Humans are masters of self-deception. We constantly search for excuses to explain why we would (but don’t) contribute to charity, talk to the girl we like or make beautiful music. “If things were a bit better,” we say, shaking our heads, “all of my dreams would come true.”

To me, life is pretty simple. There’s things you can control and others you can’t. Everything boils down to your actions and your mindset but there’s just far too many of you continuously caught up that just don’t see it that way. This is my attempt to clear things up once and for all.

I think I am at least somewhat more productive than average, and people sometimes ask me for productivity tips.  So I decided to just write them all down in one place.

No matter how well you write, no matter how carefully you proofread, your article or story can’t live up to its potential if it’s not well organized. We all know someone who can’t tell a joke without doubling back to include some missing element that’s critical to the punchline. This happens to the best of us, but it happens less when we take a moment to organize a story in our heads before telling it. If organizing your thoughts is essential to being known as a superb raconteur, it’s as important in written communication.

Here are some surprising ways to help boost your focus and performance.

One of the productive workplace’s greatest enemies? The post-lunch dip. If you ever feel a lack of focus after lunch, you’re not alone. Read how you can avoid afternoon fatigue with our tips.

From footballers’ work rates to the world of Big Data, the cult of “productivity” seems all-pervasive – but doing nothing might be the best thing for your well-being and your brain.

That midafternoon ennui that takes over most days isn't a sign that you are lazy or unmotivated; it just proves that you are normal. According to recent research, most people in creative or professional jobs can only churn out about six (worthy) hours worth of quality work a day; the rest is what it feels like — dithering.

When Yahoo redesigned its webmail service two months ago, it got rid of tabs, a feature the company says often confused users when they had too many open. That feature was later replaced by a "recent" view, which showed the last few messages in a short list. Now Yahoo has brought tabs back with another feature designed to let users with tons of tabs quickly see what they're working on.

If you’re a freelancer, it’s easy to fall into the trap—for me, working all the time made me tired of what I love the most.

Workers with kids are just as productive as those without, according to a new study.

Guy Kawasaki is a workaholic and he has to be because he does so many different things, from writing books, to investing, to speaking and more. In this interview, we find out exactly how he managers (or doesn't manage) his...

New research confirms what Google already knows—greater employee happiness results in higher productivity without sacrificing quality. Economists carried out a number of experiments to test the idea that happy employees work harder. In the laboratory, they found happiness made people about 12 percent more productive.

How the cult of self-optimization was born on the factory floor—with a manager's stopwatch in hand.

When you have a minute to spare here and there, it can be easy to succumb to checking Facebook or playing a quick game on your phone. After all, that's all you have time for...

Officials hope less time at the office will make workers healthier and more productive.

Really, it should’ve been a wonderful weekend. An old friend was in from out of town and a group of us got together to drink margaritas, eat burritos, and catch up. And then it started: I told a long, plotless “story” that was mostly just a character assassination of a mutual acquaintance of ours whom I’d never really liked. Someone else chimed in with a rant about his disorganized, clueless boss. This set another person off about the terrible new hours she’d just been given at work.

I saw the future of work in a San Francisco garage two years ago. Or rather, I was in proximity to the future of work, but happened to be looking the other direction. At the time, I was visiting a space startup building satellites behind a carport. But just behind them—a robot was cooking up burgers. The inventors of the burger device? Momentum Machines, and they’re serious about fast food productivity.

Evidence shows that a seven-day week with a two-day weekend is an inefficient model.

Offices devoid of pictures, souvenirs or any other distractions are "the most toxic space" you can put a human into, say psychologists in a paper published on Monday, which says workers perform better when household plants are added to workplaces.

Amazon's Jeff Bezos has a famous two-pizza team rule that teams shouldn’t be larger than what two pizzas can feed. Here’s the science behind why it works.

There are many benefits to freelancing, including the ability to set your own hours and rid yourself of a long, boring, and expensive commute. (Forgot how awesome freelancing is? Read this.) However, one of the downsides of being your own boss is that no one’s there to check in on you. It’s all too easy to lose focus, which only harms you and your business. Especially during the holiday season, it’s harder than ever...

Fetching Friday is back for week four of 2015! Each week, I’ll share with you the top posts on online marketing and productivity. Without further ado, here are the top posts this week! Content Marketing, Search Engine Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Productivity

These seven tools can make a big difference in your content marketing productivity. From discovering your competitors keyword rankings to Google Analytics interpretations and editorial calendar plug-ins, these tools are all free.

Rory Vaden, Co-Founder of Southwestern Consulting, joins the Social Pros Podcast this week to discuss his revolutionary ideas about time management and its importance for social media experts.

Using Lean Methodology, you can use these 5 steps to learn how to be efficient and productive when you're working at home.

Practical Tips for Productive Living

Research shows you’ll be more satisfied in every aspect of your life.

If you’re starting a business on your own, then you know you’ve got to make the best possible use of your time every single day. Click to read more.

Here are some tips that will help you figure out what the most “productive” and “optimal manner” in the world of freelance really means.

It really comes down to managing three segments in your life: time, space and mindset.

Say yes to the best opportunities, and let the others go graciously.

And everyone else’s.

Check out this roundup of free mobile apps that'll make your commute more productive -- and maybe even more fun.

Do you use LinkedIn to connect with business prospects and connections? This article shares two third-party apps to improve your LinkedIn communication.