When you have an online based job you should always be on the look out for ways to increase your productivity. The more work you get done in a short period of time means more time to kick back and relax and have fun.
Here are a 3 suggestions that can really increase your productivity
Keep a daily routine
Most people who are new to working online will scoff at the idea of anything that resembles a daily schedule because it reminds them to much of their 9 to 5 job. The truth of the matter is, that it can really boost productivity and prevent that you’ll be working in your spare time. By having a daily work schedule, you ensure you’ll have plenty of time to recharge afterwards, which is ultimately great for productivity.
Create to-do lists
Having a daily to-do list can do wonders for your productivity. Sure, deciding on the spot what to do next has a certain charm, but it leaves you spending too much time on deciding what to do next, and too little on actually working. Keep a daily to-do list and decide on your tasks for the next day before your work day is over, you’ll notice the difference almost immediately!
Depending on how you make out your list, you may even think about what items on your list have the highest priority. The simple task of making the list makes you work out a lot of things in your head ahead of time. This alone will help you stay more productive throughout your working day. As we are all dealing with multiple distractions.
It’s easy to lose your focus and get sucked into meaningless tasks and conversations. With your list you know at a glance what you should be working on, and if you make it a habit of not calling it a day until every item on your list is taken care of, you’re less likely to allow those distractions to take over big chunks of your working day.
Checking of an item on your to-do list will also give you a sense of accomplishment. Always take a moment to appreciate how much you’ve gotten done each time you check off an item of the list. Then use that feeling of accomplishment to get you through the next item. Rinse and repeat and before you know it, you’ve made it through yet another highly productive day.
Stop thinking and start doing
Start by defining your priorities. What do you want to achieve the most? Set short-term and long-term goals and give yourself due dates for each of these goals. Even if you don’t meet the deadline, it should be just enough to get you started.
Are you spending hours or days thinking and planning? Do you always focus on worst-case scenarios? Are you constantly trying to read between the lines? These are the signs that you tend to over analyze everything. Like it or not, but your thoughts are not a reality.
Just because you’re thinking of the worst-case scenario, it doesn’t mean it will happen. The best thing you can do is to go with the flow and just take action. Over analyzing situations rarely leads to a productive outcome.
Focus on doing one thing at a time. Multitasking is very overrated and extremely inefficient. It also leads you to never get one thing finished properly. Focus on doing things methodically and thoroughly.
Always finish one task before you move onto the next. If you implement these 3 simple ways to increase your productivity, you’ll find that your online work becomes less of a hassle and more enjoyable over time.