Recognizing what Lies Ahead: Productivity Hack using a Kanban Board

The art of making lists has been so helpful in getting me from A to Z. It's helped me stay on track and recognize what lies ahead. But I have discovered a new system. I love it because you can see your progress better than just crossing things off your list. It's called a Kanban Board.  Have you heard of it?  You can make your own or download the app Kanban Flow

Kanban- Leanit.com

This last week my guest on Rising Stories Podcast shared her productivity tip with me. She uses a Kanban board and raves about how it keeps her productive. 

Kanban boards, typically use sticky notes on a whiteboard to communicate status, progress, and issues. Kanban is the Japanese word for visual signal or card. 

I decided to look into this system. It was so helpful that I have decided to use it in all of the areas of my work, life, parenting and social goals. The concept is a board with sticky notes in columns that you move as each task moves in progression.

 

Let’s try using a Kanban board this week. Using a piece of paper divide it up in three sections. To Do, Doing, Done. I think this is going to give us so much satisfaction at the end of the week.

For larger tasks at work or a big overhaul/renovation use these sections: 

Plan

Develop

Test 

Deploy

Include all of your tasks for this week. Everything from home chores, goals for kids, work tasks, and even social goals(make reservations for dinner with that couple ) If you like this concept then move it all to a larger board with sticky notes or to the app mentioned on the show. Set a timer and move through your tasks, finish one and keep moving. Research suggests that in an eight-hour day, the average worker is only productive for roughly around three hours a day. Let’s make those three hours count!