Have you ever noticed how some people’s productivity levels are through the roof while other people need a good kick up the you know what to get anything done?
Worse still are those who profess their perennial business but who are in fact incredibly inefficient and achieve very little. Managing your time effectively is something that can be developed and honed to the point where you’ll be pumping out the work in no time.
Here are 11 tips to get you started.
1. Create a To-Do List
If you have an overwhelming number of tasks, a to-do list is a great way to organize your thoughts. Crossing off the completed tasks one by one is immensely satisfying and there are some excellent online versions if that’s more your style.
2. Re-evaluate & Prioritize
A to-do list will only work if you put tasks in order of priority of highest priority to lowest priority. It’s tempting to want to do the easiest tasks first but if this means not finishing something crucial, this can actually raise anxiety levels and reduce motivation.
3. Stop Procrastinating
Quit putting off that task you’ve been meaning to do for the past umpteen days and do it now! In the words of Brian Tracy, “Eat that frog!”. No, he doesn’t actually want you to eat an icky amphibian for breakfast, but you should tackle the most despised task (your frog) first to keep the positive momentum going for the rest of the day.
4. Plan Out Your Time
That old saying, “Fail to plan, plan to fail”? It’s so true when it comes to effective time management. It may seem counterintuitive to spend precious time planning out how to spend your time but it really does work.
5. Avoid Multitasking
You may think that attempting several things at once is a sure-fire way to blast through your task list. In fact, multitasking can pull you in different directions and stop you from maintaining focus. It’s quite likely you’ll end up starting lots of tasks but finishing very few if any.
6. Find Your Groove
We all have that time of day when we’re performing at our best. For you, this may be after your morning coffee, late afternoon, or even at 2 am. Whenever it is, get as much done as you can during your peak productivity times and stress less when you’re not feeling in the zone.
7. Do Away With Distractions
I know it’s hard, but switching off your cell phone, not responding to emails and avoiding social media for a block of time — even half an hour — will do wonders for your productivity. You’d be amazed how much can get done without checking out the latest cat meme you just HAVE to see.
8. Have a Dedicated Workspace
Whether you have a separate office or a study nook, a space that you can use solely for work can help get you in the right mindset. Make sure that wherever you choose is free from clutter and provides a positive working environment.
9. Stand Up
We spend more time than ever sitting down. At our desk, watching TV, driving the car. The solution? Standing. Using a stand-up desk or standing during meetings can eliminate time-wasting and force you to get down to business. If it’s too difficult to stand for a prolonged period, try alternating sitting with standing.
10. Get Some Rest
Adequate downtime is key to managing a heavy schedule. Not enough sleep can have a negative impact on your mood and ability to make proper decisions — bad news if the workload keeps growing. Many people also swear by regular meditation to clear the mind and recharge the batteries.
11. Trust in Others
Being able to “let go” and delegate tasks is something you need to embrace if you’re serious about project success. Click To TweetHarness the knowledge and abilities of people around you and you’ll raise team morale, improve accountability and start seeing results.
So, if you’re ready to take your productivity up a notch or two, you need to learn to work smarter and make use of resources available to you. What are you waiting for? Get going.
