To achieve your goals and get what you need, one thing is key: productivity. It is easy to talk about productivity and its importance, however becoming productive can be tough if you do not have the right attitude. The habits of productive people are simple but difficult to implement for most people.
If you are wondering how you can be productive, these are nine things you need to start doing right now.
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1. Prepare a clear to-do list
Preparing a to-do list is a major key to productivity. However, some people are reluctant to write down their tasks because they assume they know it all in their head. For people who are highly productive, they appreciate the importance of writing tasks in a to-do list and create a system which makes it easy for them to stick to their target and keep track of their progress.
If you want an easier way of preparing a to-do list, get a to-do planner. It helps you to make a list of essential chores in order to be organised and productive. Check out this to do pad to help you boost your planning and productivity.
2. They wake up early
Early mornings are a good time to concentrate and get things done. A lot of productive people understand this and wake up at 5 am or earlier to start their day.
If you are not a morning person, identify your peak hours and when you are able to concentrate more and get things done. Waking up early is crucial to helping you start your day with a clear head, stay organised, avoid lateness and be productive. Check out these 7 practical hacks to avoid lateness.
3. They get things done- no procrastination
Productive people are all about getting things done. Like Mel Robbins said in this TED talk, you are never going to feel like it. If you wait to feel like doing the things you must do to get the things you want, then you will never achieve them. Highly people understand this and make a move even when they do not feel like doing the things they must do to get what they want. They inspire themselves to act in various ways like getting productivity stickers or constantly looking at the bigger picture for inspiration.
4. They identify and avoid roadblocks
Productive people avoid the people and things that are likely to make them procrastinate or become less efficient. They identify the people, habits and things that hinder their progress and stay away from them.
Related: 7 Roadblocks successful women avoid
5. Know how to say no
Saying no is uncomfortable to many people but if you want to be productive, you must start saying no. You cannot be in everybody’s schedule and be around to please everybody if you want to focus on your goals and targets and be productive. People who make the most of their time say no when they need to say no. They are selective in what they fit into their schedules.
6. Value the essence of journaling
Keeping a productivity journal is important to help you track your plans and actions. One of the major habits of highly productive people is that they plan and record their tasks, progress, achievements and lessons learned. Therefore, they keep journals for this purpose.
Because mobile phones have made it easy to take notes, some may consider writing in a journal as old-school but chances of getting distracted by your phone are high. Writing helps you to concentrate better and stay focused on what you are writing. So for every productive person, keeping a journal is important.
7. Highly productive people work smart
The key to becoming productive lies in knowing your strengths and weaknesses and doing what gives you optimum results. When you understand this, you are able to focus your strengths on the right strategies and delegate when necessary.
It does not take a ‘super woman’ to be productive. It takes the right attitude and approach.
8. They manage their time efficiently
‘There isn’t enough time,’ is an overused excuse by many people. Just like you, highly productive people have 24 hours in a day. The key to productivity lies in proper time management skills. Therefore, be keen on managing your time well if you want to be productive.
Check out The Time Chunking Method by Damon Zahariades. This book gives you a 10-Step action plan for increasing your productivity without procrastinating.
9. It is not all about work
You cannot do much when you are tired and worn out. A key habit of productive people is that they make time to relax and reinvigorate. If you keep working without making time to rest, you will end up getting nothing done well or nothing done at all. It is major to rest your body at the end of the day in order to wake up early and be productive.
To help you develop the right mindset and build the habits of productive people, we are giving you FREE access to our self-improvement challenge; it is a 7-Day challenge to help you take action and become the best version of yourself. It comes in the form of workbook. Get your copy here.
Which one of the habits of productive people are you implementing right away? Let us know in the comments section.
Meanwhile, you may also be interested in:
16 Financial habits of successful people
10 things to avoid in the new year to be successful
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