Have you ever planned for a productive day, but when the day is over your to-do list seems no different than when you got started? This doesn’t mean you’re lazy or incompetent; what it means is that you may want to work on your productivity.
Being purposely productive is an important part of running a good household or office. By simply keeping a few tips in mind, you can watch your productivity go through the roof!
1. Get Organized
One way people lose productivity is through a cluttered and disorganized workspace. If you have to hunt for your tools or paperwork whenever you start a task, you’re not going to get things done as fast as you’d like.
Take some time to organize your workspace and your storage space. You’ll find that the less time you spend having to hunt for things and the fewer distractions you have, the more productive you’re going to be.
Clean out that basement or get those storage boxes out of the corner of your office. Toss or donate the things you don’t need and find an organized place for everything that’s staying.
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2. Identify Time Wasters
Some of our regular activities are actually time wasters. For instance, do you ever catch yourself saying that you’re just going to play one more game of Solitaire, or catch just one more song on the radio? While doing these things isn’t always bad, it can become problematic if you allow yourself to be constantly distracted. Make a list and identify each time waster.
If you notice that one game of Solitaire easily turns into three or four, uninstall the game from your computer for a while. You might be surprised by how much time you gain.
Limit your time on the phone and set a defined time limit to run errands so you can focus on getting things done.
3. Be Aware of Deadlines
You may get your projects done on time, but if you’re always cutting it close, stressing yourself out and losing sleep over your deadlines, you may need to analyze how you use your time.
If you have a deadline, clearly mark the deadline on your calendar or planner and do your best to beat it by a week at least. Taking care of things long before they are due will free up a lot more time than you think, and it will prevent a blind rush at the very end.
Give you and your family a deadline for household projects. Make a list or mark your family calendar with big projects, like cleaning the garage or getting new mulch for the landscaping.
4. Take Breaks
It sounds counterintuitive, but taking more breaks can make you more productive. It’s all about maximizing your time and if you’re not getting things done anyway, taking a break will refresh your mind.
If you’ve been staring at the computer screen for twenty minutes without getting any real work done, it’s time to get up, walk around or get a drink of water. This can make a huge difference when you’re looking to be more productive.
Housework can be dull and boring so instead of trying to tackle all household projects in one day, split up the work and get your family involved.
Increasing your productivity can mean a lot of good work getting done, so think about how you can implement these productivity tips in your daily routine!