Productivity Strategies for Busy People

Productivity is the one thing everyone talks about, but do we actually have it mastered?

I think the number one complaint I hear these days is, “I’m just too busy.” Unless you relocate to another planet that’s probably not going to change anytime soon!

However, there are lots of tips and tricks you can implement to start freeing up extra hours in your week that can make a huge difference in your quality of life and your productivity.

Here are a few:

  • Create lists of productive and important items you can complete in 10, 15, 30 and 45 minute increments. One of the big mistakes I see entrepreneurs and small business owners make over and over again is having an all or nothing approach to their time. If they don’t have multiple hours back to back, they simply don’t even attempt what they need to accomplish because they know it’s not enough time to get it done. You have to learn to work with what you’ve got, from where you are and make the most of it. Break down your revenue generating tasks into what you can do while you’re waiting to pick your kids up at school, have an extra 10 minutes before dinner is ready, or in between meetings and phone calls.
  • Find someone who can do it better, faster, cheaper. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, bookkeeping, shopping or errands, chances are there is someone that does it for a living and can take it off your plate. This applies to both personal items and business tasks outside of your genius zone. If it’s not a core personal value or key initiative to the overall running of your business find someone who can do it better, faster or cheaper so you have more time for the things and people you love! Don’t look at the cost of the service, look at the big picture of how you could use that time better or differently. Freeing up some of these tasks can do wonders for your productivity.
  • Group like things together. Pay all your bills at once, run errands one after the other, make phone calls back to back. Pre-plan and pre-schedule social media posts for your business a few days at a time. Just taking the extra 5 minutes to write down everything in a single category that you need to get done can save you time, money and frustration.
    productivity.
  • FamilyRe-purpose your time by combining activities. Exercise and quality time with friends or family are not mutually exclusive. Why not do something active instead of just eating and drinking! Listen to business audios or personal development programs while you exercise or run errands. Write out thank you notes or mailers to your prospects while waiting for clients to answer the phone or leaving a message. Even little shifts like wearing a headset while you are on the phone frees up your hands and makes you mobile. These are just a few examples. Stop right now and write down a few activities you can combine to free up more time in your day.

You can plan for and increase your productivity by even just
implementing ONE of the above shifts!

Take a few minutes now to write down what you can do right away to start implementing these strategies!

ps. Tweet me — @kellyroachint— and let me know what you’re doing to increase your productivity! I’d love to hear your master plan! Use #productivityblog and let’s chat!

For more productivity and freedom hacks, check out my podcast, Unstoppable Success Radio!