3 Productivity Tips For Entrepreneurs
As entrepreneurs, we have a lot on our plates. It seems there are always 100 things to do in a day and somehow we can never quite fit them all in.
When you’re struggling with your to-do list and fighting just to stay on top of things, your work starts to suffer. And things can slide down hill pretty fast.
That’s why having systems in place for staying productive is so important. If you don’t have a plan to stay productive, things aren’t going to go well for long.
These are my 3 best tips for increasing your productivity and getting more things done throughout your day. Whenever I implement these things in my day to day life I always see a big improvement in my work and how much I actually get done every day.
Tip 1: Get The Most Important Thing Done First
On any given day, you probably only have one or two things that absolutely have to get done. For some reason, those seem to be the things that we put off the most.
We waste our time on other little things or meaningless tasks rather than focusing our attention on the things we need to be doing. That’s why you should start your day off by doing the most important thing first.
Find that one thing that needs to get done. That thing that is most important and seems to be nagging at you. Do it first before you even start to think about doing something else.
Once you have that task finished, you’ll be feeling so much more productive. Usually the rest of your to-do list comes pretty easily. And if you think about it, all the other stuff you get done is a bonus.
Tip 2: Take Regular Breaks
This one seems a little counter intuitive. But taking breaks often can actually increase your productivity throughout the day.
Instead of working on something for a long period of time, feeling like you’re struggling to get through it, give yourself breaks every 30-60 minutes. These can be short 10 minute breaks or 30 minute breaks if that works for you.
Taking that time away from what you’re doing and giving your mind a rest helps you to jumpstart your productivity when you come back to it. I find that I often come back to my work feeling refreshed and motivated to keep going.
You might even find that you get something done a lot faster when you take breaks. Your mind stays sharper and you can focus more on the task at hand.
Tip 3: The 80/20 Rule
This rule says that 20% of the work produces 80% of the results. Which means that 80% of the things you’re doing aren’t really producing many results for you.
Cut out the 80% that isn’t serving you and focus on the other 20%. Usually those are the things that you’re dreading doing or putting off for some reason. Once you do that, you’ll not only find yourself a lot less stressed, but you’ll be seeing a lot more results.
Focus on doing only the tasks that you know will help you get to where you want to go. Don’t get distracted by all the other stuff that you think you have to be doing. Most of it isn’t worth your time anyways.
Conclusion
Productivity can be a very fickle thing. One day you might feel like you’re flying high and you’re on top of your to-do list. The next day you can’t seem to stop procrastinating on things.
These are the natural cycles that I think a lot of entrepreneurs go through. A plan for combating procrastination allows you to be more productive more often.
Follow these 3 simple tips and you will start to see some amazing results. Not only will you feel more productive, but you might also start to see more results from less effort which is something we all want.
Melanie Kernodle is the Chief Content Strategist and Copywriter at CopyRefresh. She is passionate about helping solopreneurs create amazing content that helps attract their ideal clients and grow their business. When she’s not writing, you can find her chowing down on some tacos or reading a personal development book. Join her free email course to help you write better copy here, or find her on Twitter and Instagram.
This is all great advice, and especially important to remember the 80-20 rule.. As summer should be making my business wind down, I am busier than ever in preparations for the fall months, so this was a great reminder for what I need to be focussing on!
Hey Pam, so glad you loved the advice—I am a huge fan of the 80/20 rule too! Happy fall planning!
Hey Jul’s!
I absolutely love this post. Thanks for posting it.
The part that I noticed right away was where it said
One day you might feel like you’re flying high and you’re on top of your to-do list. The next day you can’t seem to stop procrastinating on things.
That is so true! I tend to think that I made a mistake when that happens. I get right on the verge of giving up on my dreams, then I remember the reasons for them and the good things that have come from them.
I absolutely LOVE all three tips too! Like others have said the first one is amazing. I have made a list for what I’m going to do during the day, but often forget or put aside the most important things. Although doing the most important things first is one step. It’s one step that I didn’t think of, but will put into action! Thank you again my friend. Wonderful post!
So glad you felt my post was helpful Angela! I tend to be a procrastinator on the tasks I don’t want to do because they feel overwhelming or might have some worry round them for me. So doing first thing first and getting it done often takes a weight off my shoulders and I sail lighter through my day 🙂 Kudos for you for taking action!
Great post! I have to say I find #1 the most valuable for me. It can also be the one I procrastinate on, but when I finally get it done, I feel lighter and have time to do some of the 80% stuff that can actually be fun. Thanks for the reminder!!
Yes to doing the 80% that can actually be fun! Agreed, get that first 20% done and off your plate.
April, glad that you enjoyed the post! I’m a bit of a procrastinator too so getting that #1 thing done feels like a huge weight off my shoulders. I like to give myself incentives by giving myself a break after I complete the task or going to get a fancy coffee once I’m finished. Having something to look forward to and more motivation to get it done helps me focus and complete the task! 🙂
I love the fancy coffee treat idea!
Love all these three tips. #1 – get the most important things done first is so applicable to me. I found my energy is the highest at the beginning of the day and that I can pay most attention to the must-do things and get them done. I kind of getting a bit unfocused and tired in the afternoons so I usually do the work without using too much brain – like social media sharing.
I have to agree with you Erin—Jul’s here. Melanie definitely is spot on with #1—get the most important things done first. Even if you are not a morning person, my personal experience is that the day can get away from me, if I put off an intended task. It’s like exercising in the morning, you get it done and get the benefits of that all day long.
Erin, I feel the exact same way! I usually start off my day really motivated and then by the afternoon I feel like I’m slipping a little bit. That’s why getting the most important thing done first is so so helpful! So glad you enjoyed the tips! I hope they help you be more productive 🙂
Best,
Melanie
Yep—as I say, I think even non-early birds still do best to “Eat That Frog” first thing in their day. Loved the book, “Eat That Frog” by Brain Tracy—worth a read for productivity tips in business and life.