Being more effective starts with admitting to your self that you are responsible for your life.  There are certainly plenty of distractions to blame lack of productivity on. But at the end of the day, the buck stops with you. 

Here are 7 quick tips to get more, important work done with less stress:
 

1. Daily/Weekly Battle Planning: It’s crucial that you step back and determine what’s most important. List the things you need to get done during each day and week.

  Then create task lists and prioritize them by importance. If you have never done this, try it and you will be amazed at how much more productive your days become.

 

2. Time Block:  Break your work into several general categories and group your work into blocks of time.  60 to 90 minute blocks work best. 

After that, your focus will start to decline so get up, go for a walk, have a snack, and  do something completely different until your next block of work.

 3. Disconnect:  In the world we live in today, most people are constantly connected.This means they are always being interrupted and bombarded by various distractions. 

Learn to go into bunker mode.  Turn off all of your devices, email, and social media notifications.  Then, get to work!

 

4. Notepad: Always keep a notepad handy to jot down ideas, tasks to do later, and items that you don’t want to forget. 

This will help free your mind of constantly trying to remember these things.  Your mind will be free to focus on the task at hand.

 

5. Schedule Email:  Are you constantly glued to your email inbox?  Try turning it off and scheduling a couple of email sessions per day instead. 

Don’t check it first thing in the morning either.  Use that prime time to get important things done from your task list rather than to just responding to the often times impulsive behavior of others.

 

Remember, no one cares as much about your goals as you do.  It’s your job to stay loyal to what you decide is important to you.
 

6. Try Headphones:  This really helps you forget your surroundings and focus on the task at hand.  

 

Style note: Earbuds are probably a better idea for public use!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 7.Always Know Your Short List:  Simply, know what’s important to you. And what’s not. There is an old quote that says if you chase two rabbits, both will escape.  Chase the important one!

 

$200 AMAZON.COM GIFT CARD WINNER

As promised, I will now reveal the winner of the Waging War on Normal website launch contest.  And the lucky winner is: Lindsey Leibig of Alexandria, Virginia.  Lindsey, please send an email to robert@wagingwaronnormal.com to claim your gift card.  You will have 48 hours from the time this blog is posted or another winner will be picked.

For those of you who did not win this time, what type of contest or prize would you like to see in the future?  

Which of the ideas in the blog to you plan on implementing this week?  Do you have any good ideas of your own?  

Please share your Comment Below…..