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5 Steps You Can Take Now To Increase Productivity

Steps You Can Take To Immediately Start Getting the Most Out of Your Time

March 18, 2020
From Procrastination to Productivity

-This article is meant to aid in spending less time on your daily routine to help maximize the efficiency of your day.  In the end the goal is to narrow the time spent on routine tasks and allocate effective blocks of time to help you reach your most important goals and prevent procrastination-

  1. Establish Your Goals
  2. Make a List of Routine Items
  3. Research and Gather Your Tools  (Apps and Toos to Make Your Life Easier)
  4. Make a Plan
  5. Put Plan to Action

Establish Priorities. Set Your Goals.

    This is going to be entirely up to you.  What do you need most from the time you have. Do you value family time? Work time? Free Time?  Take a minute to think. Write it down. This is a rough draft, so don’t feel like you are committing to anything yet.  See tools below for help and inspiration.

Create a List of Common Daily Tasks

    Make a List of your common Daily Tasks.  Be as detailed as possible. Write down even the most menial and necessary tasks like commute time, hygiene, the time it takes to finally roll out of bed.  These are the commonalities that hopefully you can reduce to maximize your time. Write down a time estimate on how long you think these things take you every day.  Then dedicate a day precisely measuring your time. Use a stopwatch or timer on your phone. It may be surprising the amount of time spent.

Gather the Tools Necessary to Accomplish More

    There are many productivity apps and tools that can help make your life smoother.  Below is a list of apps I have tested and use to keep things running and provide some self control in preventing procrastination. 

MOBILE APPS

Time Tune (Free with Paid Pro Version): Simple to use but complex enough to customize for even the most rigorous routines. Set a daily routine(s)  that repeats automatically. Customize notifications to remind you to move to the next event. Turn ON/OFF routines as your schedule changes.  Set custom events by date. Pro Version ($4.99): Program specific routines for specific dates. Sync events with Google Calander.

Dreamfora (Free):  Plan long term and short term SMART goals in an instant. Develop daily tasks to focus on what is really important. Utilize preprogrammed goal achievement plans.  Keep track of your goals with statistical analysis.

Prioritize (Free): Very simple. List your tasks or goals and then answer prompts to decide which tasks are more important.  Can help if you have a long laundry list of things to do and don’t know where to start. 

Home Workout (Free with Paid Pro Version):  If you need some workout inspiration that requires little to zero equipment, this app is excellent.  Focusing mostly on Tabata/HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) lasting 4 minutes you can be sure to squeeze some workout time in anywhere.  Exercise routines from Beginner to Advanced for all skill levels. Ability to sync with Google Fit and track your progress.

HARD TOOLS

Journal – 9 Best Productivity Planners and Journal To Get More Done  (Lifehack.org)

Goal Planning – 47 Goal Setting Exercises, Tools, & Games (Incl. PDF Worksheets)  (PositivePsychology.com)

Finalize the Plan... For Now

    Meal Plan. Workout Plan. Study Plan. Business Plan.  Whatever your goal is, an effective plan is the best way to set yourself, or your business, up for success.  Set a calendar reminder to reflect and critique your plan. 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year. Make any necessary changes to improve your lifestyle. 

Take Action. Go! Do It Now. You Can. Realy. Do It!

That’s it.  Do it.  Never stop improving!