Be More Productive in 2018 with These Tips

Everyone gets the same 24 hours every day. So why do some people get so much accomplished, while others struggle to get their work done? Here are some secrets of ultra-productive people that can help you start 2018 off on the right foot!

Minutes not Hours

24 hours a day translates into 1,440 minutes. Take advantage of this by scheduling your calendar in smaller increments – 10-15 minutes per task. Schedule everything in your day, including meals, sleep, and personal time, and then stick to your calendar. By doing only one task at a time and following your schedule, you’ll find you get a lot more done in a day.

Prioritize Valuable Tasks

To be most productive, identify the most important items on your list – both professional and personal. This includes time to have a healthy breakfast, exercise and sleep. Try to get your most important items done early in the day, so you don’t get distracted away from them. Prioritizing valuable tasks also means learning to say “no” – if a task isn’t going to help you reach your goals don’t do it.

Touch Once

With the constant distractions of email and messages, it can become a habit to read things as they come and then take care of it later. By “touching” things – email, regular mail, documents to file – more than once, you’re wasting your time. Schedule time into your day to read and respond to emails and try to complete tasks the first time you “touch” them, to avoid lingering items that may never get done.

Delegate

If you feel the need to do everything yourself or micromanage your employees, you are wasting valuable time. Delegate work when you can, allowing other people to do their jobs. By accepting that other people are capable of doing a great job, you can free up your time for other tasks.

Write it Down

Carrying a notebook around can help boost your success. Take notes of conversations, ideas, meetings, and tasks so you don’t forget things later. This frees up your mind to conquer harder problems than remembering a lunch meeting next Tuesday.

Really productive people know that you have to maximize every minute of your day to get as much done as possible. These tips will help you get the most out of your 24 hours!