In our vibrant world of prolonged and continuous obligations, we often lose ourselves in the ocean of duties and responsibilities. As a college student tackling classes and homework, a corporate professional facing deadlines, or just an adult who tumultuously tries to keep things going, being productive is a skill that should not be overlooked. In this blog, we will walk you through some of the crucial tools to beat your tasks and, in return, increase your productivity.
Before diving into the strategies, let us highlight some key takeaways:
Productivity is not merely the quantity of work produced; instead, it reflects the quality of the results in a given time, which is usually less than that used before. With this, your efficiency in doing things will be high, giving you the time to do it faster, thus reducing stress, which will, in turn, help you to be more productive. You will have more time to pursue your life mission. Whether you are at the exams that will make you flop, distracting yourself with busy work or even jobs, every kind of action meant for productive use matters.
Many of the tasks are of small magnitude, which accumulates over time so that the person ends up putting a lot into small pieces of functions, which results in procrastination. Start by breaking down big projects into easier ones that can be conquered simultaneously. This would make the tasks less overwhelming. The realization of simple measures along the process would be the fire that will ignite intention and get you through to success.
Example: “Brian Tracy, as the author, advises in 2001, ”Eat the frog” (Tracy, 2001)”. Starting the day with handling the most challenging task is the ideal way to set a positive tone for the rest of your day.”
Allocate specific time blocks for different daily tasks or activities. Focusing on one task simultaneously helps prevent overlap and ensures efficient completion.
Put forward the day’s Most Important Tasks (MITs). Divide your tasks into an Eisenhower’s Box matrix based on their importance and urgency, starting with the most demanding ones.
Example: Stephen Covey once said, “The main point is not scheduling what is on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities” (Covey, 1994). This means that you should prioritize your MITs, which are the goals that have the most impact, to ensure that you are moving forward effectively.
Identify common distractions in your environment, such as social media, email notifications, or noisy surroundings. Use tools like website blockers or noise-canceling headphones to create a distraction-free zone.
Example: ” As humorist Dave Barry once joked, ”Nobody can multitask like me. I can listen, ignore, and forget simultaneously” (Barry, 2002). While multitasking may seem efficient, research shows it decreases productivity (Rubinstein et al., 2001).”
In conclusion, mastering productivity is essential for success in all life aspects. By implementing these basic strategies, you can take control of your to-do list, increase your efficiency, and ultimately, accomplish more with less effort. Remember, productivity is not about doing more tasks but the suitable functions most effectively.