Small Hinges Swing Big Doors: Productivity Strategies

1.Write down your to do list the night before.

Take the time to actually write out what you need to get done tomorrow. I also use a 1-5 scale for each item. This ensures I don't move on to any "3's" and "4's" until I finish all the "1's" and "2's."

2.Do the big, long-term things FIRST!

This is going to seem counterintuitive. MAKE the time to work on the biggest, most important projects FIRST. Otherwise, you'll get bogged down by all the random stuff that pops up on a daily basis.

This means prioritizing your training or exercising. It means spending 30 minutes working on that book, before you respond to the day's emails, or even before doing the stuff you need to do for tomorrow.

Otherwise, you'll constantly push it to tomorrow and it'll never get done.

For me, it's my continuing education. I do 20 minutes a day first thing, and that way - no matter what, I'm putting in that time. If I'm able to do even more later, awesome.

3. Batch emails.

Turn off your notifications. Don't look at your email first thing in the AM. If you don't, you'll be constantly responding to emails and getting off track 24-7. It can wait. People can wait.

4. Set 30 or 60 minute deadlines.

This one is huge. Set a deadline to finish tasks. Sprint. Rest. Repeat.

Parkinson's Law states that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion. Give yourself lots of mini-deadlines throughout the day. I like working in 50 minute increments (with a 10 minute break in between).