{"id":732,"date":"2020-12-19T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-19T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snapreads.com\/magazine\/?p=732"},"modified":"2023-05-02T21:38:38","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T01:38:38","slug":"how-to-be-more-productive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snapreads.com\/magazine\/how-to-be-more-productive\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get More Done in a Week Than Most People Do in a Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to accomplish so much in so little time? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, even the most successful people in the world still have the same number of hours in the day as everyone else \u2013 it\u2019s simply how they use them that makes all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just by changing your approach to time management and productivity, you can get more done in a week than most people do in a month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn how to check out the list of life-changing productivity tips<\/a> we\u2019ve compiled below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Advantage of the 80\/20 Rule<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 80\/20 rule dictates that 20% of the work you do in a day produces 80% of your results. In other words, there is always a task or collection of tasks that are going to have a much bigger impact on what you accomplish in a given day than the other 80% of the things on your to-do list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By pinpointing this 20% of your most important work and focusing on it heavily until it is finished, you can ensure that you are putting the majority of your time and energy toward the tasks that will have the biggest impact on your overall productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set Micro-Goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Setting goals is<\/g> one of the best ways to improve long-term productivity, but you can use it to improve your short-term productivity as well by setting micro-goals. Let\u2019s say, for example, that you have a rather large project to complete at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting a goal to complete the project is fine, but it may seem overwhelming. Instead, try setting a goal to complete the first step of the project. For instance, you could set a goal to read through a document. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you accomplish the first micro-goal, congratulate yourself and move on to the next one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Micro-goals are, by nature, easy to achieve, yet they still provide a sense of reward and accomplishment when you reach them. By breaking large tasks down into small micro-goals, you can complete your work one step at a time and feel accomplished every step of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Smarter Faster Better <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Charles Duhigg<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u23f1 10 minutes reading time<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfa7 Audio version available<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get the key ideas on Snapreads<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Avoid Multitasking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Multitasking is most often seen as a positive activity. It shouldn\u2019t be. You might be able to give two different things 50% of your attention and effort, but no one can give two things 100% of their attention and effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you try to multitask, either your productivity, the quality of your work, or both are going to suffer. You\u2019re always going to be better off committing all of your focus on a single task until that task is complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a To-Do List <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every day, before you dive into work, start by writing down a list of things you want to accomplish that day. Creating such a list is a great way to organize your priorities each day, but in addition to helping keep you organized and on-track, a physical to-do list can serve as a motivating factor as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s something satisfying about scratching off an item off of your to-do list, and this simple action can serve as a powerful motivating factor that will help keep you at your most productive state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Breaks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Taking breaks to be more productive may sound somewhat counterintuitive, but the truth is that a few short breaks can make you much more productive overall. <\/g><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve<\/g> only got so much gas in the tank, and if you\u2019re working nonstop for hours on end, there\u2019s going to come to a point where your work begins to suffer. Even a few minutes of rest can serve as an emotional reset, helping you be more productive once you start back again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every few hours take a few minutes off. Get up and stretch, step outdoors, grab a coffee, or do whatever you need to do to catch your breath and reset your energy. Think of it as a pit stop in a race \u2013 you\u2019re not losing time, you\u2019re just refueling so you can continue performing at your best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Negative Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Negative thoughts are fuel for procrastination. The more negative thoughts that you have about a task, the easier it becomes to procrastinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important, therefore, to recognize when you are entertaining negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. When you have a task to do and start thinking about all of the reasons why you don\u2019t want to do it, push those thoughts aside and switch your focus to the way completing the task will benefit you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can adopt a more positive frame of mind about your work, you won\u2019t be nearly as tempted to procrastinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Develop a Beneficial Morning Routine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The early morning hours when you first wake up are the most critical hours of the entire day since they set the tone for how the rest of your day will go. Rather than rolling out of bed and heading straight to work, take advantage of the morning hours to get yourself in a productive mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of beneficial ways to spend the early morning. You could do some reading, meditate, exercise, have breakfast with your family, or anything in-between. The point is to start your day off with something that energizes your mind and body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More often than not, productivity is merely a frame of mind, and the morning is your opportunity to get into that productive mindset. Develop a beneficial morning routine, and you\u2019ll likely find that the rest of the day goes smoother as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The 5 Second Rule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Mel Robbins<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u23f1 10 minutes reading time<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfa7 Audio version available<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get the key ideas on Snapreads<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Break Large Tasks Down into Milestones <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Checking tasks off of the list of things you have to do can be very motivating in and of itself, and motivation is a crucial ingredient in the recipe for productivity. When working on a large and time-consuming task, tapping into the motivation that comes with finishing a task isn’t quite as easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In these cases, try breaking your large task down into much more manageable milestones. In addition to providing you with motivation-boosting milestones that you can reach along the way, breaking large tasks down in this manner can also help make them seem much more manageable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone is in a position to delegate a portion of their tasks to others. If you can take advantage of it, though, delegation is one of the simplest ways to be more productive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a team of employees working under you, take advantage of what they have to offer by responsibly delegating tasks to them. An important quality of a good leader, after all, is the ability to make the most of other people’s skillsets and delegate tasks in a way that maximizes productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related<\/strong>: Is Your To-Do List Holding You Back? (7 Reasons Why)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find Your Peak Hours<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Everyone has peak hours where they are at their most motivated and productive state. For some, these peak hours may be the early morning hours when few other people have risen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others may find themselves groggy and unmotivated in the morning and may instead do their best work later in the afternoon or night. Whatever your peak hours might be, highlight them and try to get your most important work done in these hours when you are at your best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n