One of the main things I tell people who are looking to become more successful is get clear on your top priorities. Now, GUARD these priorities like they’re pure gold!
How? A big help is a to-do list that will help you to focus your tasks, time and resources for the day. This list should be intentional, and include only items you are looking to complete that day. In this video, I am sharing with you my tips for being deliberate in what you put on your to-do list when you’re setting goals/action steps. By following these guidelines, you can improve your productivity and focus.
https://youtu.be/fkwazEThNQw
The first piece of advice I want to share with you is to put two or three items maximum on your list for each day. The idea is to achieve your long-term goals over time by accomplishing a little each day, not overwhelm and discourage yourself. So, if you’re looking at a daily list and you have five to ten items, you’re probably trying to do too much for one day. Ask yourself, are you in business to get things done, or are you feeling more like a clown and juggling too much each day? Limit your to do list for the day to these few items and get them scheduled on your calendar. Now your time is protected, and you can focus your most productive working time to accomplish your most important, relevant projects.
The next tip is to say NO to items that are not a priority. Learning to say “no” is a valuable skill, and you can protect your time by making sure that you don’t over commit yourself. If someone is going to ask you to do things that conflict with your two to three items on your to do list, let them know you have other priorities. It’s okay to say no sometimes! To get you started, write out everything you would normally put on your to-do list. If you see something that is not in your top three or worse it made it to your list out of guilt or duty (should dos), mark these off first!
Finally, identify your time robbers. These are the things that distract you and waste your time while you are trying to focus on your to do list. I, for example, am easily distracted by my phone notifications. If I hear a Facebook message or new Periscope video notification come through, all of the sudden I am scrolling through my phone and I’ve been taken off track. Knowing that this is a time robber helps me to eliminate the distraction so that I can focus on the tasks at hand. I turn off my notifications during these power hours – that time when I’m concentrating deeply and have my most productive creative work. Once you identify what your time robbers are, find a way to eliminate the distraction during your scheduled time. Turn off the phone, the television, or, if your time robbers cannot be silenced, find a designated area to work in that will take you away for a short period that you can easily get to on a regular basis.
Following these tips will help you focus on your daily tasks and start working more productively on your business. If you would like more ideas from me, the Success Chemist, on tips to improve your success rates, read my blog at AmyWestbrook.com/blog.
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