Everyone wants to be able to do more in less time.It is easy to accept that some people are more productive than others.It is clear that productive people use various useful strategies that can benefit anyone.
Step 1: It's time to set a routine.
When you plot out recurring times in your schedule, you can focus on the tasks that are important to you.You can incorporate them into your daily routines.As your body tells you "this is lunchtime" around the time you normally eat, you will become more aware of feeling productive.
Step 2: Larger tasks should be broken up.
Focus on finishing a chapter or a room instead of writing the whole book or painting the house.It provides a way to mark your progress towards the larger goal if you have a sense of accomplishment.
Step 3: Allow for deadlines to be created.
You had to finish a college term paper in one night.You have no choice but to stick to your goals when there is a clear time limit.If you have a deadline, set up mini-deadlines for parts of the task.It's easy to break self-created deadlines if you try to be strict with yourself.You can either set an egg timer or put your deadline against an appointment.
Step 4: The amount of time to finish the job needs to be set.
"Work expands to fill the time" sounds like old-fashioned wisdom, but the point of Parkinson's Law is the same.If you give yourself all day to accomplish a task, you'll find a way to do it.Take the minimum amount of time you need to do the job into account.
Step 5: Don't plan but be flexible.
Life will intervene and you will need to be able to adjust, so do all the routine-making and deadline-setting you can.Don't let disruptions ruin your rhythm.If you can find ways to take advantage of them, at least brush them off.If the power goes out and you're trying to finish up a presentation for tomorrow morning, you should ask someone to help you practice the Q&A session that follows until power is restored.It can be used to make a joke about how a competitor tried to sabotage your presentation.
Step 6: Know yourself.
You can take advantage of that if you're a morning person or night owl.You should maximize your most productive times.If music distracts you, forget it.When you've been productive in the past, think about what worked.When your room-mates were playing video games three feet away, or when you holed up in a silent corner of the library, did your college finals studying go better?
Step 7: Take breaks.
When your brain is fried and you need to step away, do it.You should watch a soap opera, walk your dog, and clean a few of those dusty shelves.You should factor in the breaks into your schedule.You won't feel like you're wasting time if you do this.
Step 8: Go outside in the sun.
Natural sunlight helps balance your body rhythms, gives you energy, and just plain feels good.When you can, take a walk or work by a window.
Step 9: Exercise.
It breaks up monotony, helps you relax, and it's good for you.
Step 10: You can do a brain dump.
As you work on a project, your mind will fill up with ideas, some of which are relevant to the current task.If you're stuck as you try to figure out a task, it's a good idea to take a break.Just in case, keep them around.It's a good idea to keep your ideas in a notepad at the end of the day or when you're feeling overwhelmed.Don't worry about connecting all the dots.Get the ideas out, figure out what works, what doesn't, and how they connect later.
Step 11: Be realistic.
People who think they are productive are actually productive people who expect too much of themselves.Don't chew more than you can chew.People who are productive know what they can accomplish and focus on getting the job done.Do you want someone else to accomplish as much as you do?You're probably asking too much of yourself if you feel bad asking someone else to do that.At the end of the day, write down all the things you did.It will give you something else to look at besides the to-do list you started with.
Step 12: Keep it simple.
Think about the essential elements of what you want to accomplish.A clear target is easier to hit.Don't pay attention to the time it takes to get there.We're usually judged on results.We don't care how long it took the baker to make our wedding cake, we just want it to look and taste great.
Step 13: Determine the importance of your work.
Like a good general, Eisenhower knew how to get things done.He was known to say "What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is unimportant."The Eisenhower Box divides tasks into four categories: Important and Urgent (do those now); Important but NotUrgent (decide when you want to do those later); and not important or urgent.Not everyone has the same ability to delegate tasks as a general or President, but such tasks can be opportunities for collaborative work.Know your strengths and those around you.
Step 14: Know what's most important.
If your quest for productivity is hurting your family time or damaging something else of great value, take a step back and prioritize your values.If you gain exceptional productivity at the expense of something more important to you, what have you gained?