Sure, we all have a million things to do. Commuting to work, keeping up with friends on our favorite social networks, meeting with business associates, running a successful company. For some people, it can be a daunting task to get things done. Instead of checking things off our lists, we somehow end up adding more things to that list, and it doesn’t ever seem to stop. Then there are those people where tasks come second-nature to them. They simply get to work and in a few short hours, everything is done. I’m sure we would all love to be in this group. And we can!
Here is a list of 10 ways you can be more productive and get things done so that life doesn’t seem like a constant list of things to do.
- Setup a list for the following items:
- Things that have a deadline – work, pressing matters, items that trigger a domino effect. Ex: not reading a book that you’ll be tested on and then expecting to do well on the test.
- Things you can wait on – checking email, web browsing, etc
- Your dreams and goals – where you want to be in 5 or 10 years
- Prioritize your list. What needs to get done now? What can wait?
- Eliminate any distractions and setup boundaries. Turn off the TV, turn your phone on vibrate, log off Farmville.
- Consult your list of goals. Are you heading towards them? How about at the right pace? If not, adjust and point yourself in that direction so that you are.
- Take a class. If organization isn’t your forte, connect with professionals that are experienced.
- Breakdown your day into 20 minute increments
- Develop a quality team so that you can divide and conquer larger tasks
- Don’t procrastinate. Just because you don’t want to do something on your list doesn’t mean you can overlook it entirely. Eventually it will need to get done.
- Think positive! The more you accomplish, the better sense of accomplishment you will have.
- Setup a rewards system for when you complete your list. This way you incentivize yourself as you get things done on your list. If something doesn’t get done, no reward until it does. This can be one hour of time playing Farmville, dinner out with a friend, a brief shopping trip.
After you’ve tried these 10 ways to be more productive, tell me how it went. Did you find it challenging? Has your quality of life improved?
By learning to prioritize and learn some restraint, not only will you be more productive, but you’ll also get yourself closer to your dreams and goals. Without structure, your dreams will continue to be off in the distance. Don’t you want to realize your dreams rather than waiting for them to happen?
I want to hear from you, so please leave a comment and tell me, are you more productive?
Good luck!