Yes, it’s possible to get amazing things done in bed if you follow this system. I do all the time

You’ve read a bunch of different productivity posts, blogs, books, and magazine articles — admit it — and yet it’s always so complicated. You just want to accomplish great things, without all the fuss.While there are many great systems out there, and maybe you already have one, focus on the doing, not the upkeep of your productivity system.

If you already have a system that works for you, this can only improve what you are currently doing. However, if you don’t have a GTD system (Get Things Done), look no more. This is all you need to know about productivity, all you need to know about getting amazing things done, doing important work … in three simple steps. I have a feeling there will be plenty more posts in the future on this topic. It’s important to me and I’m always looking to improve my efficiency.

I guarantee you — if you follow these three steps, you’ll be productive, and you’ll accomplish great things.

1. Find Something Amazing to work on. Seriously — Amazing, Awesome, Incredible Not just regular tasks, but something that you’ll feel great about, that excites you, that will have a high impact on your job and goals and life, something that will make a difference. Do this at the beginning of each day, or even at the end of each day so that you don’t have to think about it the next morning — you already know what you’ll be working on. If you do this, at the end of the day, you can even prepare all the materials and tools you’ll need first thing in the morning, and clear your desk so you’ll be ready to go.

Get excited about this work. You’re going to accomplish great things. I’ve made this blog part of my morning lineup of amazing things to accomplish each and every day. Find something you are passionate about!

2. Just do it! Take action and work on something AWESOME! This is the key.Well, aside from the first step, because if you don’t do the first step, this step isn’t going to work as well or even at all. And also the third step at the bottom is incredibly important, and more than one might think, so don’t skip that one. But aside from the first and third step, this is the most important step in the system. (Think about it )

Here’s how it works:

Hide from everything! Make time in your schedule for a solid chunk of time — even if  30 minutes is all that you can spare, although an hour is better, and it only improves the more time you give yourself. It is important that the time you choose doesn’t get pushed back at any point, so try and schedule this block of time first thing in the morning or close to it.

Clear away ALL distractions: notifications for e-mail, Instant Messengers, Twitter, anything else that might pop up or make a noise, your phones, all mobile devices any clutter in front of you (just shove it in a drawer somewhere or put it on the floor to pick up later), and most importantly, The Internet. Yes, turn off the Internet. Well, not the whole Internet, as other people might be using it, but just your connection to it. If possible, go somewhere where there are no distractions and no Internet connection. Tell everyone you work with that you will be MIA for an hour or three working on a super important project. If you can, make this a regular thing on your schedule — 2-3 hours in the morning every day, when people know you can’t be disturbed. For me, the majority of my projects are through the internet, so when I say to turn it off, I essentially just prevent myself from using applications or going to websites that might distract me from my current awesomely cool super duper neat project.

Once you’ve hid yourself from the outside world, don’t work on anything except the Something Amazing. Seriously. Resist any and all urges to switch tasks or check on something or get up and talk to someone. Those urges will come up, trust me. Especially for me! I have to work extra hard at this! It’s like an addiction — you just have to get through them. Steel yourself, and just sit there breathing deeply (close your eyes if that helps) until the urge passes. Then get back to work on the Amazing Project.

Focus on that one thing until you’re done. Really, just the one thing.

3. Take a nap. Or reward yourself some other way — take a break and walk outside, maybe play WoW, or check the email you’ve been dying to check, or read through your sweet Twitter messages, or go for a run go get some exercise! Celebrate your accomplishment! You’ve gotten something amazing done.

Now rinse and repeat Steps 1-3 until your workday is finished.

But … what about all the other stuff tasks I need to do? How do I track them and get them done?

First, those less important tasks will get done, but the world probably won’t end if you put them off for a few hours or even a day or two. I put the ROFLRaffle into this category recently. Yes, I find it somewhat important, but there have been a lot of changes going on during the development process of the Health By Tom Community. This my friends is one of my Something Amazing projects. I’m still going to do the raffle and reward the winner, but it will just be a day or two later than the first two months. Basically, unless you happen to be Mr. Obama, and one of those “less important” tasks is something like “Solve <insert a crisis that could doom all of humanity here> by dinner time”, in which case don’t you think you should have put that task at the top of your list, Mr. President? For the rest of us, the world will go on without every single task getting done.

Second, keep a running list of every task you think of. I have a few notepads laying around the apartment as well as a quick-launch icon on my computer where I store all my thoughts and ideas for the day or week. When you’re done doing your Something Amazing Project, take a look at the list and see what else absolutely needs to be done. Maybe it’s another Something Amazing, maybe it’s just a routine task that needs to get done. Perhaps it’s a bunch of smaller tasks that you can get done all at once before moving on to the next Something Amazing. Also look through the list and cross off things that don’t really need to get done — usually things you’ve been procrastinating on for awhile.

I admit, this system isn’t as comprehensive as other, more complicated, productivity systems. However, it’s simple, and it works. Try it today, and let me know if it doesn’t make a difference.