Part of the guide: Personal Brand
Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Youtube, Mobile Phone, Skype, friends and family; it’s crazy how many distractions there are in the age of online and instant connections.
I’ve read countless lists of productivity hacks, but for some reason I still find my mind wondering and my hands moving towards my Skype account.
If we actually worked out how much of our working day we spend being productive, it would probably be a fraction of the time we spend being distracted or worse; procrastinating.
The whole of society constantly uses distractions as an excuse not to do any actual work. At the end of the day this results in you accomplishing nothing and being slightly pissed off at yourself. Sound familiar?
If that sounds at all familiar, then pay close attention to these 4 “mind boggling” productivity hacks.
1. Track Your Time
First you need to really establish your problem, pointing out your specific problem and finding your main distractions. There are a bunch of innovative online tools, services and softwares that do this for you. Out of everything I’ve tried; Rescue Time has been the only tool I’ve kept using.
Rescue time tracks every move you make whilst online. As soon as you turn your computer on, Rescue time starts and begins tracking what you do with your time. It breaks everything down into several different graphs and charts on your own personal dashboard.
It tells you how much time you’ve spent online, the percentage of time you’ve spent being productive, it even tells you how much time you’ve spent on each visited website. The list goes on, it’s an incredibly powerful tool for literally rescuing your time.
When I started using Rescue Time my average productivity rate was around 58%. Now it’s more like 70%, the other 30% I spend randomly in my free time.
Visit Rescue Time to get started.
2. Write A List
Seriously, the most simple productivity hack is writing a list. What to write?
Well, people like to write their lists differently. My personal preference is making a list of all the things I want to accomplish the following day right before I sleep at night.
From the comfort of your own bed, with a clear mind; write a list of at least 5 tasks/goals you want to accomplish the next day. Always have one main goal or task each day. 50 item task lists don’t work.
Some people like to write exact times for their tasks, but I’ve found that makes me less productive. Breaking up your work day into segments only causes frustration and pressure to get tasks done in time. Pressure which usually results in brain fog and writers block.
Keep your list next to you all day in physical paper form. Otherwise, use SimpleOlogy to create your task lists online.
3. Turn Off The Internet Or Block Websites
If you’ve got brain intensive work that involves creativity on any level; turn off the Internet. You’ll be amazed by how smoothly and quickly your thoughts flow when the WiFi is switched off. It means you can’t check Gmail, access social networks or even touch your browser.
If you can’t turn off the Internet, disable WiFi. This isn’t exactly mind blowing advice; but it’s profoundly powerful.
4. Time Management
In the end productivity boils down to one thing; time management. Manage your time wisely, get organized and get rid of distractions. That one sentence will save you hundreds on productivity books & courses.
To manage your time, first get into a daily regime. Decide on your work hours and the hours you want to spend recreationally. I know the whole Internet Marketing lifestyle is about working whenever the heck you feel like it, but it’s just not an efficient way of getting shit done.
Establish a morning routine before starting work. Mine goes something like:
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- Breathe, Stretch, Smile and Leap Out Of Bed
- Drink Water, Eat A Snack And Perform Some Kind Of Light Exercise i.e. 50 pushups.
- Eat Breakfast, Play Some Music, Read 15-30 Pages Of A Book
- Plan Out My Day
- Start
By start your day I mean begin the first activity on your task list. Follow these “hacks” and you’ll be shocked at how your productivity sky rockets!
In Prosperity,
David Wood
P.S. Leave me your thoughts, comments and questions below.
Comments
Oliver Smith, September 19, 2012, 08:00
David, your productivity hacks are incredibly practical. I especially appreciate the recommendation to use Rescue Time; it’s a game changer. Writing a list and turning off the internet are simple yet effective strategies. Thanks for sharing!
Emma Johnson, September 19, 2012, 09:15
Great post, David! The idea of tracking time and managing distractions really resonates with me. Your morning routine is something I want to implement. These tips are going to help me stay focused and get more done. Thanks for the insights!
William Brown, September 19, 2012, 10:30
Thank you for these productivity hacks, David. The emphasis on time management and creating a daily routine is very useful. I’ve been struggling with distractions, and your advice on turning off the internet is spot on. Looking forward to trying out these tips!
Ava Williams, September 19, 2012, 11:45
David, your productivity tips are exactly what I needed. Writing a list and focusing on one main goal each day makes so much sense. The Rescue Time tool is a great find too. I can’t wait to put these strategies into practice. Thanks for sharing!
James Davis, September 19, 2012, 13:00
Wow, David! Your productivity hacks are fantastic. The focus on tracking time and managing internet usage is something I hadn’t considered. Your morning routine is inspiring and something I want to try. Thanks for the detailed and practical advice!
Isabella Martinez, September 19, 2012, 14:15
David, your post on productivity hacks is incredibly helpful. I love your straightforward advice on tracking time and writing lists. Turning off the internet is a simple but powerful strategy. Thank you for the comprehensive guide!
Henry Taylor, September 19, 2012, 15:30
Your article on productivity hacks is a goldmine of information, David. The emphasis on time management and reducing distractions resonates with me. Your experience and strategies provide a clear path to becoming more productive. Thanks for the detailed breakdown!
Sophia Garcia, September 19, 2012, 16:45
David, your comprehensive guide to productivity hacks is inspiring. The practical steps and strategies you shared, especially about tracking time and turning off the internet, are something I’ll definitely be implementing. Thank you for the valuable insights!
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Genuine question: if turning off the wifi is ‘profoundly powerful,’ why does hack one require software that runs while you’re online the whole time?
Four hacks, stripped down: 1) measure where the time actually goes 2) write tomorrow’s list tonight, one main task 3) cut connectivity for deep work 4) put 1 through 3 inside a fixed daily structure. Ivy’s right that they sit oddly together — hack three undoes hack one’s whole premise for that block. The gap nobody names: what do you do when the list from hack two needs the internet you just turned off in hack three?
I write technical documentation for a living, which means research tabs open the entire time I’m ‘creating.’ Turning off the wifi doesn’t clear my head, it removes the reference material I need mid-sentence. The advice assumes distraction and resource are the same sixteen browser tabs. They aren’t, for everyone.
Elif, sorry if this is obvious, but I had the same reaction to the morning routine list — fifty pushups, before breakfast, no exceptions? I’m fifty-eight and that is not happening. I don’t think one routine is meant to be gospel, but the post reads like it is.
Anneke’s dead right, and there’s an even better example three paragraphs down: hack three is announced as ‘mind blowing’ and then, one sentence later, called ‘not exactly mind blowing advice.’ Which is it? Turn the wifi off if you like. Just don’t sell it to me twice under two different labels.