‘Stressing output is the key to improving productivity, while looking to increase activity can result in just the opposite.’
Paul Gauguin, a French Post-Impressionist artist who worked in Paris as a stockbroker but after the stock market crashed in 1882, Gauguin decided to become a full-time artist.
This short guide is for all of you who would like to become more productive. Being more productive in business means doing more things in the same period of time, or doing the same number of things in less time.
Getting your ordinary things done earlier than you have originally planned will give you more time for doing what makes you truly happy in life.
1. Focus on one task at a time.
2. Start with doing the most important things first, and push minor tasks until later in the day.
3. Put more effort in doing something that you are excited about.
4. Stay away from your computer and smartphone, as long as you can get the job done offline.
5. Do the most difficult tasks at the beginning of the day when you have the most energy.
6. Do not do any unnecessary tasks! Learn to say ‘No’ to everything that is not your goal to accomplish by the end of the day.
7. Edit your to-do list to get rid of meaningless tasks.
8. Wake up early and work in peace with fresh mind.
9. Avoid meetings which suck your valuable energy dry and require wasteful commuting time.
10. If you have to meet with someone, make it short – 10 minutes will usually suffice to get the most important message across.
11. Clean your inbox and check emails once a day only.
12. Once you start a new task, do everything to finish it the same day.
13. If you are really tired, postpone all important projects because you will not accomplish much during that day anyway. Instead, work on something easier.
14. Stay focused on the task not allowing any noises to distract you.
15. Do not be a social media prisoner. Instead, go for a walk or get yourself a healthy snack.
With all of those productivity tips, I believe that now you will be able to accomplish so much more in a shorter period of time. While it is not healthy both physically and mentally to overwork yourself, try to become more productive with maintaining healthy work-life balance in mind. Therefore, remember to spend your free time meaningfully, because it is the reason why you have worked so hard.
