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Its two weeks down, 50 to go. Let’s launch the year with some productivity hacks.
1. Set goals
A goal is the aim or object towards which effort is directed. Setting goals helps you focus and channel your mind towards the things you want to achieve. Your goals need to be concrete or they’ll just remain in the realm of wishful thinking. Your goals need to be SMART :
S- specific
M- measurable
A- Achievable
R- Realistic
T- Time bound.
It’s good to have a big picture plan but break them into daily, monthly, and quarterly steps that will gradually take you closer to your destination.
2. Organize your tasks
One key way to be more productive is to manage your time. Organize your tasks and events so that you set your priorities straight and so that you don’t loose track of all you have to do, leave important things undone and slot more events and tasks in days when you are already occupied. Use your calendar to manage your tasks and stay organized. Calendar apps also have the option for email reminders. For example, if you have the goal is to be more intentional about your relationships you can add birthdays and other special days of your loved ones to your calendar so you don’t miss out on important days of their lives. You can take it a step further by using task and project management tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday. They have functional, customizable and aesthetic features that will make you look forward to tracking your habits and tasks.
3. Bullet Journaling
Journalling is the act of taking records of events, thoughts and experiences. Bullet journaling is a journaling style where you write down tasks, goals and ideas using bullet points. It’s a quick way to monitor your progress and learn more about yourself if you’re too busy to journal or you’re not used to it. Bullet journaling is very flexible way to make plans and stay organized.
4. Set up an anti-distraction system.
Distractions will come and it’s best to prepare in advance to avoid unproductivity. Set a timer for the number of minutes or hours to focus entirely on your work without distractions and reward yourself with a break afterwards. This is the premise of the pomodoro technique. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management strategy in which you engage in a series of time blocks : 25 minutes for immersing yourself in your work and five minutes to relax. Taking breaks keeps your mind refreshed and ultimately increases your productivity. If you’re working on your electronic devices, you might get side tracked by social media, games and other apps. are much. Focus apps won’t let you leave the app for the time that you set. Find out what makes you focus. Something as basic as headphones can be a game changer for working in noisy environments.
5. Hold yourself accountable
You can make all the plans and put structures in place but still not follow through. Have the resolve and determination to do what you’ve set out to achieve. Motivate and encourage yourself with rewards. Family, friends, physical or online communities can make for great accountability partners.
6. Do not over commit.
Avoid the conundrum that comes with biting off more than you can chew. To avoid getting overwhelmed, check your schedule before making new commitments . Break your tasks into important, nees to do, urgent, nice to do and unimportant. This way, the most important things won’t suffer for everything that calls for your attention. Delegate when you can, ask for help, and don’t be afraid to say no.
7. Read
Reading is a necessary ingredient for self development. You don’t need to overwhelm yourself with ridiculous reading goals. Create a reading plan that you can fit into your schedule. If you have already cultivated a reading habit, work on improving the way you absorb, analyse and retain information through annotation (highlighting, taking notes etc. ) Also put what you learn into practice.
8. Take Courses
Take steps towards improving yourself this year. Even if it’s a skill that you’ve already mastered, having a refresher can open your eyes to new and improved ways of doing what you already know. Constant learning and self improvement can make you more effective and open channels to multiple streams of income.
9. Grow a digital (or analogue) garden.
Keep records and organize what you learn so that you can retrieve them any time you need to. It’s not enough to absorb information, develop your analytical skills by drawing your own conclusions and contributing to the conversation.
10. Regular appraisal
Don’t wait until the end of the year to check your progress. To avoid unpleasant surprises, create a score sheet and check your results against your goals; monthly, weekly and if possible daily. That way you can get back on track quickly if you fall behind.
New year resolutions may have become a cliché but beyond the razzmatazz let’s see new year resolutions for what they really are : another chance to steer our lives in the direction we want it to go. The year will be what you make it.
Here’s to a productive year.
