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Productivity Tips For A More Successful Life

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By Becca - February 6, 2020- in Go-Getter Blog

It’s so easy to compare and fall into the rabbit hole of jealousy, which is never healthy. You should never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle because you don’t know anything about what that particular person had to go through to get there (the place that you admire so much). However, if you use comparison in the right way, it may help you realize how unbelievably fortunate you are right at this moment. Don’t take your journey for granted, you are right where you’re suppose to be. It doesn’t matter if you started 10 years ago or if you are about to take the first step.
We’ve researched the top masterminds and their methods on how to achieve the highest productivity, not only throughout the day but through your life. Are you ready to jump in and maybe implement a thing or two into your own life?

Good sleep is important


Sufficient sleep boosts productivity and contributes to a more joyful life. Some people are doing fine with 6 hours or less, but some need the 7-8 hours of rest. Money and power continue to lead to burnout and other stress-related illnesses. Still, thankfully we see a shift in work-life balance. This mind set change is mainly contributed to emerging health studies and education on the importance of having downtime.
Find out what works for you and set aside a specific amount of time to get your work done. Then when it comes to rest, you can unplug and get the restful sleep that your body needs.

Establish your morning routine

Your ideal morning routine sets an intention for your entire day. Some people journal while others hit the gym. Whatever you do to start your day, make sure it makes you happy.
Pro Tip: If you can, wait to check your phone (social media, emails, and texts) until you have completed your morning routine. You’ll find that this practice will help you feel more grounded and ready to tackle tasks with enthusiasm.

Start your day by getting dressed

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

PJs are fun and comfy, but there is something to be said about dressing for success. Especially if you work from home.
Adam Galinsky and Hajo Adam wrote an article about the idea of “Enclothed Cognition,” where they described the clothing that we wear has a direct impact on how we feel, act, and see ourselves. With that being said, it’s safe to say we should strive to dress for our future self.
I challenge you to declutter your closet, hop into the shower, put on real-people clothes, and set new goals. You may be surprised by what can happen in a few short months.

Tackle important tasks first thing in the morning


As an entrepreneur, you know that there is always a never-ending to-do list. Frankly, sometimes our to-do’s roll over to the next day and that’s OK.
To avoid frustration and panic attacks, the Ivy Lee Method suggests to write down six most important tasks that need to be accomplished the night before. Do so, in the order of importance, from the highest priority down.
Also, it may be helpful to call the “to-do list” the “fun list” to combat the negative connotation with the words “to-do.”
The next morning, focus all your energy on the highest priority task until you are finished. Similarly, go down the list of things that you need to get accomplished.

Get yourself an accountability buddy

According to ASTD, accountability buddy increases your chance of success by up to 95%. Whether you like it or not, it is a good idea to set goals alongside another person who is going through the same stage of life. Pair up with a person who won’t question your actions and will support your desire to succeed. Expectations are powerful because you don’t want to let anyone down at your expense.

Establish a “No Phone Zone”


We are always connected. That’s why it’s important to set time aside, away from all mobile distractions, to get a grip on things that need to get done. A quick “I am going to check my texts” can turn into mindless scrolling through your favorite app.
It’s essential to keep your mind sharp with current events, but there is a time and place to do just that. Phones can be distracting even when you don’t intend to use them. Keep them away from your field of vision while concentrating on an important task. Better yet, leave your phone in a different room, hide it in a drawer, or leave it in your bag.

Set a specific time to check your inbox

Email can be this never-ending rabbit hole that many of us get sucked into daily.
Sometimes I find myself involuntarily checking my emails to take a break from a certain task. I am still trying to break that habit. The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss suggests only checking email twice a day to achieve a more productive life.
Pro Tip: Monitor your email for a day to find out when your inbox is the busiest and then create a schedule around your peak hours.

Create a workspace that sparks joy

Whether you work remotely from the comfort of your home or you commute to work, you probably have a designated space to perform your daily tasks.
Think about how that space makes you feel. Are you subconsciously collecting unnecessary items and cluttering your desk? If so, check out a mastermind in organizational skills and their KonMari Method. This Method is a system of simplifying and organizing your life by getting rid of items that do not bring joy to your life.
Marie Kondo had written books on organizing such as The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The KonMari Method consists of gathering all your belongings and going through them one category at a time. She suggests only to keep things that make you happy.

Batch your work

Every time I listen to podcasts or read blogs online, I find myself hearing/reading about this thing called “batching.” It’s a process of setting a specific time to batch repeating tasks into one session. Instead of sitting down twice a week to write two emails separately for the week, you take an entire day to create email sequences ahead of time (quarter to a year). The same goes for other recurring tasks such as social media, blogging, and so on. The batch system is especially great for those who are creating content regularly such as YouTube videos or Instagram captions.
Why is this system so effective? First of all, it keeps you sane because you don’t have to scramble to get the next YouTube video or blog post published within a week. On top of that, you will become more efficient and hyper-focused on a single task (project), thus getting it done in a timely matter. Batching can look something like this: Monday – Email Sequences, Tuesday – Blog Posts, Wednesday – Check Site for bugs, Thursday – Social Media, Friday – Analytics. You can schedule your batching based on your preference and needs.

Comparison is the thief of joy

It’s so easy to compare and fall into the rabbit hole of jealousy, which is never healthy. You should never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle because you don’t know what that particular person had to go through to get there (the place that you admire so much). Don’t take your journey for granted because you are right where you are suppose to be. It doesn’t matter if you started 10 years ago or if you are about to take the first step.

It’s OK to be intentionally lazy

Sometimes you’ll feel tired, uninspired, and just meh, and that’s okay as long as you don’t let that feeling take over for an indefinite time. You may be inclined to snap out of this “mood” but instead, try to embrace it as a part of a season. There are so many things that you can do while you feel this way and still be productive, such as listening to podcasts, catch up on your favorite documentary, or exercise. Put your downtime to good use when you don’t feel like your best self.

Final thoughts

Last but not least, take the time to understand yourself as a human being. Life hacks are an excellent starting point, but ultimately you will come to find out that over time you will develop your productivity hacks based on your wants and needs.
You are the only person that lives with yourself 24/7, so don’t be afraid to use your knowledge to develop your very own personal productivity tools. Maybe down the road you will share them with the world and, who knows, you might be the next productivity guru one day.

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