I haven’t quite built this habit yet, but I’ve done it a few times and it has really made me feel awesome: that’s when I go through and make a list of things that I’ve accomplished on some of the most awesome productivity days I’ve ever had.
Build yourself up, beam by beam.
I do this to be a reminder for me on the days when I’m having a little bit lower productivity experience. For instance, there will be days when I will sit down and dictate thirty blog articles, get on YouTube and upload four videos for the next week, and answer twenty visitor emails.
When all’s said and done, those are huge events that get done, that help people out and put more stuff out there. And it feels really good to just check off those boxes and remind myself of how much I got done that day.
You, too, can notice what’s working, feel good about it, and use it to help you optimize everything that you do, to make all your days filled with productivity. Here are four things that just might help you out.
#1: Start The Day Out Planning What To Do
Chances are, you have a gigantic list of things that you need to get done. But probably only four or five of those are really important. What I want you to do right now is to go grab an index card or a Post-it note, and write down the four to five most important things you need to get done within the next couple of days, or today, and write those down on that index card. Get those things done today.
I wouldn’t let them go to the next day unless you really have to. The point here is to tackle what you can in the time that you have and make a definite plan for a manageable chunk for the day ahead of you. Do it at the beginning and you have the full day to get it done.
#2: Then Get A Butt-Load Done!
This is where you actually start doing those things that you have. You’ve got lunch break; you’ve got a free hour there. Slam down that sandwich and then knock off some of those checklists. You’ve got a couple dead hours waiting in the store while someone shops, or while you’re getting a tire changed. Bam! There’s some more time for you.
You’ve got a commute home, and you need to record something or talk to someone. Then, boom! You’ve got some more time taken care of there. And, yes, even if you have a phobia for germs, you’ll have to get over it so you can use potty time to read books and catch up on those emails or news articles that you need as part of your business or getting stuff done. There’s plenty of time in the day, and it’s time to fit your goals into it.
#3: Get The House Cleaned Up Between Tasks
While you’re doing the major things that you need to get done in the day, throw in a couple two- to five-minute chores that you need to get done. Play with the kids for twenty minutes, then run off and take out one of the bags of trash, then come back and eat dinner with the family.
When you’re done, go ahead and wash the dishes right then and there. Fit in the chores that you need to get done in small chunks between your big events in the day, as opposed to letting them pile up at the end. It’s a better way of chipping away at that gigantic list of chores you have sitting around waiting for you.
#4: Get Enough Done To Lighten The Load For Tomorrow
Sometimes you’re just not going to be able to check off that entire checklist. But you probably can do at least two or three mini-steps that make up one of those big gigantic goals. So if you need to tear down the old playground in the backyard, you can go ahead and compile all the tools you need now in the garage.
Or you can make sure that the backyard is cleaned up enough to make way for your demolition. There are little chunks of steps that you can get done the day before that don’t rely on completing the entire task if you don’t have enough time.
Full Of Productivity And Being Awesome
Your day can be as productive as you want it to be, as long as you focus and fit in what you need to get done in what time you have available.
If you’ll start out your day with a concrete plan, you’ll commit to getting a butt-load done, you’ll fit in your little tasks and chores when you can between other events, and get enough of the little preparation steps done to prepare yourself for tomorrow, productivity will be no problem for you.
Keep all this in mind, go forward, be as productive as the most productive person out there, and your goals will be done in no time.