Productivity Tips: Top 10 Ways to Stay Productive

Tara Robinson over at Zugunruhe Coaching Blog has a post called Zugunruhe Ultimate Guide to Productivity: Time Budgets that's part of an ongoing meme, or as I call it, a blog chain letter. ;-)

Tara's ideas are great, and you should definitely check them out. Because I'm in the midst of a month of Top 10 posts, please allow me to tackle this in that manner. Thus, the Top 10 Ways I Stay Productive:

1. Make a list. At least once a day I rip of the top sheet of paper on my pad and clean up my list. I have two columns: one for client based stuff (get back to this client, send out this estimate, etc.), and one for flyte-based stuff (redesign flyte blog, schedule employee reviews, research Nighthawk.) I guess you could say that one list is for working in the business while one is for working on the business.
2. Clear things out of your email inbox. When the scroll bar on your inbox has become a small, round pebble, it's time to clear out your inbox. Chances are there are some important items in there that you've forgotten about.
3. Just Say No. This is the toughest thing to do, but the second-most important. (See #10 for our most important productivity tool.) You will never have enough time to do everything you need to. You need to "creatively procrastinate" as Brian Tracy says. You need to learn to say no to some opportunities.
4. Work out. Now that I'm going to the gym in the mornings I feel sharper all day long. Plus, I've got guns like you read about.
5. Delegate. This won't work if you don't have co-workers, but you need to delegate some of your work. It was difficult when I first started hiring people, getting current clients to work with them instead of with me, but now they realize that my co-workers are smarter, more talented, and better looking than me, so they prefer to work with them.
6. Schedule down time. I don't always adhere to this, but it's important to take some time off every day or every week to do some big picture thinking. My new thing is to spend Mondays focusing on the company, and what we can do to provide better service, enhance our offerings, streamline and simplify our procedures, and improve our bottom line.
7. Leave your computer at work. When I bring my laptop home w/me, I find that it's distracting and wears down my psyche. I don't get any real work done, but I don't get a chance to disengage from work and re-energize myself. It's amazing what 30 minutes of God of War II can do relieve the stress of the day.
8. Focus on what you do best. I guess this is similar to Just Say No and Delegate, but it's still important. You can't be all things to all people, so you should focus your energies on what you can do best. If you're not good with numbers, hire a bookkeeper. If you're not good with details, hire/delgate to someone who is.
9. Work with people you like. While not always possible, you should seek out working with people you like or projects that are energizing. When you're doing work for a psycho, or developing a project that seems to go against your personal beliefs, you'll find all manner of ways to avoid moving forward.
10. Coffee. Let's be honest. Without java none of this is possible.

OK, I'm done. Wow, I just spent 30 minutes on this. I guess that wasn't my best moment of productivity today.

Let me blow the productivity of some other bloggers by tagging Katie Sternberg and Allison Kurpius, Suzette Bergerson, Dr. Ned Hallowell, Marc Trottier, and Jim Cosgrove.

Don't hate me!

Rich Brooks
Blogging is Productive, Isn't It?

Comments

[Katie Baird]

Even though they seem mutually exclusive, I find that I can't work without #4 and #10. Meaning, I can let other things on your list slide here and there, but I am doomed if I go without the caffeine and exercise.

[Kenson Goo]

I think you should move #10 coffee to #1. I can't agree no more

[Information Desk]

Innovation and creativity are clearly the by-products of the work environment you place yourself in each day. When your assets are intellectual property it is even more important that you invest in a home work environment that generates as much innovation and creativity as possible. Once I decided to purchase modular office furniture for my home office my business has been on a very positive trajectory.