Here are my 10 top tips to be productive. Including simple strategies to get rid of procrastination and techniques to for you to feel accomplished with your work.
- Write Down – To do list
- Schedule your working time and stick to it!
- Have your coffee/tea/water ready BEFORE Starting
- 3-2-1 Do it!
- Tackle something easy/fast/small in the list – FIRST
- Tackle something challenging/time consuming – SECOND
- Work for 25 minutes at the time, with no breaks
- Turn off notifications a.k.a. as distractions
- Review your work one more time before submitting/posting
- Done! Feel proud of your accomplishments
10 Top Tips To Be Productive in detail!
First on the list is to Write down your To-Do-List:
Why, it is a strategy that narrows down the list of what you need to accomplish. It helps you manage or ideally eliminate overwhelm. I recommend a word or short phrases that prompts you or remind you of the task at hand.
Second of the list is to schedule your working time and stick to it:
Managing your schedule prepared you and helps you focus. You will know that during this assigned period you are on the clock! Remember the faster you finish what you have to do, the more time you have for play, pleasure and / or rest.
Third on the list is to have your coffee/tea/water ready BEFORE starting your work:
In order words, no excuses that delay the start of your productive time or that take time of the allotted scheduled time for your work. This tip is symbolic more than anything. It is a reminder to align your ducks, per se. Using a different but very real example: if you know you will be needing your computer for your scheduled productive time. Make sure, a) you have your computer with you, and b) it has a full batty charge. The purpose of this strategy is for you to maximize the scheduled time for work and not to waste time or having to reschedule because you or your equipment is not ready.
Fourth of the list is to 3-2-1 Do it!
Meaning, once the scheduled time arrives and the alarm (if you set one) goes off, you do not give your brain any time to come up with excuses or delays. Simple right? 3-2-1 Do it!
Fifth on the list is to tackle something easy/fast/small in the list – FIRST
This is a psychological strategy that gets you momentum, feeling accomplished. Get it done!
Sixth of the list is to tackle something challenging/time consuming – SECOND
This strategy is more of a practical one than psychological one. Basically you are using the momentum and derived enthusiasm of having accomplished the easy task into a task with will require some energy and focus. Therefore, I find it is best to tackle this projects as early as possible. Once you are done with the challenging or time consuming tasks the other task in the list with be perceived as easy.
Seventh on the list of 10 Top Tips To Be Productive is to work 25 minutes at the time with no breaks:
This is another mind strategy that allow you to have complete focus and attention at the task on had for just 25 minutes! It is not hours long, not even half an hour long! Can you hold your focus and attention on something for just 25 minutes? Then take a short break and start another 25 minutes sprint. You will find out, little by little you become more focused and productive with each 25 increment.
Don’t believe it, test it for a few days and let me know if this technique works for you! I have tested it myself, and realized browsing the internet when a random thought came to mind was taking me away from finishing each task faster. Don’t get me wrong, I still brows the internet, I call it research and prep for my work, lol; but I do it after the 25 minutes, and only for the scheduled break time 5 min max between sprints. Another very real example (ahem excuse) was stopping midway the process to go to the bathroom; this was a what the heck moment! I am and adult and can hold my bathroom needs for few minutes. Again, I do go to the bathroom but after the 25 minutes. hahaha
Eight of the list is turn off notifications a.k.a. as distractions
Yep!! It sounds drastic, but depending on how many notifications you have notifications can be a great distraction. Remember, it is only 25 minutes without notifications. You may think it is not a big deal, you are just reading a couple of lines; but reality is you are taking the chance your mind and focus will wonder to the exciting news. Don’t worry, if there is a true emergency you will be notified by your peers, boss, family and phone mandatory evacuation alerts. Remember it is only 25 minutes without any notifications, can you handle it?
Ninth on the list is to review your work one more time before submitting/posting
Productivity make us eager and enthusiastic about finish a project ASAP. But we are human, and sometimes we make mistakes. Check your grammar and/or formulas before sending your work. In the end a quick review of your work will save you having to retract your work, correct it and resend it. I mean, who want to do a job twice?
Tenth of the list of 10 Top Tips To be Productive is to feel proud of your accomplishments:
This is probably the most important of my tips, recommendations and strategies. Why? It is simple, it is your responsibility to be positive about your performance. Very seldom, bosses or piers notice or take time to praise others. If you know you did your best and you are happy with you work that is all you need to keep filing your drive and enthusiasm. Don’t wait for others to give you reassurance of your capabilities; you got this!
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