3 Simple Ways To Boost Your Productivity
Hey, I get it. We’ve all been there. Working hard (or hardly working) and wishing you could get things done faster or work better. There’s got to be a better way! On this #ThoughtfulThursday we share 3 simple ways to boost productivity and get out of your rut.
Today’s Success List
You’ve likely heard of a “To-Do” list. But have you heard of a “Success” list? This is a minimal “To do” list that focuses on what top 3 tasks would make for a successful day. Your focus shifts from “This is what I’m obligated to do” to “How can I be successful today?” Committing to one thing and doing it create creates a mircosuccess.
Microsuccesses boost our motivation to keep going. So…what is a minimal to-do list? We’re not talking about a to-do list deckout out in minimalist style. We’re talking about getting super specific and clear about what must be done. Say your to-do list looks like this:
Check emails
Delete old emails
Eat a meal
Make important call
Check the calendar
We could make it look like this:
Eat a meal
Check the calendar
Make a time sensitive call
Now of course, you have two items that just happened to fall off the list. Not quite! See what we’ve done, it prioritized the top 3 criteria for success. Now that we’ve done that, we can add more to the list:
Check emails
Hold on. We’re only adding one to the list? Yes! You don’t want to overcommit your brain. You only want to focus on the task at hand.
Say we’ve checked all our emails and it didn’t take so long to do. So now our list looks like this. Since we’ve already checked the calendar, we can determine if time permits for deleting old emails. We’ve got time today, so let’s add it to the list:
Eat a meal
Check the calendar
Make a time sensitive call
Check email
Delete old emails
Do what you can within a predetermined time frame to delete the old emails. Having a set time ensures that you don’t spend too much time on one item on your to-do list. Since it isn’t a top 3 item, we have more flexibility in when we can complete it.
Hey we’ve already finished our top three items. We’ve already had a successful day! Anything outside of that is more success for our day.
The idea is that after you’ve braindumped what you need to get done, you only do the top 3 items on your list. Record these items alone on a separate piece of paper, sticky notes, or other separate space. Your task is to only complete these 3 activities.
Why in the world would I do only 3 things when I have a mountain of work? So you can complete the mountain of work successfully!
3 Key Components for Success
Writing out your vision for the day in a plain way
Making good on your word to yourself
Consistency through habit building
Once you complete the 3 items, quit working! If you have the chance to stop working for the day. This engrains hard boundaries for yourself. Want to prevent burnout? Try this strategy.
“Okay cool, but I have to keep working”. That’s totally understandable.
If you must work past the 3 items on your “Successful Day” to-do list, add one item at a time. Complete the one additional task, mark it off, and then add a new one after that one is finished.
This process helps to maintain focus, follow through, and fulfillment:
Focus: Only focus on the task at hand.
Follow Through: Work diligently and consistently to complete the task.
Fulfillment: Appreciate and enjoy your successful day.
Clear Your Space
Is your space cluttered? Are there a lot of tabs on your browser? A messy space makes it difficult to concentrate, which hampers productivity.
Consider clearing your space to clear your mind. It doesn’t have to be spotless. Just re-establish a bit of order to it. Read more in our next article.
Make Time For Yourself
Do you often feel depleted? Maybe you’re doing everything for everyone else and you come last? This is a recipe for burnout. Burnout and productivity don’t mix well. It’s not sustainable to expect yourself to keep producing at a high level if you’re not taking care of yourself.
Taking care of yourself and regularly making time for self-care is important. Not only is it important, it can positively affect your productivity and mood.
Take a nap, go on a walk. Do a craft or something creative. Move in a way you enjoy or have some much needed downtime. Engage in some much needed play like roller skating, video games or puzzles.
Need more ideas? Look out for more details in our next post on how making time for yourself can boost your productivity.
Empower Yourself to Be Productive
Empowering yourself to be more productive doesn’t have to be lucrative or painful. Try the 3 simple ways we’ve mentioned above to boost your productivity and in turn potentially reduce your stress.
We don’t recommend trying all three at once as that could be overwhelming. Choose one and a start from there. Don’t forget to be grateful for and appreciate your more productive and successful day.
Now that we’ve shared these tips, don’t stop here. Try one today, if not soon. Enjoy a successful and productive day!