Many people forget how routine their lives are. While this is especially true for those, like me, who have a regular 9-5 job, freelancers often get into their own routines, even while being less constrained by hours and location.

Doing the same thing over, day after day, contributes to creative blocks. Some might work through these blocks temporarily (by visiting sites such as this one), but it neglects the root cause of what got them into the block in the first place: routine.

I schedule a day out for myself as often as possible. I don’t call it a day off because those are usually taken for a specific purpose: a trip, work around the house, etc. For me, a day out is a way to temporarily break out of my routine. In the process, I usually get a boost of creativity.

My rules for taking a day out include:

• I take a long walk. Sometimes, walking is my only mode of transportation on a day out. You observe much more during a walk than any other form of transportation. It reduces stress and feels good.
• I go to a different neighborhood. Rather than going to the same comfortable cafes and coffeeshops, I visit a different neighborhood or small town. If I’ve visited all the ones within walking distance, I might drive to others and spend time walking around to get a feel for where I want to eat, sit, write, etc.
• I take extra time to observe. While walking, I’ll often stop and look around or sit on a bench for several minutes to watch people. I rarely get a chance to do this during my routine. It sometimes feels odd allowing myself time to just observe the flow of life.
• I never have an agenda. I don’t take a day out with any goal in mind (except perhaps to have fun and reduce stress).
• I pack lightly. I read a quote recently that said the less you pack, the more you experience. I usually take a notebook and a pen. Anything else, especially gadgets, will be a distraction.
• I try to talk to people. I take the time to engage store owners and others in friendly conversation. I might ask a specific question about the neighborhood (or small town) since I am new to the area. I usually learn something new, often about myself.

At one point in my life, I took a day out on a weekly basis. Now, I’m lucky to do it once every two months. I plan to take a week out every year to visit a new city by myself, so if you see a short guy with glasses wandering around your neighborhood, say hello.

All too often when people like me extol the benefits of apply Getting Things Done we try to accentuate the positive, pointing out all the good things about it. Well, there’s the flip side too, and its probably time you heard about it:

Not Getting Things Done is not just inefficient in a world that punishes inefficiency, it’s a guaranteed stress-filled existence that will shorten your life and make your remaining years miserable.

Consider:

* Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
* Seventy-five to 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.
* Stress is linked to six of the leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide.

-WebMDHealth

Stress will make you fat, stress will make you ugly, stress will kill you. While the younger you are the easier it is to shrug off a stressful week, the older you are the more you realize what stress costs you.

The tagline to David Allen’s first book is “The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” for a reason. Learning how to be productive and as stress free as you can in this day and age isn’t a way of getting ahead, it’s a way of staying alive.

Author Bio: Bob Walsh divides his time between improving and selling MasterList Professional, a personal task management application, writing a book for Apress (Micro-ISV: From Vision to Reality) on how to start a self-funded startup, blogging here and at http://www.todoorelse.com, writing custom software applications for companies with needs and budgets and trying to remember what the words “time off” and “vacation” mean. He can be reached at bobw@safarisoftware.com.

I was always envious of those folks who could just get up in front of people and “own it”, you know? The people who are totally comfortable in front of crowds? Those who always seem to speak with confidence and always know what they are talking about? I mean, I bet they never feel like they don’t know what they’re doing, right?

Wrong.

h3. Everyone Has Moments Of Uncertainty

Even some of the most successful and influential people in the world have had times when they felt like a sham. I’ve talked to quite a few people who I look up to and respect who’ve told me they’ve had days when they’ve felt like they were going to be “outted” for not knowing what they were talking about.

And here I was thinking it was just me!

Recently I was talking about this “phenomenon” with a colleague and I admitted to having this feeling quite often. He was shocked, “Not you?! Dude, you’re golden! But I totally feel that way too. All the time.” Funny thing is, I’d have never expected it out of him either.

Well, I thought this was all very interesting and asked around. I did some research. Seems like almost everyone struggles with this at some point or other. Just knowing that makes me feel much better and I think it’ll help me cope with those times I’m up speaking or giving a presentation and I feel like an impostor. I’m not alone, and neither are you!

