Focus, Get Organized, and Get Productive

We've kicked off the month of August with an intention: to get organized and get focused. Productivity doesn't always come easy, and it takes time for the habit to stick. But with this week's list, we hope you'll pick up some tips and tricks to make it work for you.

Now let's cut the distractions and get focused:

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Book of the week

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss - Tim Ferriss has hosted a number of impressive celebrities, athletes, doctors, authors, scientists, and entrepreneurs on his podcast over the years. And inTools of Titans, Tim shares the habits, routines, and resources they use to take on each day.

Get focused

This week, we encourage you to give focus sprints a try. What is a focus sprint, you ask? It's a 90-minute chunk of uninterrupted, concentrated work time. If you need a little help getting started, check out this video where Matthew Encina explains how to run your focus sprint.

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Spend your time creating logos, not exporting them

Logo Package Express 2.0 was created so you never have to waste another ounce of your creative energy on a mind-numbing task like exporting logo packages. This Adobe Illustrator extension — which exports dozens of error-proof logo files in under 3 minutes — is releasing new time-saving features this week. Handing off the best possible logo files to your clients is about to get way easier. Click here to get 20% off!

Articles worth the read

• You may know John Mulaney as that quirky comedian who has some hilarious Netflix specials, but he's a creative professional with countless ideas circulating his thoughts, just like many of us. This article gives some great insight into how John Mulaney leans on his creativity to figure out what to do next in his career.
• Some days we're productive, and other times, well...not so much. How do you make sure you and your team are meeting deadlines between the productivity slumps and peaks? This article from Inc. gives some great advice to help you keep your team on task without coming off as a micromanager.

Listen while you work

Podcasts

• Some of us truly can't get anything done without a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Want to brew it better? Listen to this episode from NPR's Life Kit and learn how to amp up your coffee game.
• Let's face it. Sometimes, distractions can get the best of us. But is it our distractions that are the problem, or are we the problem? This episode of Harvard Business Review's Ideacast explores how our emotions are likely at fault, not our devices.

Music

• Follow this week's Futur's Finds playlist on Spotify! We picked some electronic beats to help you focus and flow throughout your workday.

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‍What to watch

• Matthew Encina pretty much puts the 'pro' in productivity. And in this video, he'll show you how to organize and declutter your workspace for a more focused day, and keep it consistently tidy.
• Matt D'Avella is known for his YouTube videos on minimalism, productivity, and creativity. But in this video in particular, Matt shares 12 habits he picked up over the span of a year that changed his life.
• Try as we may to stop accumulating so much stuff, no one knows how to keep things minimal quite like Marie Kondo. If you need a jolt of inspiration to declutter your space and keep the things that "spark joy," add Netflix's Tidying Up with Marie Kondo to your weekend watchlist. 

Meals to make

• Cookies? For breakfast? Made with oats to keep your body satisfied and your energy levels up? Yes, please. Get the recipe for these Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies.
• Want to avoid that afternoon crash? Try eating a lighter lunch. This Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is an easy and tasty recipe you can portion throughout your week.
• Wrap up the day with these delicious Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas. This ultimate comfort dish is made with ingredients you likely have on hand, so you'll probably be cooking this one over and over again.

And finally, a quote to keep in mind throughout the week

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." — Jim Rohn 

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