How to Increase Productivity and Reach Your Goals this Year | Herbal Goodness

Jan 01, 2017

Productivity is an elusive goal for many. So many of us are stressed out by the number of things we have to do, and the number of daily activities we fill our lives up with. We want to live full and successful lives, but there’s that nagging feeling that we never get through our to-do lists completely and it’s frustrating. Maybe you want to start your own blog, your own business, cook more, spend more time with your family, start exercising every day, but there just never seems to be enough time in the day.

This is where productivity comes in and why it’s such a major goal for most people. We wanted to share a few of our favorite tried and true tips that can increase your productivity and help you reach your goals this year. 2017 isn’t a time to procrastinate or wallow, it’s a time to get stuff done and create a healthier and happier life for yourself. Let's begin!

Do the most important task of the day first thing in the morning

As Henrik Edberg says on the Positivity Blog, figuring out your most important task of the day, and getting it done first thing in the morning can do wonders for your productivity that day. It will help lift the weight of your to-do list off your shoulders, and it will probably inspire you to continue ticking other items off for the day now that you have the big one sorted.

Before you go to sleep each night, pick out one important task you want to get done, and do it soon after you wake up. The rest of the day will be easy peasy after that.

Suggested for you: How to wake up like a rock star

Stop trying to be perfect

Getting rid of a perfectionist attitude will allow you to get so much more done in a day. It can be the hardest thing to walk away from a project when you don't feel quite ready, but sometimes you just need to set a time limit and walk away from it when that limit is up. As long as you're still producing quality work and completing tasks, you don't have to do everything perfectly all the time.

Another great tip is to stop trying to fit everything you want to get done on tomorrow's to-do list. Limit your to-do list with only 2-3 major tasks that you can break down into smaller goals for the day. If you have a list of 10 separate items you want to get done, you'll only feel discouraged for never completing your to-do list. You'll also waste time trying to figure out where to start and what to do next. Plan our your one important item you'll get done at the start of the day, and two other minor items that you can do later that day. It will simplify and streamline your goals to make them more achievable every day.

Keep your workspace minimalistic

Your workspace can make all the difference in how productive you are. Having a clean and minimalist set-up that is free from clutter, allows your mind to focus and unclutter as well.

Batch, batch, batch

Working in bulk, also known as batching, can increase your productivity by tenfold. If you have similar tasks that need to be done, such as writing emails, or making phone calls, or making meals for the week, group the similar tasks together and get them done in one sitting.

It’s productive to go about your tasks this way since your mind is already on those similar tasks, and it also feels like you’re getting a lot done in one sitting. This is one of the best ways to manage your time when you have a busy schedule and have no idea where to even begin.

Outsource when you can

Outsource tasks that you can’t be BIW (best in the world) at. Play to your strengths and don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to those who you know can do just as good of a job or better than you can on certain tasks. Think of your time as money. Is it more expensive to hire a personal assistant, a nanny, or a cleaner, for a few hours a week than it is to do it all yourself?

A lot of people don’t want to outsource anything on their to-do list because they don’t want to spend the money and go through the process of finding someone. However, sometimes outsourcing can go much further in saving you money in the long run and save you a little sanity too.

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