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How To Be Productive – 12 Proven Tips to Increase Productivity
Who Else Wants To Know How To Be Productive?
Does your productivity ever get hampered by your desire to find the best possible solution? Have you been looking for ways to learn how to be productive?
As you seek the easiest or fastest route to your goal, you may find yourself stopped entirely. Sometimes you may even do this on purpose, to keep from having to make a decision.
However, there’s a work-around. Maybe you’ve heard of the term, “heuristic.” Heuristics are rules that allow a solution to be found more quickly. This is one of things that when you’re looking at options on how to be productive, this sits as the top as one of the best ever. That said, a heuristic is not just a way to learn how to be productive, with a heuristic a resolution can be found even when the entire path isn’t clear from the onset.
For example, if there were no roads, but you lived in New York and wanted to make your way to California, a heuristic might be:
- Walk west as far as you can.
- Walk around any obstacle, if possible.
- If faced with a mountain range, walk toward the space between 2 small peaks.
- Repeat until reaching California.
Does this heuristic give you the most efficient solution? No; however, it will get you where you want to go, and you won’t waste a lot of time trying to make up your mind.
Now, since this post is about how to be productive, how about you test out these behavioral heuristics to increase your productivity:
1. Choose the right time. Nearly everyone has times of the day when they are most effective and times when they tend to drag. It’s smart to schedule the most critical tasks for your most effective time of the day.
2. Toss it. If a task doesn’t really need to be done, just get rid of it altogether.
3. Get the bad stuff out of the way. Do the unpleasant items quickly and as early in the day as possible.
4. Set a goal each day (or night). In the morning, decide what you want to accomplish that day. This can be even more effective when planned the night before. Once you have a sense of direction, you can spend all your time getting things done!
5. Eliminate all communication. While you’re working, turn off the phone / cell phone, and don’t check your email. Hang a sign that says, “Do not disturb,” if necessary. You don’t have to do this for all your tasks, but at least do it during the more difficult items.
6. Batch similar tasks together. Do all your emailing at one time. Make all your phone calls at another. Open your snail mail during a set block of time. You’ll waste less time by doing your work in this fashion.
7. Set a timer. Even if a task might take hours, starting will seem easier if you simply give yourself 30 minutes to get as much done as you can. When seeking a rapid solution to how to be productive, a time limit seems to help many people concentrate and work better, and be more productive too.
8. Set targets. For example, if you have to make cold-calls for your sales job, tell yourself that you’re not getting up for any reason until you’ve made at least 100 calls. Regardless of what happens, refuse to stop until you hit your target.
9. Use the Pareto Principle. This principle states that 20% of the actions you could take will provide you with 80% of the benefits. So focus on the tasks that will accomplish the most. This alone can help you to learn how to be productive. Unfortunately, these are frequently the tasks that are not enjoyable. You might be surprised how little you really have to do if you focus on the critical 20%.
10. Delegate some of your work. Is there anyone else who can help you? The people around you are resources. When appropriate, use their time and talents wisely to get things done more quickly.
11. Set a deadline. Having a specific endpoint will really help to focus your time and energy. If a task doesn’t feel necessary, chances are that it won’t get done.
12. Increase your speed. It sounds silly, but this can really help. Try doing everything a little faster. Walk faster, talk faster, type faster, and read faster.
Implement these heuristics into your life and you’ll find yourself getting more done in less time. The ultimate secret in understanding how to be productive is to stay on task and not waste any time. These rules will help you do just that.
On another note of learning how to be productive, be sure to check out the So “Stop Planning, Start Doing, and Achieve More!” blog post which includes handy manual you can download for free. You can use this as well in your quest of how to be productive.
Now that you know how to be productive, get to it!
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35 Responses to “How To Be Productive – 12 Proven Tips to Increase Productivity”
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These are excellent tips to being productive, I actual use more of these in a given day then I thought I did. While reading through them I realized that I used to do just that at my old job and I have trained myself to do it in everyday life. I will even plan out my route if I have errands to run so that I make sure not to back track which save time.
