3 Steps to Boost Productivity

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Okay, now let's get into today's episode.

Today I'm talking about your greatest resource in life. Something more precious than money or things. Something that you can never get back. That's right: TIME.

As a parent, you've learned that time is your greatest resource. You feel it every day when you feel rushed or witness aging parents and growing kids. Nothing has the potential to feel better or worse - depending on your relationship to time.

But for better or worse, you've had the gift of time to develop some management skills so that you get done what needs to get done. Time that your middle schooler hasn't had yet.

So, how do you guide your kid to maximize these time management skills and increase their productivity during after-school hours?

In today's podcast I'll cover:

• Key aspects of your role in guiding them to build this skill.

• 3 key steps to take before diving into doing "work"

• The essential "End of Week" routine you'll both need to head into the week with greater confidence

Before we dive into the talking points, here's my simple definition of productivity: to maximize the time you do have with the activity that will yield the greatest reward: after school, this means accomplishing school work, learning a new skill, socializing, or relieving stress, creating more joy, etc. 

Take a look into today's talking points

Key aspects of your role in guiding them towards greater productivity:

• move from manager to guide

• give them the gift of starting to learn time management now

• letting them take the lead will build leadership skills and confidence

• pay attention to your communication

3 Key Steps Guide them to take before diving into doing any "Work":

Step 1: Begin with a "Time Experiment". 

Does after-school time tends to be rushed, disconnected, or does your middle schooler procrastinate or resist any school work after school? Then my recommendation is this: COMMUNICATE your frustrations when you are both in a calm state. Then use the tool of the Time Experiment.

I recommend you start this time experiment at the beginning of a new week and discuss how you're going to spend a few days observing where the time goes.

I've made a Time Experiment PDF to make this easy for you to do at home!

Step 2: Uncover time patterns & productivity roadblocks

Review the notes you took from the Time Experiment and then, you'll begin to identify productivity roadblocks.

Some examples include:

• Hunger

• Needed down-time as soon as they get home

• Distractions: Sound, Tech, Email

The idea is BEFORE they begin to dive into work - these things will need to be incorporated into a new routine. Plan for downtime. Plan good snacks. Remove distractions. Again, guide them towards this new routine as an assistant manager or coach.

Step 3: Develop End of the Week Routine:

A key piece of your middle schooler practicing and adopting this new productivity pattern means you'll need to co-manage a new end-of-week routine. Developing the skill of becoming productive and managing time well is like strengthening a muscle - you cant do it once and expect to be strong at it.

Keep it simple and ask these 4 simple questions when looking at the week ahead:

1. What is happening?

2. Who can they ask for help?

3. When will they do the work?

4. Where will they do the work?

By beginning with a time experiment, uncovering time patterns and productivity roadblocks, and guiding them to develop an end-of-week routine, you're assisting them in building the skill of becoming more productive, which involves critical thinking, time management, delegation, leadership, and communication skills.

Like what you hear? Keep listening to the Elevated Adolescence Podcast