How often do you answer the question “How are you” with “Busy”?
Pretty much every time I chat with prospective clients to start working with them, this is the answer to that question. And in our fast-paced society, everyone just seems to be getting busier and busier.
So we're all really busy. But are we actually being productive?
When you're focused completely on something, you're in the best headspace possible to achieve that task effectively. So, by focusing on the most meaningful task at hand we will actually achieve it better and quicker.
When you're clear on a destination it's easier to get there quicker, instead of wasting time and not really getting anywhere.
Think about everything wracking around in your brain and write it all down in a simplified to-do list. Look through that list and prioritise two or three of the most important tasks for that day, and focus your efforts solely on those. If everything on your to-do list is a priority, then nothing is a priority.
Take 10 minutes at the beginning of every day to think about what you need to do and plan the day ahead. Check your calendar, review your task list, look at any upcoming deadlines and identify priorities to focus on so you can hit the ground running.
Guilty of multi-tasking?
Every time you switch between tasks, you aren't being productive. Think about it, when you're trying to write an email, send a quick text and research something - are you actually completing any of those tasks successfully?
Block out time for focused work. Block out an hour for emails, then half an hour to reply to messages, and then another hour for social media. Whatever your list consists of, do it in stages and do not try to do it all at once!
Another super important thing to remember when blocking out your tasks in time blocks is making time for breaks! Ideally give yourself a little break in between each task, even if it's just a quick 5 minutes to make a cup of tea. Your brain can only concentrate for so long, so make sure you give it time to rest and reboot.
Being busy has almost become synonymous with being successful But there is absolutely no link between being busy and being productive. Maximise your productivity and do not let busyness get in the way of getting things done!
Want to talk about maximising your productivity more? Send me a message and let's chat.
L x
Laura Mackenzie
Creative Virtual Assistant at Kelp Collective
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