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Great tips Stephen. Thanks.
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Batching like things together is a great idea, I kind of do that with tip number five, eliminating all communication, I take all of my emails and I don’t answer the phone until all my emails are answered. Your tips are great and I have found that as I implement them I do indeed get more productive as the day goes. Great job with your post.
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It is funny that you pointed out that we all have a time of day where we just drag, we call that non-peak time. That happens to me about 2:00 p.m. every day, so I try and take the bad stuff and get it out of the way in the morning, that way in my non-peak time all that is left is the easy stuff. And I love the idea of batching like tasks together.
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I already plan out my day the night before and I set goals for myself of what I want to accomplish. I haven’t tried the timer yet or the sign that says do not disturb but I am thinking that is next even if I have to hang it on my back when I am at the house so my family will leave me alone. Their all adults anyway.
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You know what I hate is when you have made all of these plans to get so much done the next day and you have your goals set, then along comes your husband and he throws a kink in the plan because of something he wants to do. I love having a schedule and a routine of things I am going to get done, he just kind of flies by the seat of his pants.
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This is good. At one time I did this, will start back.
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Hello Stephen,
Happy New Year to you!
I agee that all of your tips will definitely help productivity and utilize ones time for maximum efficiency.We all start out with the same number of hours to work with in a day. And these could very well be important guidelines to follow for the new year, including having learned what “heuristic” means. –Thank you.
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As always great practical information. I had just created something very simular for my followers. Good to know I am on track with this.
Remember, Take action. Be awesome. Attract others.
In Him,
JMb <
Bishop James 'I Feel God' Brown
The Internet's Favorite Pastor
Visit My Blog http://www.ifeelgod.org -
http://www.1000churches.org – Kingdom Ministry
Twitter: ifeelgod
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stephen,
Thanks for the points. Have a wonderful and prosperous 2012. Looking forward to your workshop at your home.
Michael
http://www.solutinfocuscoaching.com
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Stephen,
Thanks, these tips are great reminders.
Twitter: Sunesis1
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thank you Stephen. I want to really out this into practice.
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Thanks Stephen…
Isn’t “heuristic” rules similar to the Occam’s Razor theory?
Binh Nguyen
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I love the twelve steps to productivity; it is almost like an AA class for the productivity challenged. When using these steps at home I love to delegate as much of my work as possible to my son. But in all honesty and seriousness these steps do work, I have used them in business before you can get a lot done in a short amount of time, helping you stay ahead for the next day.
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It is very interesting that you would use the word heuristics to describe your steps to follow because they will definitely be problem solvers if implemented in your day to day life. Using these in your job to get more accomplished is one thing but using them in your life is another. Great post though and I am trying very hard to do just this everyday.
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I didn’t see anywhere that you mentioned the importance of being organized. If you are trying to get your work done but you are so cluttered that you can’t find anything then you are not going to be very productive. I have learned that being organized is a time saver and saving time is productive and helps you get more done.
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Hey Stephen,
Great tips.Time is the most valuable thing,we can’t get more of it.We have to know how to use the preallotted time in the maximum efficiency.
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I loved the article a lot. As my business grows I find that productivity is the most crucial key to success. Great point Thomas! Organization is one of the most important factors of productivity for me. Especially having an organized work space.
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I learned from a marketing program I studied last year that the first skill you need to master if you are going to be productive with the marketing knowledge you learn, is that of time management. If you have practiced and developed an ability to manage your schedule, you will naturally be organized and also be more productive than if you go about your daily tasks impulsively or instinctively. You can get things done instinctively, but not as much as with a prioritized schedule.
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I am a procrastinator and yes I read that blog as well and I am still working on it, but that is why I am not as productive as I should be. I know that is just an excuse but it is true. This is just one more reason to concur my procrastination. I love the twelve step method you have here and how it ties in so well for me to your other blogs.
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I had to look up what the word heuristics meant so I could figure out what you were talking about, but after I did that I agree with what you are saying. Using these in your job to get more accomplished is one thing but using them in your life is another I think you could accomplish so much more. I am doing my best to implement this philosophy into my life.
