Teaching Kids New Habits To Be More Productive with Blaine Oelkers

How can parents effectively create a “day-before-vacation” mindset for themselves and their children, and what impact could this have on family productivity? How do you encourage children to minimize cues and triggers that may lead to bad habits, and what role does self-motivation play in this process?

We’re thrilled to have Blaine Oelkers with us, who is fondly known as America’s chief results officer. Blaine talks about teaching kids the importance of focusing on one task at a time, while also sharing his thoughts on blending family time with life’s responsibilities. Get ready to be inspired as we explore the balance between being productive and being present.

In this episode, you will be able to:

1. Learn to manage tasks with the urgency of vacation prep.
2. Discover strategies like habit linking for children’s routine tasks.
3. Hear about making everyday moments count with your children.
4. Gain insights into personal and familial success through Blaine’s advice.
5. Understand how to foster self-motivation and minimize distractions for kids.

Teaching Kids New Habits To Be More Productive with Blaine Oelkers

Hey there! It’s Paul Banas from Great Dad Talks, and in today’s post, I’ll be diving into the incredibly enlightening conversation I had with Blaine Oelkers, affectionately known as America’s Chief Results Officer. Blaine brought with him a treasure trove of insights that not only promise to boost productivity but also to enhance our parenting and the way we connect with our kids. Let’s unpack the wisdom he shared.

Embracing the Vacation Mindset

Blaine proposed a fascinating concept: adopting the day-before-vacation mindset to supercharge our productivity. “Imagine if we could bottle up the focus and efficiency we have before heading out on vacation and unleash it regularly,” mused Blaine. It’s about prioritizing, planning, and executing tasks like you’re missing tomorrow for a holiday. If we could aim for this level of productivity 3-4 days a week, we’d be unstoppable.

• Prioritize your tasks: What really needs to get done before you “leave”?
• Use timers: This creates a sense of urgency and a deadline.
• Release your inner perfectionist: Sometimes good enough is good enough.

Single-Tasking, Multitasking, Batch Tasking

Blaine stressed the significance of focusing on the task at hand, saying, “When you’re single-tasking, you’re fully there, fully productive.” He also discussed the strategic use of multitasking and batch tasking when appropriate. The key is to make these productivity techniques work for not against you.

Quality Time with Kids

As parents, every moment counts with our children. Blaine highlighted the beauty of simple yet impactful routines, like sharing quality time with his son during car rides. He reminded us that “it’s these slices of time that add up to a lifetime of memories.”

Habit Linking and Urge Surfing

On his website, selfluence.com, Blaine talks about powerful habit formation techniques. He shared with us the idea of habit linking, where we attach a new habit to an existing one. For instance, getting kids to brush their teeth might be linked to their bedtime routine. This is ingenious because it taps into an already established habit.

• Habit linking: Attach a new habit to a current one for easy adoption.
• Urge surfing: Teach your kids to ride the waves of their impulses to build self-control.

Making Every Moment Count

This discussion wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Blaine’s outlook on making memories. He emphatically stated, “It’s about creating moments that matter—those memorable times with our loved ones that leave a lasting impact. It’s those experiences we share, the knowledge we pass on—that’s what truly counts.”

Rounding Off With a Reality Check on Parenting

Both Blaine and I acknowledged the trials and tribulations of fatherhood. We aim to teach our children to be “happy, healthy, and successful,” but it’s also about imparting wisdom, happiness, service, faith, and the power of the mind. Despite our hopes of guiding our children towards a fruitful path, Blaine confessed, “I have my regrets, too, of sometimes being too focused on productivity. But I’m looking forward to doing it better with my future grandkids.”

Conclusion: A Productive and Purposeful Life

Ending our conversation, Blaine revisited the concept of the “30-minute hour” and the ways we can practically squeeze an hour’s productivity into just 30 minutes. By planning, delegating, and focusing, we can maximize our efficiency—much like we do on that day before a vacation.

Remember, folks, life isn’t just about being productive; it’s about finding purpose, making connections, and evolving continuously. Sharing space with Blaine Oelkers was truly enriching, and I hope his insights leave you as inspired as they’ve left me.

Remember to check out Blaine’s TEDx talk, “What you think about, you bring about,” and visit his website, selffluence.com, for more on personal development tactics and how you can start achieving remarkable results in your life and parenting journey.

Blaine Oelkers

Chief Results Officer, Coach, Speaker

Blaine Oelkers is a renowned self-improvement expert, entrepreneur, and thought leader in the field of productivity and habit formation. He is  America’s only Chief Results Officer, and also a Purdue graduate making waves with his TEDx talk and his website selfluence.com. As a father, Blaine is passionate about translating his productivity hacks into parenting gold, teaching kids to embrace life with a “day before vacation” mindset for success and fulfillment.