Trying to juggle more tasks with less time has been a consistent challenge in life lately. This is especially true because of the growth of my business; with it comes more responsibilities which means I'm constantly trying to think smarter and work faster.
Thankfully, as I grow older, I've improved at making the most of my days by optimizing my workflow and focusing on what's important. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you plan out your routine and allocate your energy correctly - even though life may not get easier, it can become more efficient!
Every one of us is looking for ways to be more productive in our day-to-day activities. Whether in our work or household chores, we aim to finish many tasks in a day and being productive can push us to finish and complete them.
Although it cannot be helped if, somewhere along the way, we lose track of being productive because we give in to the temptations surrounding us.
Especially in the digital age, where many distractions come from our smartphones and gadgets, things that are now nearly impossible for us to part with. It is much harder to stay focused on a task because of this, unlike back in the days when there was no such technology available, and we could perform our tasks without having to constantly think if someone was messaging us in our or sending emails to us. There are also no social media sites to check up on and see the updates of people who are connected to us. Life is simple back then, and productivity could also be easily achieved during that time.
The Importance of Good Habits
When you have a goal you want to achieve, you need to develop good habits that will enable you to reach it. An increasing number of people have come to understand this, which is why there is so much discussion on the importance of forming good habits.
What is a good habit, anyway?
A habit is generally considered “good” if it contributes to your well-being. If it helps you become physically, psychologically, and emotionally healthy, you can consider it a good one. If it improves your relationship with others and yourself, then it is a habit you want to keep.
That said, it is essential to note that there is no such thing as a perfect life. No such person became a five-star chef, an internationally acclaimed author, or a millionaire CEO overnight. Successful people consistently put in the time, effort, and dedication to maintain the good habits that helped them turn their goals into reality. However, the most significant difference between them and those who feel they have failed to accomplish their dream is the collective choices they made.
To become successful and productive, you should choose to change. The only way to get out of a bad habit rut is to decide what to change, why you need to change it, and how to change it. After that, you need to take action; this is where you become a creature of good habits.
Techniques on Redefining and Reformulating Productive Habits
Here are some ways to increase your productivity to help you reclaim the almost lost art of productivity.
1. Cutting Your To-do List
Just because you want to finish many tasks in a day doesn’t mean you have to cram all your tasks to be done in a single day. If you have 30 tasks in your tto-dolist, you don’t really need to finish all those tasks in one sitting. Try to cut off your to-do list and do important things first before tackling the rest in moderation.
2. Take Breaks
Listen to your brain when it’s screaming that it wants to take a break. Working for several hours without stopping can strain your brain, using up all the glucose in your body. You can regain it by giving yourself a break: taking a stroll outside, eating lunch or snacking on your favorite sweets, or you could meditate. You will feel recharged and ready to take work head-on when you get back.
3. The 80/20 Rule
A rule says that only around 20 percent of what you are doing in a day could produce around 80 percent of the results. To achieve that, you must remove the things that don’t relate to the task at hand, as they will only have a minimal effect on your overall productivity. Try to break down your task into steps and remove the parts that result in minimal relevance until you will bare to come up with 20 percent of the task which will result in 80 percent.
4. Focus on Yourself During the Mornings
Checking up on your email and calendar first thing in the morning kills your productivity big time, as you allow others to dictate the things you must accomplish for the day.
5. Tackle Difficult Tasks Before Lunch
Try to finish the challenging tasks first when your brain is still fresh and oozing with energy. If you have a meeting scheduled today, do it in the afternoon. By doing things this way, you will be able to be more productive in handling your time.
6. Create Your System
You may have already developed a habit that ruins your productivity over the years. You can prevent yourself from doing it again by developing a system. You can plan the hours where you will do a specific task.
7. Stop Multitasking
Take your time doing ten tasks in one sitting. Changing from one task to another without finishing them can drop your IQ at a slow rate. You can get things done more quickly and effectively by simultaneously focusing on a single task.
You can call yourself productive because you are doing a lot of tasks! Remember that less is more. Focusing on a single task and finishing it is key to being productive.
Remember: what you do daily will change your life, not what you do now and then. Choose the habits and changes that better adapt to your life and your needs, then give in to them for 30 days, and you can see their effect on your life.