A Few Productivity Hacks

If all of us got everything we wanted to get done every day, we would be superstars of success. Sometimes no matter how well thought out our goals, we still fall short of our daily, weekly, monthly objectives. How can we be more productive? What productivity hacks can we use to improve our day?

There are all kinds of methods for increasing productivity and focus, so the answer to that question will be different for each person. The key is finding the productivity hack that works best with your schedule, your mentality, and your aspirations. Here are a few productivity hacks to get you started on your quest for the perfect one!%MCEPASTEBIN%

Top 1, 2, 3

We all face a continuing list of tasks that we need to accomplish daily. All those things are probably significant (otherwise, they wouldn’t be on your list), but some are more important to your success than others.

We will often spend our day dealing with whatever issues are currently under our noses—the ding of our email or the ring of our phone. The day ends up getting squandered in little bits, while the big things fall behind in the queue, day after day. Lana Shlafer, a mindset coach, suggests; that you should start your day off by briefly meditating on your “Finished List,” which is a list of three things you absolutely must get done that day. At the start of each day, pick the three items most essential for your success and put them at the top of your to-do list. Put the most critical first, followed by the second and third. Make those three things your priority. Even if you only complete the top item on your list, you’ve completed the most critical task for the day!

1. 25 minutes on, 5 minutes off

Go at your chosen task full on for twenty five minutes. At the end of that time, take a five minute break then spend twenty five minutes on the next task. Because you’re working in such a short time frame you’re ultra focused on not wasting a second of the time you’ve got allotted to the task. You may not be able to squeeze in very many twenty five minute intervals into your day, but you’ll find great productivity in the ones you do create!

2. Time blocking

At the very beginning of the day or even the night before block the full day out in advance. Fill your calendar in blocks. Hour, half hour, quarter hour, however long you choose. Be sure to give yourself solid blocks to work on your priorities and also to leave blocks open where you can deal with the miscellanies of the day that will come up, like returning phone calls and emails.

As best you can, start and finish each task in its allotted time so nothing on your list falls through the cracks.  This kind of forced structure is just what some people need to keep them on track.

3. 90 minutes at a time

There’s been lots of research that indicates most people can concentrate well for a stretch of about 90 minutes and then our focus starts to disintegrate. So to take advantage of your body’s natural focus rhythms, schedule your most important tasks in 90 minute blocks. In between take 20 or 30 minute breaks where you can attend to less absorbing tasks.

That’s my ninety minutes. Off for quick walk about to replenish my energy levels!

Are you looking for my ways to help conquer your day? We suggest looking at our blog, Tackling Big Tasks, that has great advice on how to tackle those overwhelming tasks with ease.