Sometimes life offers a twist you couldn't see coming. That is certainly true in my city as the cleanup after Hurricane Harvey continues. And millions in Florida are still operating without power and in flooded conditions. Every day I hear another story about people who are sacrificing to help in ways that are unexpected and over-the-top. If you watch the news channels too much, you'll think our country is falling apart and everyone hates everyone else. But that's not what I see. I see so many fantastic people who are helping others regardless of religion, race, gender or skin color. It really has been amazing to watch.

For those who are experiencing some sense of normalcy, here are some articles to help you increase your productivity.

Stop Letting Email Control Your Work Day by Paul A. Argenti via Harvard Business Review

How many times in a day do you check your email? Recent studies have shown that this number could be directly correlated to your overall stress levels. Read this post by Paul Argenti and learn how to put the “management” back into your time management.

Is the 8-Hour Workday Optimizing Team Productivity? by Ryan Ayers via Mick’s Leadership Blog

The bad news is, most people are not productive for eight straight hours a day. The good news? Companies are now realizing this and readjusting their structure to maximize team productivity, as illustrated in this intriguing article by Ryan Ayers.  

Cultivating a Great Company Culture via Steve Farber Extreme Leadership 

Great leadership organically grows great culture. I’ve seen this firsthand in my three years working for Vanderbloemen Search Group, a company that prioritizes culture. In this post, Steve Farber gives 7 steps to help you grow your business into the culture cultivator that it needs to be. 

What’s Your Productivity Personality “Type”? via Michael Hyatt’s Your Virtual Mentor  

The path to mastering our work productivity begins with self-awareness. According to this post by Michael Hyatt, we need to know our strengths and areas of improvement to successfully manage ourselves in the workplace. Check out the free resource he provides for determining these traits in yourself.

What are some articles that have inspired you this week? Let us know in the comments section.