Tips & Tricks To Help You Boost Productivity & Overcome Procrastination : Getting A Head Start

Getting A Head Start

1. Create tomorrow’s to-do list, today. Most of us are less productive towards the end of the day. Assuming that the day’s critical tasks have been completed, it’s time to prepare for the next day. It’s best to keep your to-do lists in your day planner or in a bound journal. This way you’ll have a permanent record of all your daily events and activities. Getting your list done ahead of time gives you a head start on the day. It also prepares your mind in advance for what lies ahead.

2. Start off with a clean desk every morning. Get rid of any backlog of work before you leave at night. If you can get in the habit of clearing your desk as you wind down the workday, you’ll have conquered a big obstacle to clear and creative thinking—clutter. You simply cannot perform at your best when faced with a mountain of paperwork, and a full load of tasks that must be done at the same time.

3. Do the worst thing first. When faced with a list of unpleasant duties, tackle the most repulsive one first. After that, everything else is a breeze! You’ll feel unbeatable for the rest of the day.

4. Get started immediately. Take the “Just Do It” approach. If you don’t start, you’ll never finish. If you wait for conditions to be just right, you may miss out altogether. Do something everyday that will move you closer to your goals. Don’t put it off. Do it now.

5. Be punctual. Develop punctuality into a habit. Immediately you’ll gain an advantage over 97% of the population. Consistently being on time makes you look good and saves time and money. It also indicates respect for others’ time. Arriving early gives you extra time to get acquainted with new people and facilities… time to relax… time to mentally prepare… or simply time to review your notes.

6. Give yourself the advantage of an early start in the morning. Get up one hour earlier than normal and put that hour to good, productive use. Try it for a month and you may be astonished at what this one little hour can do for you. It’s an easy way to gain a distinct advantage.

7. Begin each individual task on a positive note. Get something important done at the very beginning and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that can carry you through the day. With simple projects, maybe it’s the first one on the list. For the more complex, perhaps it’s preparing a detailed action plan. Keep this simple idea in mind with every task or project and you’ll get off to a great start every time.