We all face challenges with productivity. After all, there are only so many hours in the working day. But why is it that some people can achieve so much more than others in the same amount of time? These people aren’t necessarily working harder. They’re working smarter. These ten productivity secrets will help you power through the day to get that to-do list done.
Don’t multitask
Multi-tasking kills productivity because you don’t give any of the projects you’re working on simultaneously the full attention they need. Let your brain focus on one thing at a time and you will find you can accomplish tasks a lot faster.
Designate specific times to check emails
Constantly checking emails interrupts your workflow and distracts you from the task at hand. Instead, schedule to check your emails at a few key times during the day.
Write a to-do list
Getting all of the tasks you have to accomplish out of your head and onto paper will help you break down what needs to be done and will help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control.
Prioritise
You will most likely not be able to accomplish everything on your to-do list, so prioritise the most important things to work on instead. Everything else should be secondary.
Say no
Productive people are not afraid to say no. Taking on extra, unexpected commitments will impact your ability to honour your existing ones. If you don’t think you can manage it, be assertive and say no.
Delegate
Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to others. Trusting the other people you work with and relinquishing some of the control you have will help your organisation achieve more together.
Don’t look at things twice
When you work on a task, finish it and then forget it. Do not come back to it a second time. This is inefficient.
Prepare for tomorrow before you leave for the day
Before you leave the office, write your to-do list for the following day. This helps you keep track of the progress you have made that day as well as ensuring that you know exactly how to begin the next day at work.
Stick to the schedule
Whether you are holding a meeting or attending one, it’s important to stick to the schedule. Meetings can be huge time-wasters because they can seem to drag on forever. Remind attendees of the time frame for the meeting to ensure efficiency.
Eat that frog
‘Eating the frog’ is an expression about tackling the most unappealing task of the day first. Ticking off the most dreaded item on your to-do list will leave the rest of the day open for more enjoyable tasks.