do you have to lose?
If you enjoyed this post, I would appreciate if you share it on Twitter, Facebook or Delicious!
I have just noticed that this is blog post number 100. Quite fitting for the topic in hand. Thanks to all of you for your support, I honestly never imagined hitting this number (although I’m aware some of you are well past this).
It has been a great journey and here’s to the next 100. Thanks for your support!
Life is good
Hey Glen,
I’m excited by the amount of work you did in June. Some months ago I tried to keep a log of every activity I did. The difference with your is that I recorded just everything, including going to the bathroom. That was an extreme method and I did improve my productivity, but your method seems easier to follow so I;m going to try it out.
Even bathroom visits? Wow
I definitely just recommend recording tasks you would class as ‘work’ or ‘productive,’ not general ones like eating (unless, of course, you were looking to improve your diet).
Let me know how it goes Oscar!
Congratulations on your 100th post and your most productive month.
That said, you’re like my personal truth mirror Glen. This is so unfair! Stop reminding me that I need to improve!
having said that, I can completely relate to the dip in productivity. Once I’d met my initial goals of being a freelance writer, I started getting careless with my productivity.
Something that I still haven’t completely controlled yet. I’m tempted to try your way.
Thank you Samar!
Haha, ultimately it is just down to you if you want to take action. Give it a try, even if it is just for today and then let me know what you think
Have I ever let you down before?
You just might be my current favorite writer on the web. And I follow a lot of amazing bloggers.
I’m excited to see what you can do with another couple great months.
Hey Adam, I really appreciate that, especially coming from you!
I enjoyed reading about your current travels and hope to see more
This is not the post I needed to read now. I had been spending a blissful, delicious month of doing absolutely nothing productive. I can’t say I was enjoying it, but well, I wasn’t thinking about it. And when I did, I convinced myself that I was being as productive as circumstances would allow (lies, all lies!)
Guess who’s going to have to do something about the situation?
Thanks for sharing!
You had me worried at the start of this comment Puneet. Nice to see you weren’t saying what I thought you were
Again, don’t forget that this won’t be for everyone. Some people might be happy with doing the bear minimum. I did state that this is to help whenever you are in need of doing productive work though, so I think this will help you out.
You’re welcome, thanks for stopping by!
Hi, Glen! Congratulations on reaching your 100th post. In all fairness, you should clarify that it’s your 100th on THIS blog, because you’ve written for your other blog and a ton of guest posts. In my mind your productivity level has always been astounding.
As for your new method, I do believe accountability is the way to go when you are trying to create or break any habit. However, as you alluded to in your last comment, productivity isn’t for everyone ALL the time. The lulls, the breaks, the periods of downtime are also a vital part of the creative and productive process (as seen everywhere in Nature).
When it’s time to be productive, keep yourself accountable. When it’s time to rest and regroup, enjoy that process too.
Thanks Lisis!
Good point, yes that is 100 posts on this blog. I think I have written around 500 in my ‘blogging career.’
Relaxation and time outs can definitely help with output as well, I agree. Just don’t use them as an excuse to be lazy.
- Hon
Congrats on your 100th post Glen. I will also document my work and see if I’m really being productive. I have been doing the 48/12 routine whenever I do some work. I think both of them will make for a great combo. Penzu looks great! Makes me want to write over and over!
Looking forward to your next 100. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Raymond!
I’m aware of the 48/12 idea and think it is an interesting concept. I first heard of it through Albert at Urban Monk. Personally, I just find it makes me think about the 12 minutes I’m about to enjoy and keep starting at the clock.
Yep, Penzu is awesome!
Funnily enough, I was planning to start something similar today. The difference is that instad of writing what you did in the first person, you write in the third person and with brutal honesty about waht you’ve done.
For example, when journalling about today I will unfortunately start with the following -
“Because he hadn’t taken the time last night to really decide to get up early and exercise, Peter allowed himself to just sleep in – again. Tossing and turning in bed, he again had no real intention to start exercising today and just told himself that he’d start in a few days, just as he had been doing the past few months. Peter was fooling himself, and he knew it.”
Wow, that was rather uncomfortable! But much better that than being comfortable with deceiving yourself that you’re not stuck in a rut. The more uncomfortable you are with something, the more likely you are to change it.
This variation on journalling came to my attention through Scott Abel, a leading trainer of bodybuilding champions, and a surprisingly effective life coach. His article can be found at http://scottabel.blogspot.com/2009/06/changing-your-story-you-know-every.html.
Glen, thanks for reinforcing the value of this highly effective exercise!
