Do you feel like you work so hard and yet you still don’t get a lot done? Do you feel envious of people who seem to have the time to be able to do everything?
Sometimes what you really need is to change the way you think about how things should be done.
Not everyone is born productive – it’s a learned behavior. The most successful people develop this through years of trial and error.
The good thing is, you don’t need overly-complicated techniques, or expensive equipment, to up your productivity.
Here are a few simple habits that the most productive people have. These simple tips and tricks are meant to change how you work, so you can achieve your goals faster and more efficiently.
Let’s get into it!
Keep in mind the Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle is an idea that pops up a lot in discussions about work and business. It started as a business axiom, which states that “80% of sales come from 20% of clients”.
It’s interpreted in so many ways, but basically, the Pareto Principle is about focusing on that 20% which yields the biggest amount of results. It’s about ignoring everything else so you can work on the high-yield tasks that nets you the greatest output.
Go over everything that you think you have to do, and narrow it down to the ones that has the most impact. Remember, 20% of clients nets you 80% of sales – work on that 20% and see the impact that results from completing it.
Utilize your mornings
Early birds can attest to the power that mornings have. You are hopefully refreshed from a good night’s sleep, and the world is still waking up around you.
You are most productive right when you wake up – utilize this and form a morning habit. Eat a good breakfast, or do some light exercise, to nourish your body. Try meditating, or listen to some inspirational podcasts. A good morning routine sets you up for the rest of the day, so you can accomplish everything you need to.
Some even suggest working on that 20% even before you step out of your house. Aside from the energy and fresh ideas you possibly might have, you’ll feel more accomplished as you face your day. Try it out, and see how a great morning routine can affect the rest of your day.
Plan by the Minute
The most successful people don’t plan their day by 30-minute or 1-hour chunks. They plan it by the minute. You only get 1,440 minutes per day, so you need to utilize it.
Money lost can be gained back, but time not spent well is lost forever. Be mindful of your minutes when you create your schedules and go about your day, and you’ll see how a little sense of urgency goes a long way.
Pre-empt your Future Behaviors
A nifty trick that productive people use is pre-empting their future behaviors by doing things right now. This is done so that you influence your future behavior.
Here’s an example – you know that you have trouble getting ready during mornings. What you can do is before you sleep, prepare as much as you can so that you lessen the time you need for useless tasks.
Or maybe you’re prone to procrastinating by spending hours on social media. Try deleting it on your phone. This way, your future self won’t have such an easy access to it.
Don’t multitask
Multitasking might give you an illusion that you’re being productive. A lot of people take pride in being really good multitaskers. But the truth is, multi-tasking slows you down.
You lose momentum every time you switch tasks. Instead of multitasking, try addressing each task as it comes to you.
A little pre-planning is needed to pull this off. Work on the immediate ones that don’t take a lot of time. Get rid of unnecessary things. And then you free yourself to work on that 20% the gives you the biggest results.
Avoid doing everything yourself
And finally, stop trying to do everything by yourself. Delegate and outsource everything that you can. The most successful people don’t do everything themselves – they find people that can do it for them.
Don’t try to be an expert on everything, because chances are, someone can already do it better than you. Find that person, and work together so you can achieve your goals faster.
Also, be a little trusting with the people you work with. Don’t micromanage if you don’t have to. Focus on the things that only you can do, and delegate things that others can do for you.
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These just a few tips and tricks on how to be a little more productive about your work. These are habits and mindsets that you can get into to make the most out every single day. Remember, productivity is a learned skill – with enough practice, you’ll see that you’ll be able to do more and more.
