Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’re thinking about starting a business or have already started one, one of your key considerations will be being your most productive self. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Become Your Most Productive Self to Better Your Business.
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Being self-employed can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you are your own boss and can therefore come and go as you please. However, on the other hand, there is no one but yourself to motivate you, and consequently, it can be easy to fall into procrastination. Procrastination is dangerous, as it can lead to a vicious circle of stress and cause you problems further down the line. Procrastination can also come in many forms. This could be scrolling on your phone when you’re meant to be working or even doing household chores to avoid doing what you should be doing. In this post, you’ll hopefully find some tips that will aid you in becoming more productive.
Credit- Pixabay/SmartStockPhoto
1. Carve out your day.
This technique is also known as time-blocking and is designed for focus. It works by your work expanding to the timeslot, instead of the individual squeezing in the task to fit somewhere in the day. The slot also guards against distraction, as 100% of your focus is directed towards a singular job. This technique tends to work the best if you are super-specific in what you are doing within each slot. Start each day by writing out the day’s hours and precisely putting down what you will be doing in each one. For example, you can be as specific as “meeting with Baumgartner Law Office” at 4.25 and at 4:45, you are replying to emails until 5:15. The secret to this is to make sure you block out your time at the start of the day, as you are more likely to stick to the plan and are more clear about what needs to get done. This is especially useful for starting up a business, as it can often feel like you are juggling 100 things simultaneously but not getting enough done. By focusing entirely on a single task at a time, you can eliminate procrastination effectively as you don’t feel too overwhelmed. There are lots of different ways to time block, and you can find exactly what works best for you.
2. Block out any distractions.
There are so many things demanding your attention in this day and age. From phones and constant notifications to emails and more, it can be hard to block out a properly focus on anything. It can be worth maybe outsourcing some processes your business shouldn’t have to deal with so you can focus on the core parts of building your business. To block out anything else distracting you, you can download apps that stop you from checking your phone constantly whilst you are trying to work. If you are really struggling with procrastination, it can help to step away from your work for five minutes for some fresh air. This way, when you return, you are less likely to procrastinate after you have had a break. Make your time work for you!
