Re-work

I’ve been reading a lot recently, to pass the time whilst travelling to work each day. I’ve been reading a lot of fiction, but one book that I had been meaning to read for a while is Re-work by 37 Signals. I heard a lot about it when it was first published, mainly about the illustrations by Mike Rohd. Here are some of my highlights from that book:

Go to Sleep
This is one of my personal favourites, I firmly believe that getting to sleep is better for creativity and productivity. I know from being a student that sometimes all-nighters have to be done but it really isn’t productive. I’m unsure if it’s a case of being a morning person or an evening person but I definitely get more done in the morning. Re-work expresses that you can’t successfully catch up after an all-nighter.

Long lists don’t get done.
A long list of things to do is daunting, and more often than not, not all of it gets done. I like to create lists of about 5 things, tick those off and then write the next list of things that you need to do.

No time is no excuse.
make time.

Send people home at 5.
“You don’t need more hours, you need better hours.” If you are to leave the office early, you naturally find ways of being more efficient and therefore get more done.

Take a deep breathe.

Don’t create strangers at a cocktail party.

Build your audience.