[<a href=”//storify.com/rsidneysmith/prodchat-getting-unstuck” target=”_blank”>View the story “#ProdChat – Getting Unstuck” on Storify</a>]
#ProdChat – 10/19/2016 – Getting Unstuck
On October 19, 2016, #ProdChat discussed the topic, Getting Unstuck, hosted by productivity coach, Natalie M. Houston. Have you ever felt stuck? Or, are you currently feeling stuck and need some help getting unstuck when it comes to your personal productivity? Watch the slideshow to see what the productivity enthusiasts on #ProdChat had to say about “Getting Unstuck.” Enjoy!
Questions:
- Q1: What goals or projects do you have right now that you’d like to move forward? Are they at work? at home?
- Q2: Pick one project that you’d like to move forward. Imagine it’s successfully completed. How would you feel?
- Q3: We often get stuck when we lack information, confidence, or commitment. What’s keeping you from taking action?
- Q4: What strategies have you used in the past to get unstuck and move forward?
- Q5: What tools or apps help you get unstuck and move forward?
- Q6: What’s one step you can take in the next week to get unstuck on your project?
Raw transcript:
User | Tweet | Time |
nmhouston | Welcome to #ProdChat, the weekly chat for productivity enthusiasts! https://t.co/NjDzNtZcko | Thu Oct 20 00:00:02 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | Hi Natalie. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:00:47 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Today on #ProdChat our topic is: Getting Unstuck! Join us! https://t.co/eWWvcKSs0c | Thu Oct 20 00:01:05 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @DrFrankBuck hi Frank, glad you’re here! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:01:33 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | First, intro yourself! Tell us a bit about you and your interest in #productivity! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:01:46 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | I’m Natalie, an English professor & productivity coach. I help people move forward on the projects that matter most to them. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:02:02 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | Frank Buck from Alabama. I write and speak on organization and time management. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:02:28 +0000 2016 |
JKatzaman | Joining #prodchat from Maryland to get unstuck. | Thu Oct 20 00:02:36 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @DrFrankBuck how’s your week been so far? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:03:20 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | I’m Ben, I like productivity and do instructional design and library stuff. I’m also a travel blogger #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:03:23 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @JKatzaman hi Jim, good to see you! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:03:43 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | @nmhouston Great week. Making progress on several projects. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:04:08 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | While we wait for others to arrive…what’s a productivity success you’ve had recently? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:04:14 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @halduauthor hi Ben! glad you’re here! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:04:39 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | Joining #prodchat from Portland. I like systems, process, simplicity and always learn from discussion here. | Thu Oct 20 00:06:23 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | One of my successes has been embracing some pen-and-paper strategies for project planning. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:06:26 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | My productivity success is a pretty involved spreadsheet for a client. Have gotten some complex formulas composed. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:06:53 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | As tonight’s host, I’ll post questions as Q1, Q2. Answer with A1, A2 for readability, and please add #prodchat to your tweets! | Thu Oct 20 00:06:53 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @SallyReb hi Sally! glad you’re joining us tonight! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:07:21 +0000 2016 |
JKatzaman | @nmhouston Hi, Natalie. I majored in English, but we don’t talk about that much. Profs rolling over in graves topple buildings. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:07:40 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | @nmhouston You must tell us more. Maybe it will fit into one of tonight’s questions. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:07:53 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | OK, let’s get started with tonight’s questions #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:08:04 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @DrFrankBuck gotta love those time saving spreadsheets #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:09:42 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @JKatzaman as I tell my students, English majors go on to do all kinds of things!! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:09:53 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | #Prodchat #schoolcounselor and #productivityjunkie from Pittsburgh PA | Thu Oct 20 00:10:11 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | again, with hashtag: Q1: What goals or projects do you have right now that you’d like to move forward? Are they at work? at home?#prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:10:47 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Q1: What goals or projects do you have right now that you’d like to move forward? Are they at work? at home?… https://t.co/jXZav9J2xH | Thu Oct 20 00:11:53 +0000 2016 |
