So much to do and so little time! We can’t create more hours in the day, but we can make little changes to a workflow to make it more efficient.
Here are nine practical tips that you can implement today to become more productive. One of these will click with you and really make a difference!
- Establish Your Priority
And once you know what’s priority, write it down. This will help keep you focused. BCP Editors also explored this tip in this post on forming new habits.
- Create SMART Goals
This doesn’t mean your goals should be intelligent. (Not that they shouldn’t be intelligent.) SMART is an acronym that stands for:
- S – Specific
- M – Measurable
- A – Attainable
- R – Relevant
- T – Time-bound
Setting goals with this method saves you from ambiguity. For example, if you set a goal to create a blog, that’s a little vague. A SMART goal would look more like this: Write four blog posts in the next six weeks on the topic of easy recipes. You’re much more likely to accomplish that because it’s so clear and specific.
- Take Small Breaks
When your energy starts to lag, take a mini break. Studies show that people who take short regular breaks get a chance to refresh, and come back to their work with more energy.
- Eat the Frog
Don’t worry—no actual frogs are involved. This term means to tackle the hardest/most annoying thing first. That way, it’s out of the way and you can feel more at ease when working on the rest of your to do list.
- Minimize Notifications
Every time your device chimes, your concentration is disrupted, and you spend mental energy getting back into your task. Instead of letting this happen, devote specific times of the day to check your email and notifications, and then put them on silent at all other times.
- If it Takes Less than Two Minutes…
Do it right away. This keeps the little things from piling up into a long, tedious to-do list.
- Cut Out What’s Not Working
So often, we get so used to old routines, that we stick to them even if they aren’t efficient. Reflect on your processes and systems, and see if there are any adjustments that can be made to streamline your workflow.
- Batch Tasks
Task-batching means doing the same or similar tasks all at once. For example, if you’re creating graphics to go along with your easy recipe blog posts, design a bunch at a time. This allows you to get into a flow, and move through the task efficiently. If you design each graphic separately, that means reopening your graphics program each time and reorienting yourself in the task.
- Start a Bullet Journal
A bullet journal is a customizable planner where you can keep track of all your lists, reminders, and notes in one place. If you want to learn more about how to start a bullet journal, see this post on bullet journaling.
Choose one item from this list that speaks to you, and put it into action today!
See more practical tips from Rena on managing your productivity and life over here.
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