Quick Tips for Greater Productivity
by Wendy Woods
Take time to Plan
At the end of each day create a list of your next day’s activities. Make sure to highlight the important tasks that must get done each day vs. those that you would like to complete. Planning can make the difference between being reactive and proactive, and a stressful day vs. a less stressful one. When you don’t plan, you simply respond to the day’s events.
Ask for input
When you get input from others, you ensure that you are covering all the information and resources. It helps to ensure that you are not missing out on anything.
Manage time spent on emails and voice mails
While technology is a wonderful tool, it’s easy to spend much of your day simply managing emails and voicemail. To minimize your distractions from these tools, plan the times when you check. Perhaps 3 times a day (if your job permits), so you don’t respond to every email or call and get thrown off by everyone else’s priorities.
Become aware of your most and least productive time of day.
Being highly productive means working with your body and brains’ natural rhythms. If you are not already aware, start to take note of when you are most effective. You can then base your priorities around that time of day.
Photo "Productivity: Getting Personal Kanban to Done," © 2009 Dennis Hamilton, used by permission.