“How to effortlessly increase productivity“

Do you create “To Do” lists that seldom get completed? Are you constantly updating your calendar with activities? Is work demanding much more of your time lately? Do you want to get more done in 24hrs? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. It would seem the world is demanding much more of our time as we strive to be productive. Although technology has helped us to become more efficient in many ways, it also has its own challenges.

In today’s work culture, many feel that they need to work longer hours to get more done. However, working longer hours have proven to add stress to your physical and psychological state, which often leads to chronic illnesses like hypertension, stroke, depression, joint pains and heart attacks. Therefore, it’s important that you learn how to get more done easily, so that you can have more time to enjoy your life.

Recently, I have been practicing four (4) simple steps that allowed me to get more work done easily and I will share them with you.

1. Define the task - Clearly defining your task ahead of time is one of the most important things you can do. This provides a clear sense of direction because you know exactly what you need to get done. If you avoid this step you may work on something for longer than necessary, losing value time. This blunder may lead to frustration and anxiety.

2. Prioritize the task - this a simple exercise but its simplicity should not be taken lightly. Your work is important and knowing which part of it takes priority should be taken seriously. Stephen R. Covey in his book “ Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” talks about “first things first” in the time management matrix. He explains the concept utilizing 4 quadrants: Important - Urgent, Important - Not Urgent, Not Important- Urgent and Not Important - Not Urgent. I would encourage you to take a closer look at this concept because understanding it is necessary when performing this step.

3. Focus on the task - I believe that this is the most important and difficult step to execute. However, it can be done if you apply discipline. Focus is vital to accomplishing any task but it requires setting specific time and avoiding distractions. Saying no to something or someone is okay. I believe that we are now living in a world where distraction is becoming attractive to so many of us. Every ping or pong sound that comes from your mobile device may cause distraction especially when working towards a deadline. I suggest that you put away your devices if you want to get work done easily. I know that you may work from your mobile devices a lot but you still have an option to turn off your notifications to avoid the distractions.

4. Take a break - Sometimes your work can lead you down an exhaustive path, which can lead to fatigue and health issues, so it's essential to know when it's time to take a break and reset. Taking a break to reset allows your brain to process and retain information better, you become more creative, your vision gets clearer and you ultimately become more productive. Your time to reset may vary depending on the work you do, but it's necessary for your success.

Work can be challenging at times but there are ways to get more done easily, these are just a few of steps that has helped me on my journey to increased productivity without the accompanying burn out. I would like to encourage you to try these steps on your next major task. It’s time to get more done with ease.

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