Hey Peter!
Thanks for sharing that, very interesting. I have never heard of this approach before but it does sound like it would have a great effect.
WOOHOO for your 100th post and also for all of that wonderful productivity!
I have to say that the last few months have been some of the most productive months of my life as well. In having a blog, I’m forced (in a good way) to write a lot and, between having two blogs and guest posts, etc., I’ve done a LOT of writing since earlier this year, which has been so great for me. I think I need to take a page from your book and do some more of the active journaling stuff. Seems like a great idea!
Thanks Dani, I appreciate your support
I’ve been increasing my levels of production in terms of online work lately as well. And I’ve been seeing great results. Thanks for the motivation here!
Actually I’m thinking about something like it for a long time. If you track what you do, you want to improve what you do, because you want to be satisfied with yourself. You won’t be happy with a D, so why would you be happy if you haven’t anything done that day, you only have to know.
This makes me want to be productive, this post! I’m going to start immediatly with cleaning out my room, thanks Glen! I’m going to make a wptdt.txt file. ‘What productive thing done today’
Great post!
Stefan
I might have to try this.
I currently have a lot of work to get done recently, and now have 3 niche sites on the go, currently none of them are bringing in any income and I’m putting this down to my productivity.
I have 2 of my sites on page 1 of google for the main keyphrases now but since that I haven’t put much work into them and I guess that’s why I am not making the income.
But to get to the point, this post has made me realise that I actually don’t do a lot, ok, so I logon to my PC first thing in the morning, ready to take the day and get some work done, but I have realised now that I procrastinate SO much, much more than I originally thought.
So thanks for this post, I’m going to “attempt” to take action and try stop my stupid procrastination habbits and actually get something done.
Howie.
As a test, don’t even ‘try’ to do anything differently, just record your productive actions.
See what happens naturally.
Heyyyy!!!
So interesting that you wrote this because I started doing exactly this about a week ago.
Bought a paperback journal and write down what I do every day. Also I write my ideas for blog posts and online projects as soon as I get them because it is not the first time Ill have an awesome idea and forget about it.
Great that you’re making such good progress.
Paying for flight to amsterdam tomorow:)
Amsterdam baby!!!!
Diggy
Ah man, that $hit makes me smile.
Please book it, I want a date in stone. Then we’re gonna have to look for the pimpest flat available for glory times
you want a date in stones?! lol. dude. all the chicks in stones have no front teeth. you def don’t want a date in stones.
Taaaakkkkeeee tttthhhhaaaattt.
lollercopterskates-anade
Hey Glen
) …will use your idea of writing it down to to really see the gaps too starting today!
With getting ready to start my blog etc as well as other things in my life I have been starting to realise I need to get my day WAY more organised if I want to achieve what I plan to..without writing it down I have started to notice just how ‘busy’ I can be, without producing actual results (especially since discovering Twitter!
Thanks for another great post.
jen
Hey Jen, just found out you went to Newcastle college, that’s where I live!
Blogging can definitely be a time hog, but it sounds like you have the right plans in place.
Good luck
I am trying to stay away from Television
It’s really useless
Usually I sit for more than 4 hours in front of TV
now , after i read one articles from this blog
I am now still watching TV………
a pity isn’t it ……..
However i just watch news… and maximum 15 minutes a day……
I am really glad … this is happened
Hey Glen!
I did my course via distance learning, so didn’t get to Newcastle unfortunatly – I hear its a great city!
Yes, you’re right I have some plans in place and am really enjoying the whole blogging world so it’s really fun and not hard work .. but I think the productivity side of things will be a great one to tackle!
Cheers!
Congrats on #100 Glen! That’s awesome!!!!
I started a journal of my online blog/business work a couple weeks ago… just like you talk about. I have different sections for actions taken, materials read, new terms learned, and things I need to figure out. I haven’t been keeping up on it as much as I would like, but you post has motivated me!! I started it primarily to remember what I have done, and keep track in order to be able to reflect and see exactly when I did what. I like the online journaling idea… I’ll have to check out that site!
Great idea!
It reminds me of food journaling, where you aren’t getting the results you want, but after taking a look at the big picture you are much more able to turn things around (partially through shaming yourself and partially by making the solution more apparent).
I’ll have to try this soon..I’m thinking in August. I’ll let you know how it goes (and likely write a blog about it, too)!
Hey congrats, great post. You have me inspired and motivated to do this right now. I’ve even printed out this article and tacked it next to my desk (probably looks a bit tragic to all th