JKatzaman | A1 My big current project is to get up to speed managing #SocialMedia for our agency. I’m now just four weeks into Facebook. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:12:20 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | sorry guys for brief technical issues. got my tweets and hashtags fixed now : ) #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:12:45 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | A1: Right now I find myself with several website projects both at the library and on the blog #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:12:50 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | Q1: I have both honey and work projects. The biggest one involves preschool special ed data for the entire state. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:13:27 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | A1: I’m working on writing projects and I’ve got some organizational projects at home I’d love to start #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:14:08 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | Q1: I am working on getting better at actually looking through to do list & planning to do tasks vs just capturing… https://t.co/GPuoOtphgj | Thu Oct 20 00:14:35 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | A1. Personal #volunteer projects, write 2 training guides and write a few (4-5) museum tours #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:15:03 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @JKatzaman social media is the best! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:15:40 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Tonight’s questions are designed to walk you through an exercise for getting unstuck. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:15:51 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @DrFrankBuck bees ? love honey ? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:16:07 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | Q1:Correction… Should have read home and work. Isn’t autocorrect wonderful? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:16:28 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | I love hearing the wide range of things we’re all working on at #prodchat! | Thu Oct 20 00:16:49 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Q2: Pick one project that you’d like to move forward. Imagine it’s successfully completed. How would you feel?… https://t.co/Ui9h4vovHf | Thu Oct 20 00:16:54 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @DrFrankBuck I actually thought that was some version of a “honey-do” list! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:17:21 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @SallyReb I love museums, they are right there with libraries ? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:17:23 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | @nmhouston That too! LOL #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:18:15 +0000 2016 |
JKatzaman | A2 Completing any project successfully is a great confidence-builder — and relief. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:18:21 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | A2: I am working on a weekly video series. To have this regularly established would make me feel connected and creatively sound #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:19:16 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | “Feeling stuck” might mean you’ve been putting something off, not getting started, or maybe you’ve stopped moving forward. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:19:20 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @DrFrankBuck just thought they were honey do lists ha ha #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:19:27 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @JKatzaman yes, completion always feels good — which is why celebrating milestones along the way can be so helpful #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:20:05 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | @nmhouston not making the time to allow myself to create because of all other “to-do’s” #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:20:43 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | I can tell that we are going to be friends @halduauthor #museums and #libraries #prodchat https://t.co/tfYLCPNF55 | Thu Oct 20 00:21:06 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | A2 One of the projects I’m looking forward to completing is reorganizing two closets. Doing one involves the other, so it’s big. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:21:36 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @SallyReb high five ✋? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:21:50 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @MsTtheSC Love this! Keying into those emotions can be helpful in building motivation for taking action! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:22:42 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @MsTtheSC Love this! Keying into those emotions can be helpful in building motivation for taking action! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:22:42 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | A2. I’d feel relieved. I hate having the feeling of something hanging over my head. Satisfied. Creative #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:22:48 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @nmhouston have you read “the life changing magic of tidying up” ? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:23:28 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | A2 Once I get those closets reorganized, I will feel confident and more creative knowing I can access things easily. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:23:53 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @halduauthor yes, some parts I found very helpful — we got rid of half our stuff before moving across the country last yr #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:25:02 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | I second this question!!!!! @nmhouston @halduauthor LOVE THIS BOOK #prodchat https://t.co/uvhxCIeqjj | Thu Oct 20 00:25:26 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | A2: I would feel happy that that nagging thing wasn’t bothering me anymore and that the website would work lots better #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:25:35 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @SallyReb Excellent — so clear about what you’d gain #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:26:11 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @nmhouston yeah… some parts were helpful, but I like books ?? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:26:38 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Q3: We often get stuck when we lack information, confidence, or commitment. What’s keeping you from taking action?… https://t.co/PoTX5QxwYz | Thu Oct 20 00:27:02 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @MsTtheSC @nmhouston I’m not totally on the boat but some parts are very helpful #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:27:41 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @halduauthor Happy has lots of layers! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:28:33 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | A3: I’d say commitment probably, I just don’t want to do it. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:28:39 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | A3: I think confidence and perfectionism keep me from making videos. Can never get it perfectly right! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:29:03 +0000 2016 |
