Ever have those days when you feel like you’ve been doing a million things, but by the end of the day you still feel so unaccomplished and like you got nothing done? If that sounds familiar, you need to refocus your energy to actually be productive, not busy.
In this video I explain why you don’t need to be busy to be productive. And I’m sharing my top 5 tips so that you can get more done in less time and feel more accomplished.
TIP 1: STOP TRYING TO MULTITASK
Multitasking does not work. You split your focus by trying to work on multiple things at once or switch between different tasks. You end up feeling more tired because you’re wasting so much energy just trying to refocus every time you switch tasks. So you’re much better off giving all your attention to one thing at a time.
By multitasking you feel like you’ve been busy all day, but like you didn’t actually achieve anything. This is because you’re not focusing on any one thing enough to make real progress.
TIP 2: GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS
Distractions can come in many shapes such as phone notifications, emails, and chatty coworkers, They all have the same effect on your productivity as multitasking. You lose focus and waste energy trying to get back into the flow of what you were doing.
Set clear boundaries at work and at home. Turn off all your notifications, and set aside specific times throughout the day when you will check emails, messages, and social media.
TIP 3: HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR DAY
Going into each day with a plan for what you need to get done will make all the difference in keeping you focused on the things that actually matter. Productivity is about getting the right things done so that you feel accomplished. So knowing what exactly you need to accomplish in a day is key to being able to be productive, not busy.
The ways I recommend to do this is by time blocking your day or having a list of top 3 tasks that you must get done within the day.
TIP 4: ALWAYS HAVE A WAY TO CAPTURE IDEAS
Throughout the day you will suddenly remember things you have to do. Or you will think of a great idea that you want to pursue. Ensure that you don’t abandon the task you’re working on by always having a notepad handy to jot down these thoughts as they come up.
Also make sure that you’re setting aside time to review those notes periodically!
TIP 5: TAKE BREAKS
Another important thing you should be doing to increase your productivity is taking regular breaks throughout the day. Constantly working without adequate rest leads to feeling tired, overwhelmed, and having low energy.
You will also be less likely to be tempted by distractions during times when you’re trying to focus on a task by having breaks built into your day. You know you have time set aside to engage in those fun activities.
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