45 Productivity Tactics

The fact is that if you are not productive, you won’t make money. Here

are some ideas on how to organize yourself and use your time and

other resources to your best advantage:

1. Don’t get overwhelmed. Looking at everything you must do at

one time can be discouraging, but remind yourself you will soon

have it all done.

2. Organize your work-space. You’ll spend less time looking for what

you need.

3. Make sure the space is comfortable. You’ll work better when the

surroundings are pleasant.

4. Double check to make sure you have what you need before you

start. It will save a lot of time later.

5. Cut off contact with others while you work. This is especially

important if you work at home.

6. Eliminate all distractions. That means no television in the

background.

 7. Eat healthy. You’ll be sharper if you get the nutrients you need each

day.

8. Have a basic schedule for each day – that means no impromptu

three-hour lunches.

9. Don’t skip lunches. You need the break to keep your productivity up

in the afternoon.

10. Stop your day on time. Working into the night will make

tomorrow that much harder.

11. Get plenty of rest. Along with nutrition, this is the best thing you

can do to keep yourself productive.

12. Start the day with a commitment to yourself that you will get specific things

Done (be results-driven vs. task-driven).

13. Go to your work area even if you woke up in grumpy mood.

14. Make a list in order of priority. When it is all down in black and white, your tasks

seem less intimidating.

 15. Prioritize the list. What must be done first and what can wait

until later?

16. Be realistic. You can’t cram twenty one-hour tasks into one day.

17. Know your body rhythm. If you are more alert in the afternoon,

schedule the bulk of your tasks then. If you are a pretty even

individual, schedule each hour of the workday accordingly.

18. You can do the easy stuff at the top of the list first –

scratching off several action items can motivate you to keep going – or

you can do the more time-consuming things first to get them out

of the way and breeze through the rest.

19. Multi-task only if it is something you do well. If it gets

distracting or causes you to make errors, it may not be for you.

. Or

20. Focus on one thing and get it done before moving on to the next.

(You have to know yourself!)

 21. Proof your work before going on. It’ll prevent you from

having to do things twice.

22. Try to arrange to do like things in one block of time. Write all

your blogs, then do all your social networking, then send out your

emails. It’ll make life a lot easier.

23. Allow for the unexpected. Things come up, so build a few blocks

of time into your schedule to handle them.

24. Handle the unexpected, then get back to the next task on your

list.

25. Plan some buffer time in between tasks. It will give your brain a

chance to rest and start the next task with a fresh attitude.

26. Don’t be upset when something temporarily derails your

schedule. Things will work out all right.

27. Accept that circumstances beyond your control may make it

impossible to do something on your list today. 

   

28. Don’t sweat the delay, simply make that task the priority

tomorrow.

29. Keep in mind some tasks may have to be scheduled to

accommodate others. 

30. Delegate if and when you can. Believe it or not, you don’t have

to do everything yourself.

31. Scan information when possible. You’ll still get what you need,

just a little faster. (This may not work for everyone – you

can train yourself)

32. Put things away when you are done with them. It’ll save you

time when you need them again.

33. Check off items as you go. Seeing the list shrink is motivating.

34. Get away from your desk or laptop now and then. Even two

minutes away will rest your eyes and keep you from slowing down.

  

35. Keep a pen and paper on hand for things that pop into your head while

working on other stuff. You can refer to it later as necessary.

36. Take a break in the afternoon – a real one, not two minutes to

rest your eyes. Fifteen minutes will take away a lot of stress and

make it easier to keep going.

37. Bookmark important web sites; this includes your web site, your

social networking login pages, and any reference sites you use

regularly.

38. Archive all your web copy on a remote storage device. Update

the stored data every time you make a change.

39. Make sure your hard drive files as well as your hard copy files

are always in order, so you can find what you need at once.

40. Keep your office stocked with supplies; otherwise, you’ll have to

interrupt your day to go get something you need right this minute

and waste valuable time.

 41. Do as much ordering, funds transfers, and other tasks via the

Internet as you can. You can save time doing your errands from your

desk.

42. Keep something to drink handy. A bottle of water nearby saves

time on trips to the refrigerator.

43. Schedule one hour near the end of the day as a catch-up period.

Any tasks that got put off earlier can be addressed during that time.

44. Prepare your schedule for the following day. It’ll make it easier

to dive in when morning comes.

45. Review what you have accomplished. You’ll be surprised and

pleased at everything that got handled.

 www.nowitsonyou.com