Being productive seems like a pretty straightforward thing. You want to accomplish a set of tasks, so you go and do them. If it were that simple, you would be far more productive and there would be to-do lists that would shrink rather than continuously get longer. The truth is that productivity only results when you are deliberate about implementing plans and strategies that help you be productive. A task that needs accomplishing is not enough in and of itself to make you productive. You have to have a method for how your attack the tasks of the day. The methodology for how you are productive will be unique to you, but here are a few suggestions to consider when thinking about how you can be more productive.
Let Technology Help
The first thing you should do is eliminate unnecessary tasks that you are completing manually that can be completed much more easily or totally with technology. For instance, if you are rewriting your to-do lists each day, this is not only a task that requires the repetition of unnecessary tasks, it takes time. There are numerous apps and programs that allow you to transition uncompleted tasks from the previous day to the next within a matter of seconds.
Not only does this save time and energy, but it allows you to move your attention along to more pressing matters sooner. Companies hire mobile app developers to create these programs that make tasks easier, so you should take advantage of how they can support your productivity.
Create a Plan
Moving the uncompleted tasks from the previous day’s to-do list to the current day should be part of a systematic plan for how you attack your day. There should be no surprises for you when you sit down at your desk to begin your workday because you have a system for when you will handle certain tasks. This allows you to have specific plans of action for your day which will enhance your ability to focus and improve your productivity.
Say No To Multitasking
The reason that creating a systematic approach to your day improves your productivity is because it allows you to intentionally focus your attention on particular tasks rather than trying to decide what to do each day or ultimately trying to do multiple things at one time. Multitasking is possible and beneficial,l but more times than not, trying to multitask is actually a hindrance to productivity rather than a contributor to it. Therefore, avoid the trap of multi-tasking and focus your attention on the task that your system says you are to be focused on. When that task is completed, you can move on to the next task.
Take Breaks
However, before you move on to the next task, the next thing you should do to support your productivity is to take a break. That is right. You should stop working. Taking a break after you complete a task may seem counterintuitive, but it is particularly beneficial to productivity because it functions as a reward for your accomplishment, albeit a small one, which will help you feel good about what you just accomplished and more determined to continue your productivity. It also is important to take rests in between work because you are not a machine and a break will allow you to recharge before moving on to the next task.
Do Hard Things First
When you are making your master plan for how you will approach your day, it is important that you plan to do the hard things first. It is logical and sensible to approach the more trying tasks at the beginning of the day when your mind and body are at their freshest. This will make focusing on the tasks much easier and will allow accomplishing the task to take less time than it would if you were to try to do it when it is later in the day and you are more tired.
If you are to be as productive as you can be, you must think about what actions you can take to avoid wasting time and what you need to do to do your best work. Take these suggestions and an assessment of your habits and create a plan that you can follow to be as productive as you can be.
