The most productive people don’t multitask. People often think that multitasking is a good way to increase productivity. This cannot be any further from the truth.
Multitasking can actually decrease your productivity by as much as 40%. Brain studies show that people are less productive when they multitask because their brains switch between tasks and focus on different things. It can be difficult with so many things to juggle during the day.
Productivity issues from focusing on one goal at a time. The key to productivity is to have laser-like focus on one goal.
To be more productive, try these three simple steps:
1) Create a specific goal to achieve
One of the best ways to increase productivity is to have an achievable goal in mind. Start from the end, work backwards and identify what needs to be done to reach that goal.
Some people like writing goals down, others prefer keeping them in their head. Regardless of how you choose to do it, make sure you are setting SMART goals for yourself that are achievable and realistic for the time frame that you have set your goal for.
It’s important to break down your goal into smaller, more manageable tasks so that it will be easier for you to measure your progress and stay motivated when things get tough.
2) Stay focused on that one goal by cutting out any and all distractions
People are easily distracted. It’s in human nature to want to do many things at once and switch from one task to another. The problem with this is that you lose focus and momentum, which defeats the point of starting the task in the first place.
We are often so caught up in what we’re doing that we don’t notice when we start to get distracted. You can prevent yourself from becoming distracted by using a good to-do list. Another way to combat this, try leaving some markers for yourself throughout your day or week with reminders about what you need to do.
For example, based off of your to-do list, you can put a sticky note on your laptop reminding yourself to work on a specific task. You can put little reminders on your calendar especially if the task is something you’ll do often. These markers can help you feel less scattered and will prevent you from forgetting important tasks.
3) Believe in yourself and your abilities.
A key step to achieving your goal is taking on a good mindset. Believe in yourself. You need to believe in your abilities and know that you can do great work.
It’s important to know your strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has their own strengths and everyone has their own weaknesses, but it is important to be confident in what you are good at. Know what you excel at and what you need to improve on. If you’re not confident, find someone who can help you with your skills.
This will take you on your way to achieving the goals you set.
