Real-world strategies to become more productive

Over the last 24 months whilst working closely with StartUp founders and executives one of the common challenges and biggest Road Blocks I have noticed holding people back is a lack of focussed productivity, with many individuals working in an almost manic state without having a formalised strategy and defined habit or process in which to focus their time and energy.

It is almost like it has become a badge of honour or an expectation to say ” I am busy” when someone asks you how you are going but is this the response or message we should be sending?

I must admit I have been guilty of doing the same thing in the past and it has been a personal challenge of mine over the last 6-12 months to become more focussed and productive, to work less hours but achieve more in that time, not only for my benefit but also so I can better advise others on how do the same.

Here is a list of the some of the strategies that I have testing that have been working for me:

• Learning to say no.
• Being clear and honest with my priorities by taking an objective third party perspective on my situation. That is am I following the advice I would give someone else.
• Documenting clear goals and the process behind how I plan and document my work, including daily and weekly planning and journaling.
• Creating routines around how I start and finish each day and remaining consistent with this.
• Having a Growth Mindset around challenges that life throws my way and being prepared that things will go wrong and have strategies in place for when it does.
• Having fun and enjoying the daily process not just waiting to enjoy the outcome.
• Learning to control my technology rather than have it controlling me.
• Simplifying my life and removing distractions and unwanted noise and in some cases needing to do the same with thing with the people in my life.
• Understanding my body cycle of when I work best in a day and then concentrating the delivery of my important work around my up cycle’s.

What I have been doing is not revolutionary but when combined together seems to be working for me although my productivity journey still has a way to go and I am keen to learn, continue to test and measure and find out what others may be doing.

Has any one got any suggestions or strategies that have worked for you around increasing productivity in your life?