Category: Productivity

You're busy.

You want to be less busy, but get more done.

Right now that seems impossible.

But plenty of people who have the same 24 hours in a day as you manage it.

Want to become one of those people?

Then let's get started.

What is productivity?

If we go by the dictionary definition productivity is "the quality, state, or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance, or bring forth goods and services."

I'm sorry, what?

Let's change the question; what do we mean by productivity?

Now that's an easier question to answer, and much more useful.

And over in this little corner of the internet I take productivity to mean how much and how quickly you can get useful stuff done that brings you closer to your goals.

With the aim of the game being to get as much useful stuff done as possible, that will move you forward towards your goals, in the smallest possible time without compromising on quality (unless the quality doesn't matter of course).

What productivity is not

Busyness.

Our society loves busy. We're taught busy is up there next to cleanliness and godliness.

If you're busy you're getting stuff done, being useful, moving forward, being productive.

Except, I don't know about you but I can spend a day fielding emails, running from room to room, checking reports, checking up on that, checking in on this and really have done nothing at all.

Sure, it felt busy as heck but I have no results to speak of. Zero.

That is certainly not productive. I'm no closer to my goals and now I'm just exhausted.

Busy does not equal productive.

How can you be more productive?

Aka my personal favorite productivity tips and time managment strategies. 

1 - Declutter

Too much stuff is a major distraction, it takes up valuable brain space and causes decision fatigue.  

Get rid of the excess and simplify. 

2 - Sleep 

Sounds obvious and yet hardly anyone priortizes sleep, despite it being a productivity game changer. 

Make a decent evening routine and have some decent sleep if you want to get more done. 

3 - Prep the night before

So you can wake up and get started on your to-do list rather than faffing about trying to decide what to do first. 

Faffing is not productive. 

4 - Limit distractions

Turn your phone on silent (no, not vibrate) and turn it over so you can't see the screen. Switch off notifications. Keep your inbox closed.

And please, I beg, don't have Facebook open in another tab. 

5 - Manage your energy as well as your time

Some parts of the day you're going to have more energy than others (4:00 pm slump anyone?) Factor that into your day.

Make sure you're working on the stuff that requires the most brainpower when you have the most energy. 

6 - Prioritize

While I accept, the idea is to get everything done, there will be times when that's not possible. 

Learn to prioritize so you don't become a burnt out mess who can't do anything (been there, it's not pretty...)

The Best Productivity Books

Think you don't have enough time? Think again with 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think.

Want to hit your goals faster than you thought possible? Then read The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months.

Could you do more? Probably, learn about Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win.

Top Productivity Posts

My Nightly Routine [The Secret to TRIPLING my Productivity]

How to Use a Master To-Do List [Finally Get EVERYTHING Done]

How to Make the Ultimate Morning Routine Checklist for Adults

All productivity posts