This is neither the time or place to get into that sort of debate, but something we can talk about, and something we all struggle with, is productivity.
I challenge you to write a post on your best productivity tips. Challenge yourself by picking your single best productivity tip (although this isn’t a requirement; you can give us more if you want!)- here Salty Vixen’s list.
Jimi Hendrix once asked, “Are you experienced?” Well…
My Number #1 productivity tip – LEVERAGE: a reverse reward system.. Since we always will do more to avoid pain than we will to gain pleasure, I have found that leverage is the one thing that will absolutely guarantee that I will meet my own deadlines (in fact, I have found no other approach that works when I’m under the gun).
It is a simple concept – if you don’t get your stuff done, you have to pay the consequences. The bigger the commitment, the bigger the leverage.
Last year I needed to get a huge project off of the ground. I made a commitment to my mastermind group that if I didn’t have it done by the end of the week, I would cry. Do you think there was ANY doubt that my stuff got done?! I even pulled an all-nighter at the end to save myself from such a horrible fate!
Work in short bursts. The length of a productive work- burst will vary from person to person. I have found myself to be most productive in 1-2 hour increments. Even 30-45 minute bursts are good. Focus on a solitary task during that time, bury yourself in it, but get out quickly. Take a short break, rinse and repeat
Deep Thought Tip: Always be aware of why you are doing something and that you are consciously choosing to do it. Procrastination and other inefficient behaviors will drop away when you do.
A few other tips that have worked really well:
- Form a Mastermind Group – I am part of two of them focused on blogging and online business. The power of a group is always bigger than the power of one.
- Create a system that works for your learning style – If you’re visual, keep tasks in a place that you can see them. If you are auditory, create sound cues as reminders or play music to keep you focused.
- Know Thyself – There’s a reason that most successful people are motivated and productive – they usually are the ones who have invested in their personal development by reading self help books or going to motivational seminars. The stuff works.
- Take 5 minutes out at the start of the day
- List down the critical tasks you need to accomplish today
- Figure out the most important task you need to finish
- Ensure you finish it today
- [Keep the rest of the tasks handy, it might contain the ‘must finish’ task tomorrow]
