There is a huge difference between being busy and being productive. Being busy is like treading water, expending a lot of energy but not really getting anywhere. Being productive means, you’re actually making progress, getting better, growing your business. Check out these tips to help you get more done.
Break it Down:
Anything that takes over 2 hours to complete should be broken down into smaller more manageable tasks. Otherwise, your ability to accurately estimate how long a task takes will be diminished. A better itemized list helps create a realistic schedule that you can actually stick to.
Decide: Do, Delegate or Delete:
Just because a task ends up on your to do list, doesn’t mean you should hurry up and complete it. Instead, take a moment to evaluate the assignment.
Are you the best candidate to complete it?
Are you able to complete it in the needed time frame?
Does it add value to your project or business?
Time is precious. Don’t waste time on a task you’re not sure about.
Group Similar Tasks:
All tasks are not equal. Some assignments require critical thinking, others inspiration, and others silence. Sometimes of day are better for creative work focused work that others. You may have your most creativity early morning and others in the late afternoon, think about what works best for you.
Restrict Time:
Impose your own realistic, but aggressive deadlines as often as possible. The goal here is to be attentive to the task at hand. When the pressure is on you are less likely to be overwhelmed and more likely to churn out quality work. Studies have shown that you need to unplug from work as we are only effective for about 90 minutes. After that there are diminishing returns to continuing. Challenge yourself to complete a task in 30 minutes instead of 40.
Pick your Poison:
Everyone has a different style when it comes to being organized, so make sure you are using what works best for you. Just because Suzie swears by Evernote or Todoist doesn’t mean that’s what is best for you. I find what works best for me is a daily note with a list of all tasks and a backup calendar in my phone, for you it might be a desk full of post its or a meticulous excel spreadsheet.