How to be Productive – The Simple Yet Difficult Art of Getting More Done With Less

Is it more important to focus on quality or quantity when it comes to productivity? Or a combination of both? Although different interpretations of productivity exist, the goal is to squeeze out as much as possible without becoming stressed or burdened.

It is to be in a state at the end of a 24-hour period, which is the same for everyone, where you are satisfied with your personal and professional outcomes.

The concept of productivity conjures up several connotations such as hard labour, time management, scheduling, fancy productivity tools, efficiency, and so on.

Although, in a fight between hard labour and efficiency, efficiency always has a better chance of winning.

There are numerous business success tales, particularly from startups, to back up this assertion.

Let’s take a moment to define productivity and how productivity is measured before we get into the meat of learning how to be productive.

Productivity, according to the web definition, is the average measure of a person’s, machine’s, factory’s, system’s, or other entity’s efficiency in turning inputs into usable outputs.

It’s calculated by multiplying the average output over a period of time by the inputs (cost, energy, resources, material, personnel).

The productivity ratio is a crucial predictor of cost-efficiency.

In the actual world, however, formulas are less common than quick-to-use productivity measures like:

• The number of tasks done
• Quickness of Delivery (used often to measure service productivity)
• 360 degrees of product sales Customer and Employee Feedback
• Managerial subjective judgement
• From a business standpoint, the value of the outcome
• Departmental and individual Self-assessments
• After we’ve sorted out the basics, let’s look at some productivity strategies that have been proven to work by global industry experts.

How Can I Be More Productive? – 7 Simple Steps 

#1 Prioritization is important, as corny as it may sound.

Many people begin their quest for excellence by making plans. However, the excitement quickly dissipates when they fail the ‘How to Prioritize’ test.

The concept is straightforward. There should be very few jobs on your priority list that fall into either of the following categories:

• What matters most to you / What you’re most passionate about
• Need your skills because others have little or no experience in that field.
• Important for your plan’s and company’s overall success

Everything else may wait or be delegated if your idea and overall business are successful. The less you have, the greater you’ll be able to do. It’s best to make a list of 3-5 highly detailed activities with little abstraction.

#2 Establish a Routine That Works For You 

Getting up early may not be popular, but it does help you do more.

Examine your day and note when you are bursting with energy and when you are completely exhausted.

Take a detour and reflect on earlier planning disasters. Make a regimen for yourself and observe how it helps you. Checking on self-accountability at regular intervals can help you avoid stumbling.

#3 Fine-tune your entire system rather than relying on a few easy adjustments

Being productive is a continuous process rather than a one-time event.

Consider channelling your inner happiness to calm your workspace, being more receptive to others’ views/ideas, spending time alone, shaking off preconceptions, and working on your health to be truly on top of your game.

Small behaviours have a tremendous impact.

#4 Make Room for Wanted Technology

More than 60% of professionals use numerous devices at work, and 90% believe that integrating gadgets will improve their productivity.

While no one can deny the value of face-to-face communication, more employees are opting for e-communication and virtual meetings to save time. Smart tech gadgets and apps can be extremely useful.

This technology element, of course, restricts the amount of time spent on time-wasting social media sites.

#5 Take Advantage of Small Victories

You become more driven as you achieve more.

This philosophy is believed to increase productivity since after a task is completed, you feel a surge of pleasant energy inside (fuelled by Dopamine release) that motivates you to stretch and do more on your to-do list.

All we need is a pat on the back to feel fundamentally happy with our efforts, no matter how great or tiny they are.

#6 Acceptable Quality Helps, Not Perfectionism

The problem with perfectionism is that it can turn into obsession over time, causing you to waste time on little things or missing the big picture by overemphasising small details and the “ideal moment.”

Increased perfectionism is linked to lower productivity, according to a psychology study.

So keep an eye out!

#7 Get the Most Out of All Your Tasks

Your mind’s purpose is to generate ideas, not to store them.

Furthering the thought, action, especially full-throttle action, justifies the existence of ideas in the first place.

To get the best results, use the time block strategy, which involves cutting yourself off from everything except the task at hand.

Schedule less time for crucial tasks, which will require you to use the most energy in order to do them quickly.

Productivity, like all good things in life, is a self-driven process that demands guts and discipline to make difficult decisions and rebuild disrupted elements.

Organizations may make a big contribution to ensuring that employees are provided with a stimulating atmosphere, facilities, and support in order for them to achieve new productivity highs.

RisePath PlanCentral is one such piece of software that assists businesses and their employees in taking care of project management, task tracking, workflows, team collaboration and much more, freeing their time to focus on other vital tasks.

Do you want to be more productive? Well, the countdown has begun!