It happens to the best of us.
You're working on an important project.
You’re in your zone – totally focused at the task at hand.
Then your phone buzzes.
You glance over – and realize you can quickly address the text, message, Twitter mention, or whatever it is.
And suddenly you’ve spent twenty minutes reviewing emails, texting your kids or just scrolling through Facebook.
In our world of endless distractions, it’s amazing that anything gets done.
But top agents all excel at one skill that lets them stay productive amidst a constant flood of distractions.
And it’s something you need to master if you want to maximize your potential.
Time Management
It’s what separates the top tiers of agents from the rest: those who can maximize their productivity using proven techniques to manage time beat out their competition. Every time.
And there are steps you can take, today, to improve on this essential skill. And start boosting your bottom line.
I’ve gathered the best tips below to help you stay focused, alert and engaged.
1. Get Off The Phone. No, Really.
At first glance, this one might seem counterintuitive.
Your business runs on communication. And your client base is largely accessed online and on the phone.
But picking up your smartphone and staring into its bright glow every few minutes is a massive hindrance to your concentration – it means you’re never fully engaged in the task at hand. You can’t give your full attention to anything when your work is constantly interspersed with texts, tweets and Facebook posts.
Of course, you need to have constant access to your phone to run your business. So, that’s not to say you should switch it off for hours on end – but you’ll soon realize that grabbing your phone to return a call or send a quick, urgent message can easily turn into a half hour of tapping away mindlessly.
Be wary of that – and only use your phone for important tasks during the day.
2. Tackle The Important Work First
Most of us will first take care of the small, mindless tasks that are building up on our to-do list before moving onto addressing more important, high-level work.
But this technique works against you – wasting your energy and focus on tasks that don’t require it, and leaving you mentally unprepared to undertaking bigger projects.
When it comes to narrowing down your to-do list and, try tackling the tasks that require concentration or creativity first.
3. Create Daily Goals
You wouldn’t set off on a road trip without a map. So why start your day without a clear list of priorities? When you wake up, you should have a clear understanding of what you need to get done.
Setting goals for your day keeps you motivated and focused – and reminds you of your overarching objectives while you’re working.
As a bonus, it also provides satisfaction after a long day of work – you can mentally, or literally, check everything off your to-do list.
4. Train your mind
Your brain quickly adapts to the habits you form – so if multitasking has become your norm, your brain is literally training itself to be unfocused.
Counter the negative effects of multitasking by practicing concentration. Focus on one task at a time, tuning out distractions and honing in with your undivided attention.
Put simply, your mind is like a muscle – so train it like one.
5. Exercise
This is one I see tons of agents overlook - even though it's absolutely proven to work.
It boosts productivity, energy and mood – the primary ingredients to a successful day.
You might be thinking, “But I don’t have time to get outside.” But as Business Collective points out, when it’s proven to enhance everything you need to get focused, this excuse doesn’t cut it anymore.
It’s probably not one you want to pursue at the office – but if you can get outside and take a quick walk, jog, run or even fit a gym session into your day, you’ll notice a boost in productivity.
Have any tips on enhacing productivity or cutting out distractions? Let me know in the comments below!
Looking to establish or better manage your social media presence? CityBlast specializes in creating valuable and engaging posts for your social media accounts - ActiveRain Members try CityBlast's social media service FREE for 2 Weeks! Also save 30% on your social media packages when you sign up here using the promo code savings!
Comments(1)