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Do you feel it is important to be organized? If you are trying to get your work done but you are so cluttered that you can’t find anything then you are not going to be very productive right? I work with a couple of people that are very disorganized and it takes them forever to get anything done because they usually can’t find what they need. Time is money.
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I have been in a lot of time management seminars for my job and the steps that you advice are almost just like the steps in the seminars but I think your go a little more in depth. It is quite clear that the more you manage your time the more productive you will be. I also like to be organized , searching for things wastes time that you can’t get back.
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I have heard it time and again from countless self improvement books and audio cassettes. So I guess I will reiterate the fact that time management skills are the most critical skills you must master in order to be able to be more productive or as efficient as you can with your time. It would only be appropriate with the laws of the universe which indicate that everything has its price, that time management is also the hardest skill to master.
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I like the idea that one of the readers suggested when mentioning how she delegates some tasks to her son. This should serve as an example to others. If you don’t have the luxury of a younger child who can provide free help, you can look to a spouse or girlfriend / boyfriend or find a friend to partner up with in a business, if you don’t mind sharing the wealth. I think this is a good approach.
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I think one of your ideas from a previous blog would fit this one perfectly and that is making a schedule of things you want to get done. If you have a list and you schedule a time for each thing on that list then you are going to be very productive in a given day.
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I’m surprised that you haven’t had a blog on organization yet, unless I missed it. But do you feel that being organized is a big part of being productive? I think anytime you get rid of the clutter in your life it helps you to see more clearly and you can get a lot more done. I also think an idea from another of your blogs would work great here and that is the timer.
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I have read all your blogs and they have all had something that stands out for me and they have all taught me something but I think this one on being productive has helped the most . It amazes me how many of your blogs work together to improve your life and make you a success at whatever you want to do. You have done a great job with all of them.
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Time Management is a good way to be productive, there are a lot of in’s and out’s to time management that would have to be learned but if you implement them into your life you will find that you are three times more productive than you were before. Productivity is how fast you can get stuff done, with t ime management and organization you can get a lot accomplished.
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Oh my goodness you could not be more right as far as being productive goes. The twelve steps that you listed are great I especially relate to number one choosing the right time. I know if there is something I really need to get done it needs to be before two in the afternoon because that is my nonproductive time I have passed my peak performance. This was a great post, thanks.
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I think you really have something there with the cut off all communications until you are done, I will often go into work on a Saturday because there is no one around and I can get so much more done then. I can see how that would be the same at home, maybe I should start getting up really early before everybody else so I can get my house work done.
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So what you’re saying is I need make a plan the night before, kick everybody out of the house I say they can come back, set my timer and get to work on my goals for the day, I think you’re right I could get a lot done that way. In all seriousness this is a great post with a lot of ideas to implement in your home life as well as your work life.
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I like how Stephen Pierce has created a sixty minute pod cast or audio program. I think publishing pod casts which provide training or educational content to be very productive. I think audio learning is quicker and for most people, it is much easier to absorb information by listening rather than having to read. And the best reason why audio learning is more productive is because you can actually multi task while you are taking in the information.
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The first tip was a very pertinent one. I find that I am more productive and energetic during the first half of the day. I have learned from failure in the past not to leave my important tasks for later because often by that time, I feel worn down and with lower amounts of energy. As a result, if I leave important tasks till after I finish my day job tasks, I may feel tired and then wind up procrastinating important tasks.
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Great list of productivity tips, thank you for sharing. I also want to share some of my ideas on how I stay productive at work. At first I list my entire task, and organize it using a time management tool. This tool tracks time accurately on different tasks this way I can be more aware on how I spend time. Using this tool I also set an estimated time when working on tasks this way I can limit wasted time to do more work. It won’t be easy to manage tasks on scheduled and finish it on time without discipline. With discipline it helps me ignore distractions. Now, I can say that with tools and discipline it can help you stay productive at work. You can check this time management tool here:
http://www.timedoctor.com/blog/2010/07/25/how-is-time-doctor-different-than-rescue-time
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