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Know Your Target To Hit Bulls-Eye
photo courtesy of jonrawlinson
Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives – Anthony Robbins
Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort – Paul J Meyer. Top 8 Productivity Hacks will help you become productive (as is obvious). It consists of some tips, tricks and ideas to make you more efficient.
Productivity Hack #2 – Know Your Target
One way to never miss an aim is to shoot first and create a target later where-ever the arrow lands.
Unfortunately, that is not how real life works. To hit the target, we need to know the target. No matter how much we practice on our aim and our shot, without knowing the target, we cannot hit a bulls-eye.
Ditto when it comes to productivity. To know your target means to –
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Know What’s Important In Your Life
It doesn’t make sense to work hard and improve yourself in some area which doesn’t matter to you.
You can increase productivity by gaining clarity on what is important to you and what is not.As you focus more on your priority list, you start producing results in areas that matter. You put all your efforts in the right place. In addition to that, by knowing what is important to you and focusing on it, you begin eliminating any time you spend on what is not important.
Sit back for a minute and think what would it take for you to believe you have had a great life. Write out your answer and align your life as per your answer.
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Know What’s Important Right Now
Lack of clarity and focus are the biggest contributors to being unproductive.
I don’t know whether this happens to you or not, but this used to happen to me often – I would find myself wasting time doing unnecessary things for hours without even realizing that I am doing so.
To set this right, before starting any work, I simply tell myself what am I doing – for instance, writing an article, researching on xyz subject, etc. This helps me stay focused on the task in hand.
I often repeat the exercise after every hour or so. If I have drifted off to doing something else, I can catch myself and start working in the right direction. Over a period of time, the ability to stay focused increases and these hourly reminders though helpful, are not needed.
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Know Which Productivity Tip Is Beneficial To You
If you search for productivity in Google, you will find more than 86 million results. Not to mention, the staggering amount of books on productivity that are available. It is impossible to apply each and every tip and try out all applications which claim to increase your productivity.
Hence, first, pick an area where you would like to increase your productivity. And focus on tips available in that area. Try out tips which make sense and will give maximum results. Stay put with those which work for you. If the tips or productivity application doesn’t work for you, scrap it. Not all tips will apply to you.
How do you pick up areas to apply productivity tips to? And how do you select which productivity tip to apply? Do share in comments.
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Hi there.. I’ve found that a great way to boost my own productivity is to concentrate on the tasks that are important, write them down and prioritise them, and set time limits for them. Making yourself accountable by telling someone you’re getting all these things done by the end of the day, for example, also is a great motivator. Being realistic with your goals helps too
You’re right when you suggest it’s good to have an understanding of what’s important in life. That way your effort is focused onto things that matter. All the best!
Ross´s last blog post..How to stay inspired in tough times
I should probably have this whole things tattooed on me somewhere, but I’ll settle for reading it through again and especially concentrating on CLARITY & FOCUS, starting in 2 hours from now because I have a lot more wonderful blogs to visit today.
Thanks!
Jannie´s last blog post..To flounce or not to flounce
Hi Avani: I’ve started writing down on an index card the task that I’m going to work on and putting it next to me where I can see it. That helps me keep focused on the task at hand. I’m also experimenting with recoding a time log of what I’m doing with my time.
Marelisa´s last blog post..Solve Everyday Problems Creatively
@Ross: Great suggestions. Holding yourself to account would create a tremendous impact on productivity.
@Jannie:
Yes, clarity and focus are the keys.
@Marelisa: Have been reading a lot about index cards these days. Sounds like an interesting idea. Do you reuse index cards for repetitive cards?
“And how do you select which productivity tip to apply?” I’m really glad you asked that, since to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever consciously selected a tip. I tend to gravitate towards solutions that seem like they have a low barrier to entry–something I can do on a trial basis. Perhaps that’s not the best method! If I was being smart, I’d sit down and figure out where I need the most help and seek out solutions for that.
Thanks for the brain food…
Sara at On Simplicity´s last blog post..Handling Feedback Elegantly and Easily
I need to be productive more than ever. I’ve gotten so busy of late that I find it hard to finish off my work and various tasks. Wanting to finish off everything by year end is also adding extra pressure. It seems like I really need your tips from this article right now…thanks!!
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..The Lipstick Indicator To Great Wealth
I am an explorer. I love to learn new things and find a gazillion things interesting. It is so true what you say about focus. I have to give myself the “talk” every morning with respect to what I need to get done in the day. I have started using tadalist.com which seems to help me a lot.
Maya´s last blog post..Are you a storyteller? What is your story?
@Sara: We all do that. If a productivity tip by itself is complicated or time consuming, I wouldn’t want to go for it. But sometimes, focusing on the problem area and finding solutions really helps – makes growth quicker and in the right direction.
@Evelyn: You are welcome. Seems like you have a lot on your plate.
@Maya: I have heard of tadalist before. Just curious – shouldn’t having a to do list online be inconvenient? You have to stay logged or keep logging in to make any kind of updates!
Avani,
That’s a good tip in general, but with some personalities it can backfire. Trying to identify and isolate the target too perfectly before shooting can result in paralysis. I can be that way myself.
I’m trying to adapt a bit more of what I call a “machine-gun” approach. Loosely identify the target, and go ahead and shoot. And keep shooting until you hit it.
Not the most efficient way, but it keeps me moving.
ari
Ari Koinuma´s last blog post..The 7 Keys to Breaking Bad Habits
Hi Avani – I was reading this and nodding, “I would find myself wasting time doing unnecessary things for hours without even realizing that I am doing so.” I used to do that, and at the end of the day I would ask myself, “what did you accomplish?” and I realized I had wasted the greater part of the day. Not that it’s bad to relax, but when it became a habit, I had to give myself a pep talk and get back on track.
Since I started blogging, I have no more of those “wasted days”.
Barbara Swafford – Blogging Without A Blog´s last blog post..Interview With Cath Lawson – Entrepreneur, Aspiring Author and Blogger