Productivity: How to Get More Done Everyday
Tips, Techniques and Strategies for a More Productive Life
True story. I was having a hard time coming up with an introductory paragraph for this post, so I Googled “Productivity Hacks” and was surprised to find 627,000 results. Obviously, the subject of productivity and productivity hacks are in a lot of people’s thoughts. And I guess that shouldn’t be a surprise as there are only two options to getting shit done: working longer or working more efficiently.
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that if you are reading this post, you are more concerned about getting more done in the same amount of time. If that describes you, then keep on reading for some different techniques and tips for getting more done.
Different Techniques for Increased Productivity
There are a few different schools of thought when it comes to being uber productive. Let’s take a look at some of the more popular ones:
Pomodoro Technique
This is a system where you work for 25 minutes straight without any interruptions. No phone calls, texts or Facebook. It’s 25 minutes of heads-down action. Once the 25 minutes are up, you get a 5-minute break with something like a cup of coffee, a short walk or browsing Instagram. Once your break is over, it’s back to another 25 minutes of uninterrupted work. After four Pomodoro sessions, take a longer break of around 20–30 minutes. It’s an extremely simple, yet effective technique to increasing your productivity. It’s quite amazing what you can get done in 25 minutes without any distractions.
Additional Resources:
· The Pomodoro Technique by Cirillo Company
· Lifehacker article about the Pomodoro Technique
· Chrome plugin with Pomodoro timer
Perfect Productivity (according to science)
According to research done by social scientists, the perfect work schedule is 52 minutes of work, followed by a 17-minute break. Those are some odd times for sure, but according to data collected by The Muse, the top 10% of workers followed this schedule. It seems that by taking longer than usual breaks, it allows you to rest up and prepare for your next work sprint. It appears that by knowing you have a scheduled break coming up makes people more focused on the task at hand. What’s also worth noting from their data is that it’s not just the break that’s important but getting up and away from your computer/desk during that time to let your batteries recharge and getting some blood flowing.
Additional Resources:
· The Muse
Eat That Frog!
I read this book by Brian Tracy a few years ago. Its main thesis is that by doing your most difficult, brain-intensive task first t will give you momentum and energy for the rest of the day. By completing your toughest task first, he asserts that you will then have all the drive and motivation needed to complete your easier-to-do items. To be honest, I tried this technique for awhile, and I hated it. I’m the exact opposite person. I prefer to do a few of my easier tasks first thing in the morning to give myself a bit of momentum before getting to the tough tasks of the day. For me, it’s kind of like a snowball rolling downhill. It takes awhile for it to be of any real consequence, but once it reaches a critical mass, it’s nearly impossible to slow down. I wanted to include it in this round-up though as I know people that swear by this technique. As always, it’s about trying things out to see what works best for you.
Additional Resources:
· Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
Time Islands
I recently learned about this technique from business coach Richard Moore. Time islands are a bit of an amalgamation of a bunch of different techniques, but the essential point is that you block out time on your calendar to focus on your deep work — work that matters to your business. During your time island, you accept no interruptions — no phone calls, emails or other distractions. What’s important about this method is that you put the time in your calendar like any other meeting, but instead of meeting with others you are meeting with your work. My goal is to have at least a two-hour time island every day. On good days, I can have a time island in the morning as well as one in the evening. And the best part is I get a whole lot done in those days.
Additional Resources:
· YouTube Video on Time Islands
Odds & Ends
I suggest you test each of these out to see what system works best for you. As they say, the best system is the one that you will use daily. Tweak and blend any of these techniques together if need be to make something that works best for you and your work style.
If you take anything away from this post, I want it to be this: hours in the chair does not equal getting shit done. Just because you were in front of your computer for 8 hours does not mean you got 8 hours worth of work done. And even if you got 8 hours of work done does not mean you got 8 hours worth of meaningful work done! The focus here is on the deep work — the work that directly impacts the revenue for your business. (I spoke about this at length in a podcast — click here to listen).
To get shit done, you need to make others respect your calendar and when you are “off limits.” That means letting calls go to voicemail along with letting texts and emails go unanswered while you are in the zone. Free yourself from distractions to get more done each day.
One unintended side effect when I became self-employed were friends reaching out to me during the day to see if I wanted to grab coffee, lunch or a beer. As hard as it was, I had to say no to them. It can be difficult, but you have to be disciplined to get shit done. Just because your friend works odd hours or has MLK day off, doesn’t mean you should spend that time with them. Instead, use those hours to focus on your business and on the work that will impact your bottom line.
Finally, if you have a habit of checking Facebook, Instagram, eBay, ESPN or the myriad of other websites that will steal your precious minutes, I recommend using a website blocker like StayFocusd. This Chrome plugin allows you enter in websites to block during your work day so that you avoid going down a Facebook or Twitter rabbit hole.
My hope is that by using or combining the techniques and tools we discussed above, you will find a system that allows you to get more done each day. The more productive you are, the more you can get done each day which means increased revenue for your business.
What is your favorite tool, system or tip for getting more done?
