Self Pursuit Helping you grow, think, create and live a life of perpetual development.

Today’s thoughts on productivity are very well put together by Ego Development. Thanks for a helpful, detailed but very concise summary of what we can do to improve our productivity.

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”

~ Paul J. Meyer

Productivity is defined as the amount of work produced in a given period of time. Productivity relates to the person’s ability to produce the standard amount or number of products, services or outcomes as described in a work description.

10 Habits that Increase Your Personal Productivity

1. 1. Organize your Life and create a To-Do-List.

Work on your most important tasks first. There is no use spending hours on a trivial task when a much more important one can be done in a few minutes. Planning a schedule can be hard to do, but there are many ways to do this easily. Create a list of everything that needs to be done and change the order in terms of what what should be done first.

1. 2. Remove Distractions

Turn off the TV, take the phone off the hook, and close down your email. There is nothing worse for your productivity than continually stopping and start because of distractions. Complete your tasks, and then give yourself a bit of a break. Do not do both at once.

1. 3. Use positive affirmations

Positive affirmations are a tool for replacing negative self-talk with something more productive. It’s quite common for people to use negative affirmations without realising it, so why not give your performance a boost and replace these negative vibes. Your affirmations should be present tense, personal and as specific as possible. Read them every morning and night, and keep them on an index card so you can whip them out and read through them when you have a few moments spare.

1. 4. Take a nap

Getting 40 winks might seem like the last thing to do to increase your work rate, but studies have shown that taking a nap during the day can considerably improve concentration and performance.

Fifteen to twenty minutes is usually enough time to recharge your batteries, and coupled with a splash of cold water after waking up you’ll be ready and raring to go.

1. 5. Set daily goals

Each morning you wake up you should set a goal for that day. It can be big or small, but something that you can achieve by the time you go to sleep. If you’re really ambitious, you can also set several goals for one day.
Having something to focus on during your day will help you accomplish many tasks. Just like success, you have to have goals and a plan to get where you want to go.

1. 6. Get some exercise

You should aim to do at least thirty minutes of exercise, three times a week. Swimming, cycling and skipping are all good activities. If you’re jogging, try to job on softer ground to protect your joints from wear and tear that can be caused from running on a hard surface.

1. 7. Use software tools that will make your life easier.

Some of the programs simplify common computer chores, like launching programs and burning CDs. Others help you work smarter with files , finding the ones you want, renaming them en masse, and sending them where you want them to go. Still others help you automate your work with macros and boilerplate text. So invest a little effort — and maybe a little money - to make your life easier. Then you can take some time off and enjoy the hours you’ve saved.

1. 8. Work at a higher tempo

Working at higher tempo in order to get things done faster and more efficiently. Instead of slowly trudging through a task, aim to get it finished in half the time. This doesn’t mean you have to cut corners or produce something of a lower quality, but eliminate all of the small distractions such as staring out of the window or thinking about what’s for dinner.

1. 9. Wake up early.

I might get flamed for this hack by night owls, so let me qualify this tip by saying that if you stay up late at night and get a lot done, then do what works for you. Late night hours are really not much different from the early morning hours, as both times are much quieter with fewer distractions. However, as a former night owl, I recommend the morning hours simply because many times I would stay up well past midnight, but be very tired and not get anything done for the last 6-7 hours. Mornings are much more productive for me.

1. 10. Experiment with different productivity techniques

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques. Use 30-day trials, either alone or with a friend. You could even write about the experience online if you feel it will help your progress. Remember: not every technique you try will work, but the more you try the more likely you’ll find something that makes a real difference. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone too, and grow into a better person.