2Patra | RT @halduauthor: @SallyReb I love museums, they are right there with libraries ? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:29:07 +0000 2016 |
JKatzaman | A3 Oh, I’m taking action. It’s called learning by doing. See: Drinking from fire hydrant. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:29:09 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | Somehow I am not seeing the questions. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:29:23 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @halduauthor @MsTtheSC I like the idea of thanking things before you give them away. And her folding technique. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:29:31 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @nmhouston like an onion #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:29:40 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @MsTtheSC Perfectionism blocks so many smart, creative people from exploring all their talents. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:31:03 +0000 2016 |
2Patra | RT @JKatzaman: A2 Completing any project successfully is a great confidence-builder — and relief. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:31:23 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @DrFrankBuck Q3: We often get stuck when we lack information, confidence, or commitment. What’s keeping you from taking action? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:31:59 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @nmhouston @MsTtheSC down with perfectionism ? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:32:16 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | A3. Time. I feel like I have to do it all at once. I struggle to work if I only have 30 mins, I crave more time for this #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:33:00 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | A3: When I do get stuck, it’s usually I don’t have the information I need. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:33:28 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @MsTtheSC one strategy is to practice just doing *something*. A rough draft. An experiment. A small step. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:33:37 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | @nmhouston I love that idea! Less pressure #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:34:01 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @SallyReb pomadoro ? that’s where it’s at #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:34:40 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @SallyReb so how much more time would you need? what would you be willing to give up to create that time? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:34:49 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Q4: What strategies have you used in the past to get unstuck and move forward? #prodchat https://t.co/mv47unURRw | Thu Oct 20 00:34:58 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | A3: Breaking the steps down even further and detailed planning helps to get unstuck. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:35:02 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | A3. Hmmm the need for time may be related to information, I need to do research as I do not have all info #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:35:21 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @DrFrankBuck yes, this is so often the case! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:35:32 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @halduauthor So, is it something you could let go of? or delegate to someone else? Do you have to do it? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:36:25 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | Good question! What would I be willing to give up for more time #prodchat @nmhouston https://t.co/ugH4sQHEgJ | Thu Oct 20 00:36:39 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | A4: Sometimes trying to figure out why something has been hanging out in the list so long is enough to get things moving. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:36:44 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @SallyReb great insight!! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:37:14 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | A4: in the past I have made the decision to seek inspo from YouTube, instragm, or twitter about my task to build motivation #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:37:38 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | A4: set a deadline, break it down by steps, commit to someone else #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:37:38 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | So true! #prodchat https://t.co/uOzqNiFzch | Thu Oct 20 00:38:13 +0000 2016 |
JKatzaman | A4 I try to learn as much as I can about a new project without delaying and making too big or too many mistakes along the way. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:38:28 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @nmhouston it’s either me or my wife… and it really does need to be done but nothing blows up if it’s not #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:38:54 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @halduauthor Yes, making a commitment to someone else or gaining an accountability partner can be a big help in getting unstuck #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:39:14 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | A4 One of my favorite strategies is to break down my first step into something small, & then set a timer for 15 minutes and start! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:40:15 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @SallyReb yep the tomato timer approach. You work for 25 minutes and break for five and so on. It trains you to work in chunks #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:40:16 +0000 2016 |
