I am no productivity genius; I am frequently tempted to take a nap or watch another episode of the show I've been binging. However, I do have some important tools that help me get stuff done when it counts most. I have been more and more productive in the past couple years thanks to these tools.
1. Planner
Having a place to take notes, track my productivity, schedule appointments, and write down to-do's all in one place keeps me on top of what I need to do. I personally use a mix of Google Keep, Google Calendar, and a bullet journal. However, there are planners for everyone:
- $5 planners at Walmart
- $60+ planners from planner gurus online (I reccomend Plum Paper)
- free apps on your phone (like the two mentioned above)
- just a plain notebook
Just get something and try it. If it isn't helping you clear your head and get stuff done, then try something else. But try something!
2. Goals
Writing out my goals and making a plan to achieve them, allows me to get WAY more done each year. Then I can plan smaller steps to complete my goals and then put them into my habit tracker, to do list, or schedule.
3. Habit Tracker
I work on most of my goals on a daily basis thanks to my habit tracker. I write out my daily tasks vertically on the left side of a notebook page and the days of the week across the top. Then I check off each task each day. My habit tracker includes things like when I get up and go to bed, exercise, work, and reading. (Or if you prefer something digital I highly recommend the Finch app).
4. To-Do Lists
In my planner I have a two to-do lists. I have a long term list (big things I want to do but not right away) and a current to-do list (things I need to do in the next few days or weeks). My agenda is also like a to-do list because when something on my daily schedule doesn't get done, I cross it out and move it to a different day or to my current to-do list. This system is extremely valuable because I never forget anything I need to do. Everything from buy a car to don't forget to take out the trash, can be written in the appropriate list and gotten to in it's time. This is one reason I always try to have my planner with me. So when a random thought of, "Oh! I forgot to do ______" comes up, it can be written down immediately, and then my brain can move on to the task at hand.
5. Put Items from Current To-Do List into Daily Agenda
With the to-do list, it's also important for me to remember to put things from that list into my daily agenda as well as the things that come up for that day. For example, if I have write a letter to my best friend in my running to do list. In order to actually do that, I need to put it in my schedule for a specific day or I will just keep putting it off. If I don't get it done the day I scheduled it, no big deal, I can move it to another day. Point is, you gotta give yourself a specific time to do it.
6. Quick List
When I have a chunk of time with lots of little things to do and my brain is spinning, I write out a quick to-do list and then run through it in a logical order. The idea is you take things from your daily to-do list and things down that pop up in the moment, and write it down so you can do it without forgetting something and can plan out how you are gonna tackle it all. For example, I had laundry as one of my tasks this afternoon. Without my list, I would have been easily distracted by the less important things that kept popping into my head. But by using the list, I started the laundry, did the quickest items, then sat down to do my longer tasks (such as journaling and blogging) and therefore was able to get everything done.
If you fall in love with any of these tools or have any other bomb ways you stay productive, let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading. I hope these get you on your road to success.
Comentários