Three ways to make yourself more productive.
Posted on September 26, 2007
In my career and personal life there is always one thing that I wish I had more of, that is TIME! Time is one thing that no one can ever get back and that is in constant waste by the majority of us. I use to say things like, “I don’t have enough time”, “I can not get to it now”, and “I will have to make time for that”, before I started to utilize these three simple steps:
1. Make and prioritize a “to do” list.
- Keep a constant list of things you need to do.
- Divide your list into short, intermediate, and long term goals.
- Prioritize each list and keep it up to date.
Since I have been keeping lists, I have become so more efficient in getting things done that actually matter. I constantly reference the list to make sure that what I am doing is moving towards an ultimate goal. My wife an I have keep a list of home improvements that we would like to do around the house and we get so much more done. We are ten times as productive when we make a list for the next day and constantly use it as a guide. Not only will list help you prioritize and remind you of what needs to be done, but when you cross items off you will feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose!
2. Plan you day in advance.
- Make time to plan your next day.
- Planning ahead makes your mind consciously and subconsciously go through things that you need to get done.
By planning your day in advance your mind will constantly process the things that must be done. The days that I have not prior planned are never as productive. I inevitable forget something that I need and should have done. I constantly struggle through days that I have not planned for. Give your self at least ten minutes a day to plan out the next. Even in a short amount of time you can get your thoughts together and put your next day together.
3. Do not let technology rule your time!
- Constant communication is not a must!
- E-mail can wait!
- Television is not “Must See”.
“Time Bandits” as my friend at soupornuts says should not steal your life away. Technology should be a convenient way to save time, not a master to it. In today’s society everyone thinks they have to be in constant communication with the world. They think they will “miss out” on something. My life and time are too valuable to let the “time bandits” steal the precious minutes and hours away. My wife and I have basically given up television for the past six months and we have not “missed out” on anything but the mindless dribble most stations are producing. We use to make sure we were home to see a specific show or program, but now we enjoy our time together reading, talking, or working on our life goals.
BOTTOM LINE:
Protect your most precious resource, TIME. Do not waste your time on things that will not accomplish something. Your life deserves better then text messaging, constant phone talk, and television. Feed you spirit and brain with reading and a personal conversations with a friend, child, or spouse. Enjoy every minute, because you never know when it might be the last!
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2 Responses to “Three ways to make yourself more productive.”
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This is a great article, Brad. I appreciate the compliment. Keep writing to inspire and you’ll be inspired to write.
[...] For me, an accomplishment is just a small stepping stone that leads to greater things. Every time you finish something it just motivates you to push farther ahead and finish something else. Many time management books on the market today mention making list and prioritizing your tasks, but these time management techniques also hold a secret. By making list and finishing the task on them, you give yourself a feeling of accomplishment. Once you start checking items off, you feel that you just have to keep going. Soon all your tasks are complete and you have one of life’s little natural highs of accomplishment. Every item you check off motivates you to proceed to the next, then the next, all the way to the end. It is no wonder that list make us more productive, they motivate us to succeed. List and accomplishing them are one of the secrets to success. When using list you not only become more productive but you make yourself feel better! [...]