What if you could do more by doing less and get things done in half the time? I believe you can. Let me explain. Often we think being more productive looks like working harder, but there’s a better way. And it starts with a plan. Being productive begins with a clear vision of what we have to get done, and by putting those things in order of importance. Half of our day is typically spent distracted multi-tasking, which never works out well. Sometimes the hardest thing is just getting started.
I love what this article says about starting with just 5 minutes “If you don’t want to do something, make a deal with yourself to do at least five minutes of it. After five minutes, you’ll end up doing the whole thing.” – Kevin Systrom, Co-Founder of Instagram
If you want to be more productive, here are my 4 tips:
- Set clear goals
When you write your goals and tasks for the day, set a timer and work on one thing at a time until it’s complete, then go to the next. This is easier said than done. This leads me to point #2.
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Remove the distractions
Between office chatter, texts, and social media, distractions take up more time than we realize during our workdays. The cure? Remove the distractions. If you have to, put headphones in or work in a quiet space away from people. Turn your phone off, or at least the notifications. Log off social media, and give yourself a set time limit to check during the day.
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Do the hard things first
We’ve all heard the saying “eat the frog first” right? Meaning, do the hardest thing first thing. If you start your day checking emails and knocking off small tasks, it may make you feel accomplished, but you just used your most productive time of the day on things that don’t require you at your peak creativity. Focus on doing the biggest tasks first, then knock off the smaller ones at a point of the day when you’ve hit your limit.
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Prepare the foundation of your day
What does your morning routine look like? Do you have one? How we start the day will determine our productivity. By taking time to move our bodies, fuel up with a good and healthy breakfast, and spend time with God, we will have a strong foundation for our day. Having a morning routine will help give you the boost you need to show up and give the day all you’ve got!
