3 ways to turbo charge your productivity

Ok - full disclosure - I don’t love the word ‘productivity’. It makes people sound like robots on a car production line. However these days it seems that most people are on a mission to Be More Productive. And I include myself here!

‘Productivity’ as a cultural norm is here to stay and if you can’t beat them, join them.

Being productive simply means getting more done but for many of us that means getting more done by working more hours and constantly adding to our to-do lists. We end up not only tired by consistently over working but we get stuck staring at the long, long, long list of things we need to get done without really knowing where to begin.

How, then, to manage your working hours and your to-do list?

The answer is to be more effective with the time you have available.

This is so much easier said than done but there are 3 really common blocks to productivity and 3 really effective ways to counter them.

Block 1. Avoiding structure and routine for the sake of freedom.

So many entrepreneurs set up their company so that they can break free of the daily grind and build a business that suits their lifestyle. But if you’re too busy being ‘free’ then unfortunately you won’t get much done.

Putting some structure around your business will allow you to enjoy the freedom you crave.

And structure need not be tedious - especially if your business is a passion project and something that genuinely inspires you. As an entrepreneur, structure can be on your own terms.

Planning is key:

Map out your week ahead in terms of ‘work’ and ‘fun/volunteering/whatever you please’. Have set hours for knuckling down and doing what it is that needs to be done, and the rest of the time is yours.

Planning ahead means you end the week achieving what you set out to do.

Crucial to this (part B if you will) is reviewing what you’ve done. As you’re planning out your ‘work’ hours make sure you take time at the end of the week to look through what you’ve achieved compared to what you wanted to achieve.

Measuring what you’re doing is fundamental to knowing that you’re actually doing it.

Block 2. Waiting for things to be perfect.

Frankly, who’s not guilty of this? You want something to be perfect so you either don’t do it at all, or you never finish it. Either way it never gets done.

Getting comfortable with imperfection will allow you to progress. It will allow you to thrive. Yes there are a few (and I really do mean A FEW) things that need to be perfect - a client pitch or your tax returns - but many other things are far better done and finished, than perfect and never completed.

Instead of waiting for things to be perfect, show up and do what you do best.

Only showing the world something absolutely perfect leaves us in the very centre of our comfort zones - but nothing ever changes if you stay there - change only happens outside of your comfort zone. So get a little bit uncomfortable and get a little bit imperfect. You’ll be amazed how much you get done.

Block 3. Always aiming for your best month ever.

Obviously no one strives for ‘average’. But always aiming for more, bigger and better means you head into every day with a gigantic to-do list that distracts you because you can’t decide where to start, stresses you out because you know you won’t get everything done and demotivates you because it seems impossible.

Striving to be awesome sets you up for failure. Start your day with a realistic amount of work to do and you will actually get it done.

Pick 3 priorities for each day and then do them with ease.

You will be able to focus and won’t waste time endlessly scrolling through your To-Do list. Rinse and repeat.

Be really particular about this. For example, if I say "finish productivity blog" does that mean finish writing the copy for it? Or does that mean finish writing the copy, choose the images, format everything into SquareSpace and have it ready to be published?

Finishing a specified and realistic amount of work every single week will result in an entirely different outcome in 4 weeks time. Commit to trying this for a month and see what happens.

All this seems astoundingly obvious when it’s written down but putting it into practice will have tangible and very satisfying results for you and your business. It’s worth a try if nothing else?

As a quick recap to stick on a post-it:

• Map out specific work times every week . Tell yourself what you’ll work on and when, and then spend the rest of your time enjoying yourself.

• Work imperfectly and see your productivity go through the roof.

• Identify your 3 key things daily and focus on only them until they are done.

I’d love to hear what you think of these 3 ideas and what works for you when it comes to giving yourself a little productivity boost.