Being productive is important when you want to get work done. There are times when work go smoothly so we hardly notice time is flying by, and before we know it, we’re done for the day. However, there are also days when it’s a struggle to get to work. During times like these, we often wonder why we still have a ton of stuff to do with so little time left in the day. Most articles that deal on how to increase production usually give out advice like “get organized” or “respect co-workers”. These are great but are generic and sometimes hard to follow.
Our suggestions below are practical and most of all applicable. If you follow these habits everyday they will help you become more productive.
Make A List
Productive people make a list of things they want to accomplish during the day. A list keeps a person motivated, on-track, and progressive. Lists also make a person more accomplished at the end of the day when they see all items crossed off the list. Your list has to be an action list and not a list that contains dream-like projects like “solve world hunger” or “end hate crimes”. Keep it simple and doable such as “finish and submit accounting report” and “pick up dry cleaning”.
Maximize Down Time
During down time, productive people still continue to produce results. During your break, for example, you can finish reading a report or send out a couple of emails. While it is perfectly alright to rest during your downtime, there are less strenuous things you can do to make sure that your time is fully maximized.
Reflect on Mistakes and Grow
Some people get fixated on their mistakes and beat themselves up over it for a long time. Not only is this counterproductive, it is also detrimental to emotional growth. Mistakes are what make us human so after committing them; reflect on what went wrong and create a list of how you could have corrected them and move on.
Limit Distractions
How many hours do you spend on social media? The internet is one of the greatest inventions on the planet, but it is also one of the most distracting. The same is true for other forms of technology such as mobile and gaming devices. Productive people stay productive, because they limit their technological distractions. Give yourself limits when checking email and social media. There’s an app called Freedom that keep you from being distracted from your computer, phone, or tablet.
Embrace Imperfection
Think of something that you did perfectly. Difficult, right? That’s because there is a perfect place and time for something, but it does not happen all the time. One of the best ways to stay productive and keep on working despite mistakes and challenges is to remember not to substitute perfection for procrastination. Even if you feel insecure, uneducated, or unsure about a task, the best time to do it is always now.
