Ways To Be Productive. It’s 2020 and time to stop being lazy. Many of us are really good at tricking our brains into thinking we are productive but really just being lazy. For example: unnecessary meetings that should be an email. Carrying out non significant tasks to check things off your list (when the big tasks are still not done). This is labeled “productive laziness”.
20% of what you do each day yields 80% of your results.
Imagine if you could figure out what that 20% is and focus on it every single day. Your results and productivity would skyrocket. Time management would be efficient and you could achieve the ultimate goal of work life balance.
You can do it. I’m going to share with you 5 ways to instantly be more productive and achieve greater results!
5 Instant Ways To Be Productive
Scratch the to-do list, master the success list
Wait what? I can’t get rid of my to-do list! That’s my brain dump. I get enjoyment from checking off the items on my list. Don’t worry, we are keeping the list but changing the concept. To-do lists tend to be really long and have many tasks on them. We need to shorten that list and focus (every day) on the 20% of tasks that are going to make our business grow or make our job more productive.
Start with a to-do list. But don’t end there. That’s your rough draft. From your to-do list really pin point which tasks are high priority and going to yield results. Next, can you delegate any of these non urgent tasks? If yes, do so. If not, save them for later in the afternoon or end of the work day.
You need to shorten your list and create a success list. Really think about what tasks are going to achieve results. Those tasks should be placed on your success list. You should have no more than 5 items on your list each day, ideally it should be 3. The goal is that these 3-5 things MUST get done today. No excuses. The rest can wait.
Get Organized
Organization is key to being efficient and productive. I recommend using some type of agenda or calendar. There are electronic calendars on your phone that you can use. Personally, I like to write things down on paper. I love agenda’s that keep me on track.
Get Organized based on need:
My favorite agenda (helps with visualization and yearly goals. Based on the Law of Attraction)
Agenda Inserts (I use this to customize my Louis Vuitton agenda)
One Task At A Time
Studies have shown that focusing on one task at at a time leads to higher productivity and greater results. Is this true? I did an experiment and found that I can accomplish anything in 25 minutes lol. Tomato-timer allows me to time myself with one task for 25 minutes. I noticed that I am more determined/focused when I am being timed. If not, I tend to go on the internet or scroll Instagram and get distracted. If you don’t accomplish the task in 25 minutes- that’s ok. Take a 5-10 minute break to recharge and than resume another 25 minutes on that task or move on to the next one. You can come back to tasks throughout the day.
There are timers you can buy like this fashionable pink one if you prefer a physical timer instead of electronic.
Tackle Your Most Difficult Projects In The Morning
I use to think I should start with easy tasks to motivate me and get me charged for the more difficult tasks of the day. In reality, I was creating productive laziness because I had a false sense of accomplishment. By the time I got to the more difficult tasks (the ones that yield results) I was mentally exhausted. Those tasks got put off because I felt like I already accomplished a lot that day, even though I really didn’t.
In the morning, you have a fresh head space. Use it to your advantage. Knock out your success list first thing in the morning, before lunch time. After lunch, you may be more mentally fatigued. Save easier tasks for the afternoon like emails, routine tasks that you can do in your sleep, house chores like laundry etc.
Focus your first part of the day on the 20% of tasks that yield 80% of results. Use the timer method so you don’t stay on one task for too long.
Set Up A Reward System
Humans are motivated by intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. If you find satisfaction in your job and feel that you are helping others or doing something valuable you are intrinsically motivated to keep working. Extrinsic motivation also works because this motivates you to get money or an item of some sort.
Do what you love but also reward yourself. It can be anything from a coffee at the end of a hard week to a trip to the movies or a brand new handbag for all your hard work. Whatever it is to help you go that extra mile, treat yourself.
I love my law of attraction agenda because it sets up rewards monthly and weekly. It really motivates me and I think rewards will help light a fire for you too!
Now that you know how to be productive it’s time to set goals and achieve them in 2020!
xoxo,
Christina
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