The urgency and attention with which you do things decides the rate at which you grow. Successful people have a way of getting things done, accomplishing more in the same time than other people do.
What is the secret of getting things done? Just do it, as they say.
Fortunately, becoming more productive can make you more successful and improve various aspects of your life. Your progress is measured by what you accomplish not the time spent on the work. Results speak for themselves, but to get the results you need to follow the process.
Here we look at some science backed ways to get things done.
1. Track Done lists
Define what you want to do in your day and keep track of the things you complete. Measure your progress by what you finish.
Successful people are very good at accomplishing things and finishing them. Your value will increase when you do valuable things.
Tracking your own tasks is a good way to gauge your progress and direction. When you achieve a lot in your day to day work, you cannot be left behind.
2. Plan by hours
If you plan your day by hours, you will be able to utilise it to get things done with more efficiency and control your day.
Successful people achieve more in their day because they plan and execute things better. An hourly break-up of your time will help you make your day more valuable.
3. Focus & Attention
How often you’re in control of what you are doing? Most people are struggling to keep their minds stable and focused. When they’re at work, they are unable to focus and concentrate. It leads to mediocrity in whatever you do.
How can you overcome mediocrity? Well, with absolute attention and focused mind. You can start your day with meditation, exercise and calm your mind. It helps you improve focus.
As author Cal Newport says, “You’re judged on what you do best so if you want to have as much success as possible you’re always better off doing fewer things but doing those things better.”
4. Follow the Process
What you do defines you. How well you do it brings greater opportunities for you. It is a simple fact, that you cannot rise doing ordinary things.
Following a simple routine and process to get the best out of yourself. Building great habits, eliminating distractions and loving what you do are things that will never hold you back.
5. Challenge Yourself
When was the last time you tried something new? When did you push yourself to put in little more efforts into what you’re doing? How often do you seek to improve yourself and what you are doing?
Most people get into a mental rut and like to repeat things overtime. They are too scared to try new things, experiment and love the inertia.
How do you break that? Well, by constantly improving yourself to do better, trying new things, keeping yourself up to date with what is going around in your field, and analysing what you are doing.
6. Learn to Work with Others
No one can succeed in isolation. Even the greatest artists, creative people and professionals need to learn to work with others. Very often the difference between whether you succeed or fail is decided by your ability to get along with others.
Forgive people’s mistakes, always offer to help, be kind and never think you’re the center of the universe. Staying humble means you’re always willing to learn from others and look out for ways to improve things.
7. Give Up Skepticism
By constant skepticism you only hurt yourself in the long run. You can either commit fully or give up, if you stay in between you will always produce mediocre results.
Skepticism saps your energy. Your life is shaped by your strongest beliefs. Either give your best or simply look for something else to do.
8. Eliminate Distractions
Be where you are and do what you do. The quality of work you do suffers when you are constantly interrupted.
When you are constantly dealing with distractions, it takes away your focus from things that really matter. Reduce the number of external stimuli that hamper your focus like social media, smartphone notifications, email, calls etc.
9. Exercise
Exercise relaxes, energises and improves your mental as well as physical capacity. It builds endurance and stamina to take on tough challenges.
Studies have shown that our body needs physical activity to unleash energy. When a person becomes physically inactive, he is more prone to depression and mental fatigue. When you stay fit and healthy, you can always make the most of your day.
