Clarity comes from engagement not thought – Marie Forleo
Have you ever felt like this? You wake up after hitting snooze on your alarm clock 3 times, Rush around the house to eat breakfast, shower & get to work on time. Only to show up 5 minutes late because you missed your train. You arrive into work & find your colleague sitting at her desk tapping away as her computer, humming with a cup of coffee by her side & her yoga mat in the corner from an early morning yoga class. While you, coffee-less, sweating, out of breath and already stressed wonder how the heck does she do it!
It’s not that she’s better than you at her job in any way, but she is smarter than you at managing her time. Now granted life happens and some things are beyond your control. However today we’re going to talk about what you can control – your productivity.
Here are some tips to help you gain the most out of your day and be more productive:
1. Prioritize – Keep a to do list, calendar, an iPhone app, whatever works best for you that allows you to keep track of the task that need to be done. Don’t get hung up on what you haven’t accomplished if your day doesn’t go as planned. Effective people understand that life trumps to do lists & you need to be flexible in order to catch or jump on opportunities that might arise. Get the most important things done first so that if you day veers left, you’ve already achieved the most important things on your list.
2. Seek productivity pockets – times when you are the most productive. If mornings aren’t your thing but your work seems to flow in the afternoon, work around that productive pocket. But don’t leave your mornings to chance. Work on something that relaxes you, whether it’s working out, meditating or simply enjoying that cup of coffee.
3. Set goals & time deadlines. Let people know about your deadline so that you can be held accountable. Post it on Facebook or Twitter or tell your spouse or close friend. You’ll feel the pressure to perform when people start asking you about that task you said would be finished by a certain date. No one likes to disappoint.
4. Take a mental break. Some people think that if they work straight through the day without any breaks, things will get done. They probably will but is it going to be your best work? Probably not. Taking a break will help stimulate your brain & allows you to function at a maximum level. So instead of eating lunch at your desk or skipping your afternoon break, take a walk or read a book. Do something that allows your to get your creative juices flowing.
5. Limit your time on social media or surfing the web. 15 minutes can turn into 2 hours in the blink of an eye. You start off saying that you’re only going to check your messages but then get caught up in newsfeeds, twitter rants & Instagram photos. Step away from the computer! Set your alarm clock to go off so that you manage your online time. This will allow you to use your internet time more effectively.
6. Tap into your inspiration. What inspires you? Is it reading motivational books, drawing, listening to music or your favorite podcast? Do what inspires you at certain points throughout your day, giving you’re the boost you need to bring meaning to your work & feel motivated to finish the rest.
I want to hear from you. How do you stay productive? How has it helped you achieve your goal?