In this digital age, staying on task and avoiding distraction is harder to accomplish than your actual work. If you want to be productive, you’ve got to make a point to do fewer things.
What Is Productivity
To have a productive day means actually working productively on your highest-priority activities. It also means hitting targets and getting results that help move projects and tasks forward.
So, if that’s the number one goal, then anything that distracts you from this path becomes an obstacle to your productivity. Less is more when it comes to being productive during the day. Stick to the basics for reaching productivity.
In my case that is writing a little for my next post, even 1 hour is considered productive. To be productive you need motivation.
Make room for increased productivity by doing this:
Make The Reasonable To-do List
Cut your to-do list in half. Getting things done during your day mean balancing your tasks. Do you really need 20 tasks on your to-do list? Take a less-is-more approach to your to-do list by only focusing on accomplishing things that matter. Set small goals for the tasks. When you start a new project, by breaking it down you will realize what can be accomplished and how each part is builds upon the other.
Take More Breaks
The ache in your brain after several long hours of work should be your signal to take a break. Since your brain has used up its glucose, give yourself a moment to refresh by going for a walk, grabbing lunch or a snack, or just meditating. You’ll come back recharged and ready to achieve greater efficiency.
Work smarter (not harder) by leveraging your most productive time of the day. In other words, figure out when your brain is at its most productive, and use those hours wisely. Hack your brain by finding your most productive time of the day and get more done.
When We Are Most Productive?
Find when is your most productive time and treat is like gold. Use that time to focus on your tasks that needs lot of deep thinking and energy. To find your most productive time during the day, you need to take some notes that your body sends you throughout the day. Start by tracking how alert you are, how much energy you have, how productive you feel and on the scale of 1 to 10 give the mark for your state. Do this hourly for good results.
Follow The 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle)
Only 20 percent of what you do each day produces 80 percent of your results. The Pareto Principle states that 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. It’s also commonly referred to 80/20 rule and is commonly applied to productivity in terms of prioritizing the tasks that will have the biggest impact. Applying the Pareto Principle to your work can help you work more efficiently.
Eliminate the things that don’t matter during your workday (they have a minimal effect on your overall productivity). For example, break your next project down into steps and systematically remove tasks until you end up with the 20 percent that gets the 80 percent of results.
Use Your Morning To Focus On Yourself
It’s a big productivity killer to start your mornings by checking your email, social media and your calendar. This allows others to dictate what you accomplish. Start your day by ignoring your emails in the morning and having a good breakfast, drinking coffee, meditating, or working out. Spend 30 minutes enjoying your morning routine and setting up your good mood for the day. Create a morning to focus your mind and set a daily intention. This will ensure you’ve got the necessary fuel for a productive day and feel amazing.
Tackle Your Challenging Tasks Before Lunch
Knock out your most challenging work when your brain is fresh. If you have any busy work or meetings, save them for the afternoon. Schedule your day. By scheduling your day, you’ll be able to create a new and more productive way to manage your time. Use a task management tool.
Improve Your Email Etiquette
Email is a productivity killer and usually, a distraction from tasks that actually matter, don’t fall into this productivity trap.
As a rule, if you receive an email where many people are CC’d, do everyone a favor by BCC’ing them on your reply. If your email chain goes beyond two replies, it’s time to pick up the phone.
Create A System
You’ve probably developed a few productivity-ruining habits over the years. Manage your distracting ways by creating a system. Plan the night before. For those of you who check emails compulsively, plan a morning, afternoon, and evening time slot to manage your inbox. Otherwise, you’ll get distracted from accomplishing more important goals throughout the day.
Stop Confusing Productivity With Laziness
While no one likes admitting it, laziness is the No. 1 contributor to lost productivity. In fact, a number of so-called time-saving methods (meetings and emails for example) are just ways to get out of doing real work. Place your focus on doing the things that matter most as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Stop Multitasking
Stop trying to do 10 things at once. Avoid your phone and keep distractions away. Focus on one goal at the time. Determine what task is most important and start from that. Get things done more effectively and efficiently by focusing on one task at a time. Stay confident whatever you do. Confidence comes from keeping the promises made to yourself. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or to fail. Failure is a repeated game in process of learning. When you need help ask for it. Keep going, do the things.
Productivity Is Important Not Only To Your Work, But Your Life Overall
Time is limited, only when you know how to manage time better you will be able to achieve more, especially to achieve the things you desire most. To improve your productivity, start to exercise.
Exercise gives you more energy and when you use that energy to accomplish your goals, you will feel better about your life. You can use some breathing techniques too.
Taking just 20 minutes every day to exercise can strengthen your body, clear your head, and boost your immune system. That also will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Practice mindfulness and daily affirmations too. Productivity is always you against you. Skip the excuses and find a way to make it happen.
