10 things that productive people do every day

by Leo Wiles
07 April 2017

How CAN you increase your output? For some it might be about cramming more into your calendar. For others, it might be to work longer hours, write faster – or simply resolve to use the time more wisely.

I, however, am down with these tips that are apparently the cornerstones of every productive person’s life.

Get a good night’s sleep. We all know sleep deprivation messes with our perception and judgment, and according to a Harvard medical school paper, its effects can be seen in reduced efficiency and productivity, errors, and accidents. Even more reason to get those all-important Z’s.

Wake up earlier. Not necessarily to squeeze in more work in, but to be a happier and more productive person. Did you know that if you set the alarm one hour earlier it will give you something like an extra 15 days a year? You can use that time for exercise, meditation, writing your book or just enjoying the peace and quiet of a house still asleep. I love Henry Ward Beecher’s words: ‘The first hour is the rudder of the day.’

Adhere to a morning routine. Having a clear vision for your day helps you be more proactive in your choices.  When I was working as an editor, that meant starting my day with a 6am gym visit while listening to ABC news, followed by a shower, the new headlines and social media feeds over a coffee. That way, I stepped foot in the office primed and ready to go. With kids, it’s much more challenging – hence the early morning wake up and late night catch up sessions.

Make your bed. There is a psychological lift that comes with ‘ticking’ off a task that can carry you through the whole day. It declutters your space, which instantly lowers stress levels. And I think we can all agree that there’s nothing nicer than getting into a beautifully made bed after a long, hard day.

Eat the Frog. It’s the header of my electronic List of Things to Do and has ended my meandering ways of getting around things I didn’t want to tackle. BAS statement, anyone? In other words, you tackle the thing you most don’t want to do FIRST. Everything else is a walk in the park. I also love how Real Estate magnate Gary Keller, author of The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results puts it: “The key is time. Success is built sequentially. It’s one thing at a time.”  He devotes the first four hours of his day to achieving his overarching goals for the year, asking himself, “What’s the one thing which, when tackled, will make everything else I have to do easier or unnecessary?”  Everything else he says is simply a time waster.

Be accountable. From food diaries to financial apps, tools that keep you on track also help you understand where you’re falling down in terms of your goals. One I have heard great things about is Rescue Time.  It sounds like Toggl on crack – as instead of inputting your data manually, it discretely runs in the background and keeps tabs on how much time you really spend on social media platforms, email or desktop activities.

Reduce distractions. Especially those that prevent you from getting work done. Thing friends dropping by, bored/hungry children, cable guys digging up the road outside. Or self-distractions such as surfing the net, Facebook, trying to keep on top of email etc. All of these drive me bonkers and often leave me frustrated and irritated – which is not the best mindset for creating. For all of these, except children, I would recommend relocating to your local library or another quiet nook when faced with looming deadlines.

Stop trying to achieve a Zero inbox or empty in tray. Check emails two to three times a day beginning with mid morning instead of diving in first thing and becoming bogged down. I also group them by sender before reading to ensure that I have the whole conversation at my fingertips to avoid miscommunication and having to respond twice when one recap would have sufficed.

Batch projects. If you really want to spur yourself on to greater heights, try the Pomodoro technique. It entails devoting a set amount of time to a project – kind of like a mini deadline. Devised by Francesco Cirillo Traditional Pomodoro method productivity interval timer with standard time periods. Each Pomodoro is a 25-minute cycle followed by a 5-minute break. After the fourth Pomodoro, you’ll take a 15-minute break. Give it a go with this free online Pomodoro version that you can customise.

Bring some laughter to your life. Yes, it sounds new-agey, but if there is something in the pursuit of happiness, according to Warwick University researchers. In their report, ‘Happiness and Productivity’, they talk about how “happier workers use the time they have more effectively, increasing the pace at which they can work without sacrificing quality”. Sounds good to me.

What do you do to raise your productivity?