People look for the magic pill. But when it comes to productivity, there is no magic pill. There are two things that remain true though – leadership and discipline. Use leadership and discipline to put the following tips into your work life.
Daily habits
What daily habits can you change in order to increase your productivity? What can you do more of or less of (for example, fewer cigarette breaks, drink more water)?
Daily routine
The key to consistent productivity is establishing a daily routine. A routine uses less energy because it becomes automatic (like your morning bathroom ritual). Establish a routine for daily tasks wherever possible.
Deadlines
Setting deadlines creates urgency and stimulates action. Stick to them. Follow through. Not only will you achieve, but you will also love the rush of energy and confidence that comes with a well-met deadline.
Decisions
Any decision is better than none. When faced with difficult decisions and you just can’t choose the better option, get wise input from others. Do it before the deadline.
Desire
What is your heart’s desire? What do you really want in your life? Keep that front and centre so that you stay on track, motivated to do what it takes.
Different
To break out of a rut (and become more productive), sometimes you need to try something different. At first, this can feel wrong because it is so unfamiliar. Persevere for 30 days, and what was different can become the new normal (and better).
Discipline
Remind yourself that you are already disciplined in many areas. Set up the support structure that will help you. For example, to help you to be disciplined about exercise, put your clothes out ahead of time and have your gym bag ready. Don’t bite off more than you can chew – start small and build. Create a new daily ritual for 30 days and check it every ten days to see if you are on track.
Early-bird
So much can be achieved early in the morning before you get into your day. Prepare the night before by laying out your exercise gear or writing tools or study material. Set an alarm. If you are not a “morning person”, you can train yourself to become one. The resulting sense of achievement will spur you to do more for the rest of the day.
Energy
Work out what depletes you and do less of it. Work out what gives you energy and do more of that. Generating energy is the secret component to being more productive.
Enjoyment
Enjoyment is a major key to being productive. If you love what you do, you will do more of it. If you don’t love what you do, take steps towards changing that.
Enthusiasm
Get fired up about your life, about what you love. Let it out. It is fuel for productivity. “If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired … with enthusiasm!” – Vince Lombardi
Evernote
An excellent note-taking storage app in the “cloud”, Evernote stores reference material and documents in a secure and convenient way. It enables you to access important paperwork when you are away from your desk. Paper documents can be stored in the cloud by taking a photograph or scanning and uploading.
Excuse
You either get results or reasons. Be aware of the excuses you use for not producing results in your life. Being honest with yourself is the first step to turning your reasons into results.
Exercise
Exercise regularly. If you look after your body, it will look after you. To perform at your best, you need it healthy. Exercise also stimulates optimism, creativity and energy for action.
Les Watson, The Time Lord, www.getmoretime.com.au
