Disclosure: This giveaway is brought to you by the new Windows Phone 7. Less tech tired. More tech trendy: Learn about Windows Phone online [www.windowsphone.com] and see it in person at local T-Mobile stores today. We're thrilled to be announcing our biggest giveaway yet, a Windows Phone 7 (retail value: $500)! Microsoft's brand new smartphone comes with a sleek user interface including on-screen tiles. These tiles constantly update with fresh information like your email or text messages, appointments, news, weather and even your friend's status–all refreshed wirelessly via the web. Read our post, below, to find out how you can win this. If the Windows Phone 7 shows us anything, it's that we can do more with less. As a creative inspiration and execution focused website, we're all about finding ways we can make your work day or creative process more efficient. Here, then, are our top ten tips on ways you can boost your productivity and your creativity. Productivity 1. Don't multi-task, instead focus: Though you may think it's more efficient to juggle multiple tasks at once, research shows that this can actually hurt you. “Multitasking is going to slow you down, increasing the chances of mistakes,” said David E. Meyer, a cognitive scientist and director of the Brain, Cognition and Action Laboratory at the University of Michigan. (Read more about this at Harvard Business Review.) 2. Break big projects down: The biggest hurdle for most of us encounter is just sitting down and starting a project. By starting small and breaking down tasks, looming projects won't feel so overwhelming and you'll be more encouraged once you can step back and start seeing your progress. 3. Work on your hardest tasks first: Though you may be inclined to work on your easiest tasks, by feeling that small victory of completing a harder one, you're setting yourself up for a more pleasant work day. 4. Organize your cluttered desktop: By cleaning out and removing all that's unnecessary both on your regular desk and your computer desktop, you'll feel instantly more organized, giving you clarity and focus. 5. Reward yourself: Give yourself healthy rewards after you complete certain parts of your project. This internal rewarding system will provide that extra push you need to help you ultimately get the job done. Creativity 6. Consume differently: Spark your creativity by watching movies, listening to podcasts or reading books outside of your usual routine. This will not only exercise your brain, it can provide inspiration and make you see creative connections. 7. Always carry a notebook and a pen with you: A genius idea can strike at a moment's notice, better to catch it before it's gone. 8. Meet new people: Open yourself up to meeting strangers and you'll see the world from different points of view. 9. Be an expert or a critic: Delve deeply into a field and learn as much as you can. Then, try and see it from a critic or expert's point of view. This will make you understand, appreciate and engage longer and open you up to new ways of doing things. 10. Do what you love: Nothing will motivate you more than doing what you love. Start down a creative path, listen to feedback, and make adjustments along the way. Now, here's how to win the phone: In the comments section, let us know one of your productivity or creativity boosting tips. (You can even select one from our list, above.) General Rules Eligibility: This giveaway is only open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. Timing: The Sweepstakes begins on November 15, 2010 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on November 29, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET (the “Promotion Period”). Enter Frequency: Each participant may enter one (1) time per day. Selection Process: My Modern Met will randomly pick a winner using random.org. Number of Prizes: One For a complete set of rules, you can download it here. Good Luck!
