1. Prioritize Important Tasks Over Less Important Ones
Always remember to get the most important tasks out of the way before any other thing. These tasks have more rewards but are often more tasking. So, most people put them off while they focus on the simpler and less important tasks. This is a great mistake that can drastically cut down on your productivity. Not only will the important tasks remain at the back of your mind while you work, but you also risk doing a haphazard job when you finally get to them because you are too tired from doing the less important tasks.
2. Hard Tasks Should Always Come First
If you dread performing a task and know you cannot ditch, delegate or defer it to another time, you must tackle it head-on. Suppose you keep putting off dealing with a particularly difficult client or addressing an important issue that can have disastrous effects just because it is difficult. Chances are, you will never get around to doing it. Postponing difficult tasks is like having too many cheat days while on a diet. You might never regain the time lost.
3. Take a Little Time to Plan Your Day
Taking just thirty minutes to plan your day every morning can save you hours of wasted time. When you have a fool-proof plan every day, you do not have to waste time thinking about what to do next after every task. Just write everything you have to do with the time allocated for each activity in a to-do list. As soon as you finish Task A, you know you are working on Task B next.
4. Take Advantage of Your Peak Period
Do you feel better working during the early hours of the morning, or would you rather work late and sleep in the following morning? Whether you are a morning person or a night owl, you must determine your personal peak period. You will be most productive and creative during your peak period so ensure you don’t waste it away. Some people also find they are more productive after a shower or a quick run outdoors. Find out you know what works for you and use it judiciously.
5. Take Care of Your Greatest Assets ─ Your Body and Mind
While you are scheduling tasks and conquering the world, never forget your two greatest assets, your body, and mind. Ensure you get enough sleep, exercise, and nutrients, so your body remains strong and healthy. You can also try nootropics for brain enhancement benefits such as focus, memory, and energy. Also, try proven activities, such as yoga and meditation, that will keep your mind sharp and help your focus.
6. Use the Pomodoro Method
The Pomodoro method is a time management technique that promotes self-awareness and productivity. Since its inception as a study technique in 1987, millions of business executives, educators, and students have used it to increase productivity. The method involves dividing your tasks into units that you can complete in 25 minutes. The Pomodoro timer goes off after twenty-five minutes, then you rest for five minutes and go again. The technique helps you focus on small units of tasks and take rests in between until you achieve all you have set out to achieve.
7. Similar Tasks Go Together
Another important technique that can help you become super productive is planning similar tasks to go together. This technique helps improve focus and productivity because you concentrate on one batch, complete it before moving on to the next batch of tasks. For instance, if you need a particular resource for similar tasks, you can check it at once since all similar tasks are grouped together instead of having to go back and forth.
8. Establish a Morning Routine
Humans are creatures of habits, and the habits we form, often shape who we are. Establishing a morning routine and following it every day before working informs your mind that it is time to get busy. Immediately you complete your routine, you find that your body and mind are already prepared to get to work.
9. Cut off Distractions
In the era of social media and video streaming platforms, it is very easy to get distracted. You would be astonished to know the amount of time you spend on Youtube, Twitter, and other platforms and how many important tasks you could have carried out in the same period. Use apps like AntiSocial and QualityTime to track your screen time and get rid of the time-wasting activities.
10. Take Advantage of Free Moments
The period you spend in a doctor’s waiting room, on the train, or a queue need not go to waste. You can schedule simple tasks, such as listening to a podcast, replying to your emails, and similar tasks for those moments. This way, no part of your day is wasted.
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