Peak Productivity Ideas
2. Stick with it! Continue to stay focused on that one priority item, regardless. Work at it relentlessly. Take it as far as you can go without breaking your concentration, no matter how difficult, unpleasant, or challenging the situation may be. This often requires a strong will on your part, but the payoff is worth it.
3. Go to the next, most important item on your list. Focus your attention 100% on this task until it is completed. When you’re done, or you’ve taken it as far as you possibly can, revert to the next item in succession on your list. One by one, you’ll finish each task, always working on the most important one.
4. Do only that to which you bring unique value. Delegate or purchase the rest. This is a form of leverage and it can be very effective. Do the key tasks — those that you’re best at-- yourself. Whatever skill, experience and expertise you bring to the table should be used effectively, as the situation warrants it. Utilize your time and your expertise wisely. Look at each task and determine the most effective use of available resources.
5. Transform downtime into productive activity. Determine your time of peak productivity and do your most intense, demanding work then. Use other, less productive times to return calls, send faxes, hold meetings and carry on discussions. No one can be at their peak at all times of the day. The secret is to know when you’re most effective and to use that time for the most important and demanding work.
6. Use your computer efficiently. Get in the habit of writing things once and then editing wherever necessary on screen. Avoid preparing hand-written notes that later need to be entered into your computer. Learn to use data-bases, project planners, spreadsheets, or whatever programs fit your business and your role in it.
7. Economize your time. Accomplish tasks with less waste. The fewer steps involved to complete a task, the better. Work at improving efficiency by shaving minutes or even seconds off routine duties. Be on the look out for overlap, excessive handling, unnecessary steps and duplication of work.
8. Mix-up the size of tasks to avoid burnout. Instead of taking on two 4-hour projects, one after another, break them apart with a 30-minute task in between. Strive for a blend of tasks from small to large. You’ll feel a stronger sense of accomplishment and be less drained at the end of the day.
9. Challenge yourself to finish jobs ahead of schedule. Constantly seek out better, faster, more productive ways of doing things. Give yourself a reward for your increased productivity.
10. Strive for incremental improvements. Small but consistent improvement in effort and results can make a dramatic difference over the long haul. All you need is to do things just slightly better than average with regularity and you’ll be in the top 5% of all achievers.
11. Develop a preference for action. Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do today. Dig in without delay and you’ll accomplish far more in ten years than the vast majority will accomplish in a lifetime. Do it now and you’ll feel a wonderful sense of accomplishment. How you use your time determines the quality of life you create.
12. Decide what you want to accomplish more than anything else. What one item on your list, or what goal is most important to you at this very moment. That is the one thing you need to focus on. Follow this path first above all others. You can achieve whatever you really want but… you can only accomplish one thing at a time.
13. Build upon each accomplishment by moving right along to the next task at hand. As you achieve one thing after another, you increase your potential for higher achievement. Success begets success. Each task completed successfully, fuels your momentum and builds up your confidence to achieve more. Every successful accomplishment strengthens your foundation to meet the next challenge. Do one thing at a time and then quickly move on.
14. Turn essential daily activities into powerful habits. A habit is something you just do automatically, without conscious deliberation. We all have tasks that are unpleasant or distasteful, yet necessary. Once it becomes a habit, it’s much easier to endure. You don’t have to stop and think about it.
15. Change old wasteful habits into productive ones. Decide to be a more effective time manager, starting today. Others will notice your ability to get things done, regardless. You’ll be appreciated more and you’ll have more time to take advantage of the things you really enjoy.
16. Imagine you only have half a day to complete a full day of work. What would you do? What must be done first? What can be delegated to others or put off until later? When you’ve suddenly got less time to work with, you’re forced into a higher level of efficiency planning.
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