11 tips to help you become a productivity powerhouse

Being productive every single day is important not only for accounting purpose in an office but also for self satisfaction. Whether you travel all the way to an office or have turned your house into one, leading a disciplined life and making days count is important for a sense of accomplishment. Listed below are the 11 golden ways to do the same:

1. Prioritizing tasks and assigning a particular deadline for each is necessary. Take some time in the morning and list them as "urgent", "important" or "unimportant". Tackling work that has been put off for long can offer peace of mind and get that heavy feeling off your chest. Procrastination can spell doom for productivity.
2. Don’t waste time checking mails and answering them. Keep that work for the lazy afternoons because mornings are for greater productive works. Think of something great and write it down in your diary. Written records are important but they can be very time consuming and create a vicious cycle.
3. Clean your table. This may not sound very impressive but the fact remains that clutter inhibits fresh and constructive thinking. Getting rid of the garbage can have a positive effect on your work.
4. Working on a routine enhances productivity. So, get up early in the morning at around 5 and make a great start. Great people like Thomas Edison or even John Grisham led a routine life and worked on their productivity through devotion towards work. An organized lifestyle offers plenty of room for organized thinking and gives way to productivity.
5. Multi-tasking may seem like the buzzword these days but in the end it reduces productivity by at least 5 per cent. Being mono-maniacal and working with complete focus is the key to greater productivity.
6. Daily workouts are great for fitness and act as a stress-buster. Enhanced energy will offer more productivity and focus. In fact, it is best to work out twice a day (one in the morning and another in the evening).
7. Making a to-do list is important but it is equally important to create a "not-to-do" list. Strike out work that need not be done.
8. Commuting takes up much of the productive time which can be utilized for gaining knowledge. Try reading an e-book or listening to a podcast while going to office or home. More knowledge means more productivity.
9. Do things right at the first attempt. Continuous efforts also mean losing out of precious time.
10. Spending less time in meetings can enhance productivity. In a two-hour meeting hardly 20 minutes of time is truly useful. The remaining part is used in gossip and meaningless discussions.
11. Dumping the TV and spending less time on the phone can help in focusing more time on work. You will be saving a lot on electricity as well.

Minimizing distractions can improve focus and give massive results only if you have enough tenacity and are bullish about your work. Being available to everyone will not enhance your productivity. It’s time to shut the door and think!

Sundeep Dhawan is the author of this article.