How do you deal with your own lack of confidence in yourself? I’ve got all sorts of things I do. I mean, at my core I’m a pretty shy and modest person. It’s only been through forcing myself to do things and put myself out there have I developed any degree of self-confidence.

h3. What I Do

* Just Do It. Whenever I feel shy or unsure of myself, I pretty much force myself to just get on with it. Usually after a brief panic moment I’m usually fine. I got over my fear of flying the same way. The more you do something, the more you’ll feel comfortable with it and the more confident you’ll be.
* I recall past successes. For example, when I get up to speak in front of a crowd, I recall the last time I did it and remember that it went just fine.
* Positive thinking. I try to visualize success when I’m feeling less than confident as well I maintain a positive train of thought.
* Remind myself that what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger. I tell myself that if I screw up I can look back, probably laugh my ass off, and realize I learned something in the process.
* Take deep breaths. This has a calming effect on me.
* Prepare. I usually know what’s going to make me nervous or self-conscious. I find that the more prepared I am, the easier it is to get past.
* Go through my “kudos” file. I keep e-mails from people who’ve encouraged me or offered positive feedback. I read these when I’m feeling like I don’t know what the hell I’m doing or when I just need some validation.
* Focus on one thing and take it slow. It’s easy to let my mind wander in panic mode, and rushed thinking doesn’t help anything. Forcing myself to concentrate and keep my focus can help restore confidence.
* Listen, think, then speak. The times when I get into the most trouble usual stem from not listening. You can lose yourself and get into a place where you really don’t feel like you know what’s going on if you don’t listen well.
* Remember that I’m not the only one who feels this way. People who I really look up to have the same thing from time to time. This makes me feel much better.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what I need to do to do something great and I wanted to write about that here. I want you to keep in mind that these are my opinions on what it takes to do something great and they’re very much open to interpretation.

h2. Thoughts on Doing Something Great

* You need focus. Doing something great needs great focus.
* You need to rid yourself of fear. Fear is often what’ll keep us from getting something done, let alone something great. Doing great things often requires a person to take a risk or take a leap of faith. Failure is a possibility, sure, but so is something great. I know this is my biggest stumbling block.
* Sometimes “great” is simply really good. Great is rarely perfect. Seth Godin agrees with me that “perfect” is the enemy of the good. And the great. Don’t let the drive for perfection keep you from doing something great.
* Treat every idea like it’s got possibilities. Sometimes great ideas don’t seem that great at the start. I think To-Done is pretty great, and it started out as a pretty small idea.
* Starting is the hardest part. I’ve not read The Art of The Start (I plan to) but I do know that once you take that very first step forward things become much easier.
* Doing something great requires a plan. Set your goal, make a plan, then act on it.
* An idea is only as good as its execution. I know people, everyday people like you and I, with great ideas, who just never do anything with them. For an idea to be worth anything you’ve got to do something with it.
* You have to want it. Whatever it is. I have a motivational saying for myself: “Own it.” What I mean by that is I tell myself that an idea, or concept or whatever is something I can make my own. The desire to want to do something great needs to be there, you need to “own it.” Confidence and a positive attitude can work wonders.

I’d love to hear any suggestions y’all might have, or any insight towards doing something really great.

Along the way he makes a very good point I feel is worth mentioning:

Can a high-tech list help you accomplish more? I’ve been testing several in hopes of getting my own life better organized. I discovered some clever features and found that the shared-list capability works well for those who need it. But as with other organizational tools, from day-planner notebooks to PDAs, what you get out of these sites depends on how much you invest in their approach.

As with most the tools and processes we use to get more things done, be more productive and maintain a better work/life balance (which to me is the key to all this stuff) it only goes as far as you take it. All the tools and systems in the world won’t help you if you don’t put the necessary effort in, right?

I’ve been using Backpack and I’m growing more and more fond of it as I get in there and mold it to my working style. To be totally honest, at very first blush, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. But I applied myself to it and, after a slight learning/figuring-out curve, it opened up and quite a few useful ideas on how to use it popped into my head.

Now, after a few weeks of use, I’m finally reaping some rewards. But it was, by no means, instantaneous. Follow through and effort were needed, and more will be needed to get the most out of it. It’s like that with almost everything in life. At times I feel like all this productivity stuff could be just a placebo, and I imagine that, for some, it is. But then I remind myself that it’s up to me to make sure it works for me, and that no system and no tool, is going to help me on it’s own.

Remember that as you work (and it is work) to make yourself more productive, less stressed or whatever you’re in it for. Keep the goal in mind and put a little of your back into it.

So, I’m curious, and willing to share. Why are you trying to be more productive? What does less stress and more “getting things done” mean to you? Are you wanting more time for you to more of your 43 things? Do you want a better job? Maybe planning on a trip to Africa?

Let me know why you’re getting things done. I find this kind of sharing motivational and hope you do too. For me I’ve got a few specific goals in mind and a whole lot of vague ones.

h3. Why I’m Getting Things Done

* To write more clearly
* To start and finish a book
* To communicate more accurately
* To improve my health (less stress and all that)
* To be outside more often
* To earn more money
* To control more of my time
* To meet people
* To help people
* To take better photos
* To listen to more music
* To travel
* To teach
* To learn
* To grow
* To play more video games
* To read more often
* To sleep in
* To keep from forgetting things
* To be a better person

There has to be reasons for getting things done, what are yours?