From Busy to Productive: How to Prioritize and Get Results

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Productivity isn’t about how many hours you put in, it’s about what you get done.

In fact, research suggests that the more productive people are actually working fewer hours than their less-productive colleagues. That said, they’re also able to focus on tasks for longer periods of time and often work at higher rates of speed than their less-productive peers.

So, how do they do it?

Productivity has more to do with mindset, habits and behavior than time.

It’s important to understand that productivity is not just about time management. In fact, it’s not even just about getting things done; it’s about being efficient in your work and improving the results you get from it.

The first step towards becoming more productive is understanding the difference between busyness and productivity.

Identify the one thing you always wish you’d done.

It doesn’t have to be a big task, but it should be something that will make a difference in your life and career. Write down this goal and put it somewhere where you’ll see it every day; on your desk, near the calendar or in a planner (or all three).

Make sure this goal is something that really resonates with you and speaks to what matters most at this time in your career or life stage. If not now, when? Make sure this isn’t too big an undertaking either; if so, break down into smaller steps before tackling the whole thing head on!

Find the right productivity method for your goals and personality.

When it comes to getting things done, there’s no one-size-fits all method. You have to find the right productivity method for you. Some people are more visual and learn best by seeing their tasks laid out in front of them; others prefer audio or even writing them down on paper.

That said, there are many different techniques that can help keep you on track (and, some will work better than others depending on your goals and personality).

For example, If you’re someone who likes having a lot of options available but struggles with prioritizing them effectively, consider using “mind maps” as an alternative way of organizing information in your head while making sure nothing falls through the cracks. These diagrams allow users to visually represent ideas by connecting related pieces together into small nodes within larger branches; once completed, these charts give users an overview of everything they need to take care of at once, allowing them complete control over where their attention goes next! However, since mind maps require some degree of creativity from users during creation process itself, this may not be ideal approach if you don’t feel comfortable enough doing so yet, but still need help staying focused throughout day.

Avoid the temptation to multitask.

While multitasking may seem like a good way to get more done, it’s actually a myth. When you try to do two things at once, you’re actually just switching between tasks and losing time in between. This means that when you switch from one thing to another, there’s an opportunity cost associated with the time spent on each task when you could have been working on something else during that gap. In other words, multitasking makes us less productive!

Multitasking also increases the likelihood of making mistakes because we’re not fully engaged in each activity we’re doing at once (or even if we are engaged, our minds aren’t totally focused). Multitasking reduces efficiency by making us less efficient at any given task because there are so many distractions vying for our attention; plus, it takes longer than doing things sequentially because every time you switch from one task back into another mode of thinking (say from writing an email, then shifting back into reading an article), there are moments where your mind needs time to reorient itself before continuing with its work again; and this is wasted energy!

Set SMART goals.

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. This is a useful framework that can help you to set goals that are more likely to be achieved than vague ones.

• Specific: Your goal should include as much detail as possible about what you want to achieve (e.g., “I want to lose 10 pounds”). The more specific the target is, the better it will be for tracking progress — and keeping yourself accountable!
• Measurable: If it’s not something quantifiable by numbers or measurements (e.g., pounds lost), then it’s not really a good measure of success at all! So, make sure each one has some kind of metric associated with it so there’s no confusion later down the line on how well things went when they were over.

Create a to-do list, and prioritize it.

There’s no better way to get your priorities straight than by creating a to-do list. Start by making sure it’s realistic, and then prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency. You can also use a productivity app which allows for easy task management with reminders and time tracking.

If you’re having trouble staying focused, try setting an alarm every hour or so to check in on how much progress you’ve made on each project. This will help keep you from getting overwhelmed by looking at the big picture all at once, which means less stress overall!

Figure out when you’re most productive (and use that time wisely).

You’re productive when you’re doing work that matters to you and getting results. But what if you don’t know what matters? Or even how to get results?

To figure out what matters, first ask yourself: “What are my goals?” They may be big or small — like getting a promotion, learning how to play guitar, or finishing my novel. Once you know your goals, think about what they take time and energy away from in order to achieve them. This might include going on vacation with friends instead of working on your screenplay; spending less time with family so that they don’t feel neglected by all the attention given over towards achieving this goal; or taking an extra hour each day after work so that there’s no excuse not being able to finish the first draft before deadline day arrives (or whatever other deadline applies).

Once we know our goals and where they fit into our lives as well as where certain things get in between us achieving those goals successfully, then comes prioritizing those activities! Which brings me back around full circle; if something isn’t important enough yet then maybe it shouldn’t be done right now at all!

Schedule in some downtime.

Take regular breaks, preferably with a short walk or other activity that gets the blood flowing. Be honest with yourself about how much time off you need to be productive, and don’t overcommit yourself!

Divide up big projects into smaller tasks.

If you have a big project on your plate, it can be tempting to try and tackle it all at once. But research shows that dividing up your tasks into smaller pieces makes them easier to complete and gives you a sense of accomplishment every time you check something off your list.

Start by breaking down the project into its component parts; if you’re working on a presentation for work, for example, break down each section into bullet points or slides; if you’re planning an event at home, divide up the guest list by room in which they’ll be sitting (or eating). Then prioritize those tasks according to urgency or importance, and don’t forget about asking for help! If someone else has experience with similar projects or needs assistance from someone outside their department/company/family unit, delegate as much as possible so that everyone gets maximum satisfaction out of their efforts.

Implement the Pomodoro Technique.

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that divides your work into 25-minute intervals. You take a 5-minute break after every 25 minutes, and focus on one task at a time. The idea is to help you stay focused by giving yourself short breaks in between long periods of work.

The best way to use this technique is by setting up an alarm or timer for each interval; some apps also exist for this purpose. Once the timer goes off, take five minutes away from your desk or computer, but don’t check email or social media! Then, return refreshed and ready for another round of focused concentration on the task at hand.

Use your commute wisely.

The time you spend commuting can be a great opportunity to catch up on reading or listen to podcasts. If you’re listening to audiobooks, use this time to work on personal projects that require focused attention (like writing). If you’re working on professional projects, try listening while driving so that you don’t get distracted by the outside world.

You can be more productive without filling your day with busywork!

Do less, but do it better. Focus on the important things first and don’t worry about the rest. Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day, and then make sure that your goals are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound).

Productivity is a skill that can be learned and improved upon. It’s not something that comes naturally to everyone, but with some effort and practice, anyone can get more done in less time. By making small changes in your daily routine and adopting new habits, you’ll find yourself accomplishing more with less stress in no time!

Thank you for reading! I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments below. For more insights from my experiences as an executive and an entrepreneur in how we can harness the power of community to change our world, and to find success and fulfillment, be sure to?subscribe?to Plan B Success Newsletter.

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