Who doesn’t want better productivity? Getting more done in less time to enjoy more time off. That seems to be super appealing! Yet, we seem to have more stuff crying for our attention and our productivity remains stagnant …or even worse, goes downhill. Today we’ll look closely at the top 5 productivity hacks that will help you create faster results.
1. Set aside 1 day a month to review the big picture
It’s easy to fill your days with stuff that needs your attention, but if you don’t keep an eye on the big picture (vision, mission, goals, etc.), you might get derailed without even noticing. Whether it’s the first Monday of the month or last Friday of the month, pick a day that works for you, book yourself an appointment with those involved and get dreaming.
2. Don’t just work, think!
I’m not saying that work is bad. I LOVE action and results are like music to my ear. Yet, if you put your head down and keep on working, working, working, you might miss the opportunity to come up with an innovative solution or an even better idea.
3. Do what you’re good at, delegate the rest
Unless you’re a super human, you have some strengths and some weaknesses. While many out there waste their time trying to improve themselves in the areas of their weaknesses, I’ll share a million dollar tip with you… discover areas of strength and make them even stronger. This will not only position you as an expert in your particular area, it will also help you enjoy your work more and have more fun while doing it.
4. Don’t answer your phone
This simple strategy saved me countless hours of unproductive time. Even though answering your phone is polite, at the same time it’s one of the biggest time wasters. During my peak hours my phone and email are completely turned off. I do my best to check them at least once a day and over the years I’ve learned that if it’s urgent, people know how to text you, if it’s not urgent, they leave a voicemail and the inbox stores my mail until my next visit (and even after that).
Unlike some people, I still remember a time before cell phones and social media and you know what, people still lived. You don’t need to answer your phone 24/7 to live your life to the fullest 😉
5. Don’t sweat the small stuff
With so many things begging for your attention you need to let go of some stuff. As a recovering perfectionist I know what I’m talking about. No matter how many times your mom told you ‘You can do better!’, it doesn’t mean that you have to do it in every piece of project you touch. It’s important to learn to be ok with ok stuff.
Have you heard about the 80/20 rule? It states that 80% of your activities will create 20% of your results. And 20% of your activities will create 80% of your results. The key is to recognize the 20% of your activities and give these your best effort.
What are your favorite productivity hacks? I’m always eager to learn something new when it comes to productivity and improvement, so share yours in the comment below.
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