Doomed from the start
You turn it on or wake it up every day. It has replaced your real desk top with a desktop full of icons representing folders, files and shortcuts to programs. I’m like you. I move my mouse and it wakes from its energy saving slumber. It greets me with a picture of my children, a dock leading me to programs I use most and items that I have deemed important enough to remind me of their presence every time I visit my desktop.
Sensory overload
You should not wake yourself to CNN, Fox News or any other sensory heavy blast of information. Why then do we wake ourselves to the mess of options, windows and clutter when we sit down to start our work day? We do it because we’ve always done it. We do it because we think we’re being productive. That’s a lie. You’re not more productive because you start your work day the same way most people start their work day. You’re less productive because those other people are also less productive.
Feed what you grow
Farmers grow animals or plants. Most of them start their work day by ensuring the life of those two groups. They feed their livelihood. Start your day the same way. Feed your livelihood. If you are a writer, write. If you are a singer, sing. If you are an instigator, instigate. If you are a manager, care. If you are a leader, envision.
Start your work day with the foundation of who you are and what you do or the world will tell you who you are and what to do.
Resources that will help
Writers should get OmmWriter. It will help you write.
Managers, consultants and leaders should get Basecamp (affiliate)
If you are addicted to checking your email you need to get Freedom.
