Are you looking for a few simple ways to be more productive on a daily basis?
Does it feel as if your productivity levels are waning at work and home?
We don’t always realize it, but the smallest actions can have a big impact on how we live our lives.
Sometimes we need to stop and evaluate whether or not an item is truly helping or hindering our ability to get things done.
In this post, you’ll find five actions you can reduce and/or eliminate from your life to help free up your schedule, declutter your mind, and get more done.
You can think these actions as a type of productivity spring cleaning for your schedule and routines.
Let’s get started!
Answering unsolicited phone calls, mail, and email
We all know answering phone calls, reading email, and processing postal mail takes time.
But have you ever wondered how much time you waste each week on unsolicited queries and requests? Those minutes can quickly add up!
For starters, consider ignoring unknown telephone callers (if the call is important, they will leave a message or attempt to call again). The same goes for deleting unsolicited messages or mail.
You can also take steps to combat unsolicited requests from the source. Add yourself to do-not call lists, remove yourself from junk postal mail lists, and use strong spam and junk email blockers on your computer.
Forcing yourself to use old notes
Notes are like to-do lists: they are snapshots in time.
They record and keep track of everything that happened at a particular time and place.
While we hold onto notes for reference, we eventually have to evaluate our notes and decide whether or not they are worth keeping.
Now, this isn’t to say you should throw away all your notes or notebooks. Instead, you may want to strongly consider reviewing a small collection to see if they hold any value for you.
In some cases, you may have “outgrown” your old notes by learning new skills and information, reaching your goals, and picking up a new hobby or activity.
If you can’t honestly see yourself using your notes in the near future, it may be time to let them go.
Allowing Notification and alerts on your phone
While it can be exciting to receive a message about a friend’s upcoming birthday party, social media alerts can be downright disrupting to your daily work.
It’s important to keep in mind that those same alerts aren’t going anywhere; they will still be there when you log into your favorite social media apps later in the day or week.
Disable social media alerts on your cell phone and computer.
If you’re still tempted to check social media accounts while you work, you can switch your computer and cell phone to airplane mode.
You can also log out of your internet or wi-fi connection or use a software blocker to prevent you from visiting certain tempting sites.
Letting your workspace turn into a storage space
Is your workspace more of a storage space?
If you don’t have adequate space in which to work, it’s nearly impossible to layout design mockups or type on your keyboard.
Take an honest look around your immediate workspace. This may be a desk, bench, or counter. Then, ask yourself: “Do I have the space I need in which to do my work?”
If not, you may need do some decluttering.
Begin by removing any obvious trash, recycling, or items that do not belong in your immediate workspace.
Next, take a giant step back, and look at your space objectively. Which item or items are unnecessary for your daily work and should be removed?
Remove stacks of old files and archive them in a filing cabinet. Move boxes of inventory into storage.
Replace tools in toolboxes and place overflowing office supplies on a shelf, nearby closet, or cupboard.
Spending time on an activity you’ve obviously outgrown
That Tuesday salsa class no longer interests you and you have mixed feelings about going to your monthly book club.
What’s more, you haven’t been to your daily yoga class in months.
What do all of these items have in common? You have naturally outgrown these activities and are pumping in way too much energy and time into them.
Do keep in mind, outgrowing activities or interests isn’t anything serious, it’s just something that happens every now and then.
Instead of trying to fight the situation, you can take steps to reevaluate your schedule, your interests, and goals.
If your dance classes no longer interest you, maybe it’s time to ask your instructor if you should move up to the next level, or try another dance style.
Perhaps you might try another local book club or fitness class.
Or you may decide to go laterally and explore writing books instead of reading them, or take up hiking outdoors.
You may even decide to take a break from one or all activities to catch your breath and decide what to do next.
Learn How to Be More Productive
The world of work is filled with work; that’s why it’s so important to be able to do your work efficiently and effectively.
If you want clarity around being more productive in your business or life, book a free 30-minute video strategy session with me today.
How about you? Which actions are you going to clean up from your daily routine? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!
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