The document provides strategies for staying productive during COVID-19 and beyond. It discusses focusing on happiness by doing things that make you happy, getting organized through proper file naming conventions, limiting interruptions and multitasking to find focus, planning your work weeks and days in advance, and taking care of yourself through sleep, breaks, and exercise. The presentation aims to provide lawyers with practical tips for maintaining productivity while working remotely.

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Presented by
5 Ways to Stay Productive
Through COVID-19 (and Beyond)

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My name is Martin.
MyCase, Content Marketing
Manager
martin.cogburn@mycase.com
http://www.MyCase.com
Welcome to
Our Webinar!

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Whether you're working
from the office, home, or
somewhere in between,
MyCase law practice
management software
keeps your business
running smoothly with
everything you need in
one, central location.

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Hello!
Nora Riva Bergman
Certified Atticus Practice Advisor
Real Life Practice, Founder
@LawFirmCoach
nora@reallifepractice.com
● Lawyer
● Business Coach
● Author of 50 Lessons for Lawyers and
50 Lessons for Women Lawyers
● Six Sigma Sensei
● Cosmo’s Mom
● Guitar Player
● Peloton Lover

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Where are you?
Are you working from home, at the office or a combination of both?
A. Home.
B. Office.
C. Combination of both.

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Believe nothing just because a so-called wise
person said it. Believe nothing just because a
belief is generally held. Believe nothing just
because it is said in ancient books. Believe
nothing just because it is said to be of divine
origin. Believe nothing just because someone
else believes it. Believe only what you
yourself test and judge to be true.
– Attributed to the Buddha

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Productivity Poll
How would you rate your productivity now compared to pre-COVID?
A. I feel even more productive now.
B. About the same as before.
C. It’s dropped some. It’s harder to focus now.
D. It’s fallen off a cliff.
E. What was the question? Can’t concentrate.

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STRATEGY
Dothingsthat make you happy.

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Our brains are hard wired to
perform at their best not when
the are negative or even neutral,
but when they are positive.

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When we are happy . . .
● Our brains are can process more
information.
● We think more creatively.
● We are better at problem solving.
● We are healthier.

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● Watch a funny YouTube video.
● Take a walk outside.
● Call (or Zoom) with a friend.
● Play with your dog.
● Play with your cat.
● Listen to your favorite song.
● Start a gratitude journal.
● Reflect on a happy memory.
● Practice small acts of kindness.
Happiness Boosters

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STRATEGY
Getorganized.

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“With
organization
comes
empowerment.”
– Lynda Peterson

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Knowledge
workers spend
1.8 hours
each day
looking for
information.

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One day each week wasted.
9 hours

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Paper isn’t the
only problem.

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● Establish a clear organizational structure
● Order chronologically
● Include document type
● Describe the document
● Indicate status – SENT/RECEIVED
● Include initials of the last person to revise
A Few Best Practices for Naming Conventions
Resources:
MyCase.com
Onelegal.com
Lawyerist.com

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STRATEGY
Findyour focus.

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It can take our brain up to 20 minutes
to recover from an interruption.
20

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A person who is interrupted takes 50 percent
longer to accomplish a task. Not only that,
they make up to 50 percent more errors.
50

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Limit Interruptions
● Track your interruptions
● Notice when and where
● Calendar focus time
● Coordinate focus time
for you team

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The brain is a sequential processor.
It is unable to pay attention to two
things at the same time.

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● Notice when you are multitasking and make a
conscious effort to reduce the amount of
multitasking you do each day.
● Turn off email notifications.
● Schedule focus time to help you limit multitasking.
● Try using earplugs to block extraneous noises.
● Listen to music with headphones or ear buds to
drown out distractions.
Limit Multitasking

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STRATEGY
Plan. Plan. Plan.

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“Things which matter most
must never be at the mercy
of things which matter least.”
- Goethe

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Do you plan
your workdays?
Your weeks?
The month
ahead?

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Weekly/Monthly Planning
● Schedule a weekly appointment with
yourself for weekly planning.
● Include your key support person (via Zoom
if necessary) in your planning session.
● Look at your calendar for the next month.
Make note of deadlines and due dates.
● Schedule time in your calendar during the
coming week to actually do the work
associated with those deadlines and due
dates.

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Daily Planning
● Take 10 minutes at the end of the day to
plan the following day.
● Review your calendar for the next day.
Identify your top three priorities for the
day. Identify the ONE THING THAT
MUST BE DONE.
● Make sure your key people are clear on
their top priorities, as well.

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STRATEGY
Take care ofyourself.

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Your Wellbeing
On most days, I feel rested when I wake up in the morning.
A. True
B. False
.

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Sleep is not a
LUXURY.

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Your Wellbeing
I take intentional breaks throughout the day.
A. True
B. False
.

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Our bodies ask us
for a break every
90 MINUTES.

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Your Wellbeing
I get at least 15 minutes of aerobic exercise each day.
A. True
B. False
.

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Your brain needs
EXERCISE
to be at its best.

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START
NOW.
RESOURCES
The Happiness Advantage, The Seven Principles of Positive
Psychology that Fuel Success and Performance at work, Achor,
Shawn (2010).
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity,
Allen, David (2002).
The Myth of Multitasking: How “Doing it All” Gets Nothing Done,
Crenshaw, Dave (2008).
A Factory of One: Applying Lean Principles to Banish Waste and
Improve Your Personal Performance, Markovitz, Daniel (2012).
Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work,
Home and School, Medina, John (2008).
Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction,
Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long,
Rock, David (2009).
Goals! How to Get Everything You Want – Faster Than You Ever
Thought Possible, Tracy, Brian (2010).

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Thanks!
Nora Riva Bergman
Certified Atticus Practice Advisor
Real Life Practice, Founder
@LawFirmCoach
nora@reallifepractice.com
Available at amazon.com

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“A year from now you may wish
you had started today.”
– Karen Lamb