One of the most important habits that will lead to increased productivity is learning to practice the art of time management. So often, entrepreneurs, business owners, and busy professionals struggle with time management and effectively mapping out their entire day. They seem to be lacking a plan to know what they are going to do, when it will happen, and how they will accomplish it. My number one tip to fuel productivity revolves around creating timed segments and staying disciplined.
Create Timed Productivity Segments
When a schedule looks overwhelming, our brains’ natural response is to try to escape and seek some reprieve. Knowing that a schedule full of hour-after-hour tasks tends to create a sense of overload, it is crucial to find a way to segment the work to create motivation to complete tasks and not find a reason to run away from them.
A powerful tool that will assist you in becoming the execution machine you desire to be is to begin segmenting tasks into 30-minute work intervals. Set a timer and work for 30 straight minutes–focused entirely on the task at hand. This short increment of time is long enough to spend quality time focused on one specific task but short enough to keep your brain from becoming overwhelmed with the amount of work. The timer also keeps distractions at bay because the timer gives you permission to leave the task and take a scheduled break.
Be Disciplined to the Task
As with most things in life, the trick to the 30-minute productivity hack requires discipline. During this time, you cannot check your email; you cannot read the newspaper; you cannot shop online–all you can allow yourself to do is stay focused on the task. By implementing these short work periods with breaks every 30 minutes, you allow your brain to focus on a task completely, and you learn to resist the temptation to veer from the work. When the timer goes off–do what you need to do, and then set the timer and get started for another 30-minute segment.
One great way to spend your short break is by practicing active relaxation methods that prepare you mentally and physically to get back to work. By setting realistic time expectations, you set your brain up for success. Instead of forcing work, you are suddenly motivating yourself for outstanding results. This is why it is my number one productivity tool on how to get things accomplished.
At the Growth Architect, we want to help you find strategies that will help you focus to increase your productivity and multiply your results. That’s what we do! If you enjoyed this article, watch my video, Do This One Thing To Focus Better | BEST Productivity & Focus Hack.
Let’s grow!
Beate
Beate Chelette is The Growth Architect & Founder of The Women’s Code, a training company specialized in providing companies an ROI on Balanced Leadership. She has been named one of 50 must-follow women entrepreneurs by the Huffington Post. A first-generation immigrant who found herself $135,000 in debt as a single parent, she bootstrapped her passion for photography into a highly successful global business and eventually sold it to Bill Gates in a multimillion-dollar deal.
Beate works with business leaders and supports organizations by developing and providing training the training, tools, and expertise to create and maintain a balanced, equal, and inclusive work environment that fosters creativity, employee engagement, and corporate growth.
Recent clients include Merck, Women’s Legislative Caucus of California, Cal State University Dominguez Hills, Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), NFTE, CreativeLive, the Association of Corporate Growth, and TracyLocke.
Beate is the author of the #1 International Amazon Bestseller “Happy Woman Happy World – How to Go From Overwhelmed to Awesome” a book that corporate trainer and best-selling author Brian Tracy calls “a handbook for every woman who wants health, success and a fulfilling career.
To book Beate to speak or train please connect here. Your Time Is Valuable!
