Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 productivity secrets that all organised people use each and every day of their lives to get more done. Learn these tricks and you’ll be able to take on the world (your part of it at least!) – one task at a time…
Have you ever wondered how can some people get so much more done in a day than others?
What’s the secret that organised people know and how can you be more like them?
Here are my top 10 tips that most organised people tend to use as habits in their own lives, that enable them to have fantastically productive lives each and every day.
Which of these do you do already?…
10 Productivity Secrets To Try Today
#1 – Just DO IT!
The best of these productivity secrets is this one – you need to stop procrastinating about how much you need to get done, and just get things started!
The actual time it takes for you to worry and moan to others about things you have to do could have been used much more wisely. You could actually have spent the time doing some of the things from your TO DO list instead!
Some of the most productive people swear by doing what hurts them the most, first.
Getting the worst of your days tasks over and done with can really give you a lift, and you may find that you can get loads more done than you thought.
The opposite is true if you are leaving the worst jobs until last, as your subconscious will try and delay getting to these tasks, and as a result you will go slower, feel slower, and feel very demotivated as a result.
Related: The Secret To Getting Things Done Without Overwhelm
#2 – Break Up Large Tasks
We all have them, tasks that are so big that they feel completely overwhelming – and sometimes as a result of this we can’t even start them.
There never seems to be enough time in the day to complete it, and so what’s the point in starting at all?
Productive people break up large tasks into easily accomplished smaller tasks, that can be done in much smaller chunks of time.
They feel a sense that they have achieved each step, and this motivates them to continue.
Before they know it, the whole task has been completed and with a lot less stress involved.
#3 – Value Your Time
Productive people tend to ask themselves before they start any task whether it will take them further towards, or away from, their goals in life.
Basically – is it worth spending their time on this task at all?
Of course, we all have tasks that just need to be done (housework, anyone?!). However, there will be other things that you get asked to do each day that will either be of no use to you, or things that you feel you should do – of which all you will get from them is a sense of duty.
Learning to say NO to things that sap your time and energy is the best way to value your time.
Non productive people don’t differentiate tasks like this at all. Many find that they’re spending time on jobs that make no real difference to their lives or the lives of others around them. These are what I call “Busy” tasks – things that make you busy, but don’t get you anywhere.
Related: 31 Amazing Ways To Simplify Life That You Can Do Today
#4 – Prioritise
Your TO DO list has absolutely everything you want/need to do on it, and it can be easy to do those things which interest you most, first.
However, to be really productive, you need to ask yourself what your top priority is, and do that first.
Ask yourself – if you could only do one thing today, what would get you nearest to your end goal?
A good side effect of this is that if something unexpected crops up that takes your time, you should have finished the most important tasks of the day anyway – the rest can wait if necessary.
Related: How To Prioritise – Using A Jar [Yes, It Really Helps!]
#5 – Think Positively
If you think that you can do things, then you get more done – pessimists don’t make productive people!
It’s much easier to get out of bed each morning and get going when you are looking forward to doing something – so use that to your advantage in your daily life as well.
#6 – Organised People Make Time For Things
Having all your tasks on a TO DO list is great, but it won’t actually get them done any quicker.
To get things done, you need to allocate time to doing them – it sounds easy, but this step is the most commonly missed when trying to get more organised.
People assume that once they have created their TO DO list, then those things will just happen.
…Wrong!
You have to work with both your TO DO list and your diary together to get things done.
To do this is just two extra steps that make all the difference: –
- Write appointments in your diary, and allocate time for prep and travel as well (so that what you have left is a more realistic estimate of your spare time).
- Where there are gaps after the scheduled things, you can add in any tasks from your TO DO list that fit the time available, that are top priority, and that will take you towards your goals.
You will find that you will get things done much more quickly, and not feel so overwhelmed.
Related: 19 Incredibly Simple Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Day
#7 – Don’t Get Sidetracked
When doing a task, don’t answer the phone or deal with any other distractions if you can.
Remember – people will leave a message if it’s important, and you can get back to them (if necessary, change your voice mail to say that you are busy at the moment but will get back to them asap)
When you stop a task it takes a LONG time to get back into it properly, and productive people know this so they limit these interruptions wherever possible.
For larger tasks that require a lot of thought, consider moving to a quiet room and asking anyone around to not disturb you for a while. Doing this means you’ll get things done a lot more quickly and can have much more quality time with those people after it’s done – so everyone wins!
#8 – Delegate
If you aren’t good at a specific task, why waste more time and effort trying to do it if you can get someone in to do it?
If you can master the art of delegating, this can be a very powerful tool to get things done a lot more quickly and with less stress.
Related: The Golden Rule To Always Use When Delegating Chores
#9 – Don’t Be Proud
Linked to the last tip, if you can’t do something, don’t wast time trying to work out how to do it yourself – ask for help instead.
This way you can learn for next time, and you still get it done faster than if you had struggled on alone.
If you can see something coming up that will need help, get the right person available at the right time.
#10 – Get The Balance Right
To be productive you need to balance everything in your life as much as possible.
After all – if you aren’t happy with your life then you aren’t likely to be productive in it.
You have no reason to get tasks done quickly and efficiently if you haven’t got things that you want to do for fun.
Create a good life balance and you’ll find that you get the tasks of day to day life finished more quickly naturally as you will want to spend more time on the fun parts of life!
Related: Getting The Balance Right For A Happy Life
There you have it, all the secrets to use in your own life that will help you become more productive more easily.
If you start using these then you’ll become one of those organised people before you know it!
So, why not try at least one of these 10 tips this week, and see how you go – you may just surprise yourself at the difference it makes…
To keep yourself accountable (always easier to get started when you make a commitment), just leave a comment below and tell me what you’re going to try. I can’t wait to hear about what you choose!
Lastly, don’t forget to save or share this article for later by hitting the buttons below as well, and if you’re ready for another great read, try this article next.
And, as always, here’s to a home life you love… Chrissy x
