Instant Productivity Hack: Put on Your Gameface
by blogrdocAbstract
Do not underestimate the correlation of facial expression on mood. Use this correlation to impose your will on your mood. If I’m not quite in the right frame of mind to be productive, but I know I want to get some things done: I put on my gameface. It also alerts others (without even saying anything): “this guy is busy, don’t mess with him.”
When I used to play football in high school, I remember the moments before the game. It was a very serious time. If coach ever saw you goofing off or even smiling, he’d yell at you. This was a time to focus.
Fast-forward 16 years later. I’m sitting in my cube. I’ve got 30 mins to lunch time and I’m faced with a decision: do I take an early lunch, or do I dig in and get those nagging to-do’s out of the way. How do I overcome the temptation to goof off? I put on my gameface. Despite how silly this is, it works for me. With my gameface on, it makes it harder for me to then go read slashdot or whatever. It kind of puts me in the right frame of mind.
Here’s me with my gameface:
(it’s actually a little meaner than this, but this is the only picture I have handy. Afterall, I’m too busy to take a picture when I have my real gameface on.)
Often, my gameface will just naturally show up when I’m getting down to business. What I’m talking about here is consciously turning it on to avoid distraction, both internally and externally.
Acknowledgements: Coach Eskue
Popularity: 27% [?]
3 Responses to “Instant Productivity Hack: Put on Your Gameface”
By Alik on Mar 30, 2008 | Reply
Good technique, i wish it’d work with customers too…. LOL!
By blogrdoc on Mar 30, 2008 | Reply
Ha! I know and myself have dealt with salespeople that try to bully.