Getting Things Done – Be More Productive

With the myriad distractions of modern life it can be hard getting things done. There are just so many things to distract you. Funny videos. Social Media. Games. socializing with your friends. The list goes on and on and on. So for those of you out there that struggle with productivity and getting things done, here’s a list to get you back on track.

Getting Things Done – Be More Productive

Let’s break this down into categories to make it a little easier to understand.

Focus

1. Turn your phone off, or if that’s not possible, at least silence it.
2. Clean your work area. There is nothing worse for distractions than a messy desk.
3. Take regular breaks to top up your concentration.
4. Natural light will help to keep you motivated and awake. Try to sit near a window if possible.
5. Exercise and eat right. A healthy body will work much better for you than an unhealthy one.
6. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated can make a massive difference to your production and energy levels.
7. Listen to music in the background. Spotify has plenty of playlists available to aid your focus and concentration. Or if don’t have Spotify, YouTube has the same music too. Just search for focus music, ambient music or studying music.

Ambient Music For Study

Time Saving

1. Declutter your inbox. Websites such as unroll.me will help you unsubscribe from the crap and save you time scrolling through endless spam.
2. Track your time by keeping a list of everything you do. It’s easier to eliminate time sinks if you have a detailed list.
3. Keep meetings to a maximum time of 15 minutes.
4. If you are able to, delegate non critical tasks to other people.
5. Automate boring tasks. Sites such as IFTTT allow you to build “recipes” to automate many online tasks.
6. Stay away from social media during work hours. Social media is a massive time sink for all of us.

Prioritize your time and tasks

1. Everyday, write out everything you need to accomplish that day. Start with the most important task and work your way through your list.
2. Once you have a list, go through and ask how important each task is and whether it could be accomplished by someone else. Any that can, delegate out.
3. Have set times during the day to check your emails. Don’t fall into the trap of constantly checking them.
4. Set yourself realistic deadlines to complete work.
5. Don’t try to multitask. All that will happen is you end up with multiple unfinished projects. Focus on one task until completion. Then move on to the next one.
6. Having said that, stay flexible too. Sometimes you have no choice but to drop your current project for one that is more important.

Determination

1. Habits are formed by consistency. Whether you want to or not, get up and structure your day every day. Within two weeks a habit will form.
2. Completed a task? Reward yourself! Nothing makes you feel better and more determined to succeed than a reward.
3. Find the best time to work. Some people get more done in the evening. Personally, I prefer early in the morning. I find it to be my most productive time. I’m actually sat writing this at 6.30 am.
4. 2 minute rule. If a job can be completed quickly, do it straight away. It keeps things from piling up.
5. Big projects are best if you break them down into manageable tasks.
6. Strike a power pose. Seriously. Stand with your hands on your hips and with your chest thrust out. It will boost your confidence and determination to succeed.