Five Tips to a Productive Day
I've been a freelance writer, game designer, and entrepreneur for sixteen years. Over those years, I have found that my greatest challenge is being consistently productive, making the best out of each day. It's an ongoing battle, some days are better than others, but I've found that the tips below help me have more better days than bad.
Don’t check email. That’s right. If you haven’t heard this,
you should have. Don’t check email first thing in the morning, it’s the single
greatest waste of time. Checking email put’s you on someone else’s schedule,
sets you to doing someone else’s work. Email is a necessary part of
Decide your priorities for the next day, before you leave
the office. If you have several priorities/tasks, decide which, if
accomplished the following day, would have the most significant impact on your life. The next morning do this task first, or at least work on it for one block of time (see below). Keep in mind that “significantly positive” can mean many things, from
reaffirming a languishing relationship, to planning that novel you always
wanted to write, to finishing your quarterly reports.
Work in blocks. Numerous studies have shown that we work
best if we work in spurts. Work hard for no more that 90 minutes (for me, it’s
no more than 45), and then take a real break. For those of you who work from
your home, get up, shoot some baskets, crank out ten push ups or throw the ball
for your dog. If you don’t have a dog, get one from the SPCA.
Listen to music, but listen to the right music. Ever put on
an album and everything clicks? It doesn't matter if you are cleaning the
kitchen, painting a room, or designing a game, your mind feels bright, every
thought clear, and your concentration concentrated. Take note of what, when, where,
and play that same type of music in similar situations. You’ll likely get
similar results.
Stay positive (I really need work on this.). Try to avoid
speaking ill, watching news, or reading inflaming Facebook posts. Our minds
tend to replay the images we feed them. Nurture your thinking with thoughts of
abundance and opportunity. You can do this by meditating, praying, reading inspiring quotes, or simply closing your eyes and reciting a mantra of things for which you are thankful.
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