If you're already a productive person, these tips and tricks can help you get even more done. And if you're not productive, well this may be what you need.

It seems like we ALL could use a few more hours in our day, but unfortunately that's just not possible. The second best option is figuring how to get the most out of your time - And this should be able to help you. Kevin Kruse, a contributor for Forbes, recently interviewed over 200 highly successful people to find out what their secret to success was. After getting all the answers together, he found a way to narrow it down in his article "15 Surprising Things Productive People Do Differently," (which is a great read, by the way).

We read through Kruse's article and found what we thought were the biggest points - The quickest and easiest things to change in your life, to start making a difference in how much you can get done.

1. Focus on One Task at a Time. Many of us will start working on something, get stuck, then start working on something else. Don't do that. Finish a task first before heading to the next one.

2. Throw Out That "To-Do" List. Sounds crazy, right?! But according to Kruse's article only about 41% of to-do lists actually get done. He suggests writing in tasks that need to be done on a calendar - This way you're not filling a bunch of nonsense you know you have to do everyday (like "answer emails," "or call back clients"), you can write down specific important tasks and be more likely to stick to it. On a calendar, a task looks more like a deadline instead of just something to do.

3. Don't Skip on Sleeping or Eating. Getting up a few hours early so you can head into work and tackle a big project may sound like a good idea, but if you didn't go to bed earlier the day before, don't do it. People who are productive and successful know they need sleep and they need food to make it through the day, and to think and process ideas. Working through lunch will NOT help you get more done through the day, you'll end up crashing earlier and have a hard time completing your tasks.

4. Say "No." Most people don't like saying 'no,' especially at work. They want to be dependable, and will end up taking on more tasks then they should. If you're not sure if you have the energy or time to get something done, just say no. It will be hard at first, but you can't be expected to do everything. Now, this doesn't mean you have to be a jerk about it - Saying, "I'm sorry I just have don't have the time," is a lot better than a big, ugly "no, I can't."

5. Have a Routine and Stick to It! That includes before you get to work - Whether you get up, do some stretching, shower, and make yourself breakfast (or whatever your morning routine is), stick to it. This type of structure will last throughout your day, and you'll find yourself getting into a routine with your workload as well. One thing to keep in mind though, is sometimes things come up that disrupt your routine - Don't stress, take on these tasks as they come along, and get back onto your schedule.

 

 


 

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