Productivity? How to get more done!

Tired of your ‘To Do List’? Have you been ignoring your to do list? Do you knock off a few items, only to add five more? Wish you had more time to get things done?

I’m writing this, as I write my list…..I LOVE to make a list! Maybe, it’s the rush of checking things off that list. I feel a sense of PRODUCTIVITY!

Today, our world is filled with distractions from urgent projects, other people’s emergencies, children, email, TV, cell phones and more. They’re all begging and doing the dance for your attention.

There is a scientifically proven reason why you need to WRITE your list and NEVER type it! When you physically write something down (goals or to do list), it activates and areas of your brain to get to work and make it happen. It’s the RAS or Reticular Activating System, if your a neuroscientist wanna be, like me.

Have you ever forgotten the grocery list you wrote down at home? Only to return home, bags in hand to realize you managed to remember everything on that list? RAS was at work!

Here are a few tips to increase your productivity:

• Schedule: It may sound too rigid, but planning out your day or your errands will keep you on task. You are more likely to get to the gym or finish that report for a big meeting if it’s in your schedule because you’ve set aside time for what is important.
• Small Steps: Need to clean off your desk? A big project? Some items can be very overwhelming. Break them down into small easy to do steps. I’m a big fan of dedicating 30 or 60 minutes. Set a timer, focus on the one task and eliminate any distractions by shutting off the phone or closing email. (Look at the app FocusAtWill.com, it’s fantastic! I subscribe to it!)
• Review When and Who: How urgent is the task? Is it your emergency or other’s lack of time management? Can it be delegated or out sourced by someone who will get it done quicker and better than if you did it?

Take a few minutes to look at your schedule and to do list. Developing a new habit to get more done and increase your productivity personally, will be a lifesaver.