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#ProdChat – 10/19/2016 – Getting Unstuck

#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

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