5 Productivity Principles High Achievers Live By
The secret to getting more done lies in picking the right productivity rules and then turning them into your principles. This can transform the way you do your work and pretty much anything else you do during the day.
The principles you’re about to see can help you become not just more productive and efficient but manage your time better and thus save a big chunk of it each week which you can then invest in things you enjoy.
It’s not a coincidence that some people are more productive than others. We might call them gurus, consider them successful, or refer to them as high achievers. But at the end of the day, they are just the individuals who built a productivity mindset, know how to get more done in less time, and have structured their day in the most effective way possible.
Let’s see how you can be more like them:
1. Write it down.
Not only should you have a to-do list, but it must become your best friend.
People don’t really take anything seriously until it’s written down and becomes an actual part of their daily schedule. It might take you some time to get there but once that becomes a habit, you’ll end up getting all that you planned done simply because it’s part of your to-do list for the day.
You can use an app for that or do it the old school way with pen and paper. Find what works best for you and stick to it.
2. Eliminate the non-essential.
Now, something important high achievers and all people with goals in life realize early on is that most of the things they do every day aren’t necessary.
That makes sense. If something doesn’t help you move forward, it shouldn’t be an activity you invest time in. Instead, you should eliminate it and do more of the rest.
It’s hard to let go as we’re so used to doing the same things and consider many tasks urgent or necessary. But by taking a closer look at your schedule and being honest with yourself, you should be able to identify the items that can be removed.
3. First things first.
The third most important productivity principle you should live by is prioritizing. Once you’re used to writing and following a to-do list and have eliminated all that can be ditched and isn’t key, you should put the most important items on top.
The moment you wake up every day is when you decide what to work on first. Well, save yourself that decision by figuring our what your MITs are the night before. These are your Most Important Tasks – the things you should get done no matter what. Anything else can wait.
The best thing about such an approach is that you can feel accomplished before noon. And you can definitely reach your goals much sooner.
4. Focus on one thing at a time.
One of the worst things you can do to your mind, creative and productive energy is to multitask. Switching from one task to the next is overwhelming and leads to poor performance.
Ditch that bad habit and instead start working on one thing at a time. It might feel slow, but in the end, you get more done and are happy with the results.
5. Work in short bursts.
Some people keep themselves busy and don’t take a break for hours. After which they are drained, in a bad mood and don’t feel like doing anything else.
To prevent that from ruining your day, learn how to take frequent breaks. One way is to use the Pomodoro Technique. Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break.
This method might sound simple but it’s proven to give results. It recharges your brain and you get back to your activity with more focus than before.
Now that you’re familiar with the 5 most powerful productivity principles, you’re also ready to implement them into your life and make them part of your day. Prepare for getting more done in less time, keeping your mind sharp for the whole day, and achieving double the usual results.