2Patra | @MsTtheSC F/1st videos were scary but if u jump in u get better fast. folks care 4 info most. If I can, u can #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:41:04 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @MsTtheSC Great idea as long as you don’t get overwhelmed by how other people seem to do things #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:41:14 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | @nmhouston yep!! I love setting a timer so it doesn’t feel like a huge commitment. Almost always continue on .. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:41:31 +0000 2016 |
smcascone | RT @nmhouston: Q4: What strategies have you used in the past to get unstuck and move forward? #prodchat https://t.co/mv47unURRw | Thu Oct 20 00:41:38 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @halduauthor Would chunking it down & setting some rewards for completing them help? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:42:14 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | A4: Having everything on the list & in a logical order helps. Then I can concentrate and not worry about what’s not getting done #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:42:33 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Q5: What tools or apps help you get unstuck and move forward? #prodchat https://t.co/pdFsgIl6AT | Thu Oct 20 00:42:44 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @nmhouston yeah, I’m sure it would. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:43:09 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | A4. What about rewards? I’ve done that in the past w others, never for myself. Anyone do self reward? #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:43:29 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @DrFrankBuck Yes, I agree. I often brainstorm a list first, in any order — then rearrange. Two different kinds of planning. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:44:27 +0000 2016 |
MsTtheSC | A5: I’m a huge fan/user of @nozbe task manager! User friendly sleek and amazing capture tool. Still refining process of course #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:44:37 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @SallyReb YES! Rewards are key to establishing any new habits. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:44:59 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | A5: My best app for staying unstuck is my task app. I use @Toodledo #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:45:01 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @SallyReb yeah, I don’t play video games much anymore so sometime I use that if I get something done, a little treat for me ?#prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:46:05 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @SallyReb the key is to plan a reward, and then follow thru with it (many people skip it, which misses the point) #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:46:27 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | A5: I use pebbledoro on my pebble watch #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:46:57 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | A5. Curious to see responses, always discover new tools, apps, approaches in these discussions #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:47:06 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | A5 My favorite tool is my timer. For work blocks, and for rewards/breaks #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:47:35 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | A5 Meditation is also a way I get unstuck. Timer, and plenty of apps like headspace, calm, or buddhify for guided meditations #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:49:21 +0000 2016 |
SallyReb | My commute is coming to an end, hopping off the bus now. Thanks for the great discussion #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:50:30 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Q6: What’s one step you can take in the next week to get unstuck on your project? #prodchat https://t.co/QSphaASbCW | Thu Oct 20 00:50:56 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @SallyReb Glad you could join us! have a great evening #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:51:18 +0000 2016 |
JKatzaman | A5 Throughout the day I have my Outlook reminders pop up every 30 minutes for open projects to prod me along. #ProdChat | Thu Oct 20 00:51:23 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @SallyReb nice to meet you #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:51:41 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Seems like twitter is starting to get bogged down with heavy traffic . . . #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:51:47 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @JKatzaman yes, reminders (whatever the platform) are a great strategy #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:52:22 +0000 2016 |
halduauthor | @nmhouston stupid debate ?#prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:52:48 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | Q6: Keep doing what has worked… Trap everything on the list, put it in order, and get started on #1 #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:53:35 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @DrFrankBuck “Trap” is a great verb for this!! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:54:36 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | A6 I realize I’ve made my closet project into something too big, so I’m going to break it down into smaller sub-projects. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:55:25 +0000 2016 |
JKatzaman | A6 I’ll keep from getting stuck by keeping the goal in mind, knowing that too shall pass. #ProdChat | Thu Oct 20 00:55:30 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @JKatzaman Taking the long view is often comforting #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:56:49 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Thanks everyone for sharing great ideas in today’s #ProdChat! Join us again next week! #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:57:45 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | Check out the #prodchat transcript tomorrow from @rsidneysmith! | Thu Oct 20 00:58:00 +0000 2016 |
DrFrankBuck | Thanks for leading the discussion, Natalie. #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:58:42 +0000 2016 |
nmhouston | @DrFrankBuck Glad you were here! have a good evening — #prodchat | Thu Oct 20 00:59:43 +0000 2016 |