How To Unleash the Productivity Beast
Posted January 3, 2008 in Productivity 11 Rockin' Comments »
We all have a certain degree of commitment towards project we work on. But commitment alone won’t help us achieve our goals, being committed doesn’t mean you’re productive and it’s the degree of productivity we put into it that will help us move forward.
This is where we need to unleash the beast – the productivity beast. The word “beast” here refers to the amount of productive capability that you have within yourself that is waiting to be unleashed.
Here are some tips on unleashing that “beast”:
Set Limits
Although this might sound like an invalid argument when it come to being productive, this probably is one of the main factor why your productivity level hasn’t been where it should be.
Although we would all like to race at full speed, doing what we are trying to do, nothing overly done turns out good. Instead, if you limit yourself in terms of time and production, your productivity might improve. Would you rather think about something for 2 hours and apply it within one hour when your mind is refreshed or sit and think about something for 4 hours and take another 5 hours to put it in action?
Setting limit allows you to gain a perspective on what you are trying to do. Set limits on what you are doing. May be it’s the time. If it is, try and work for 2 hours with full dedication instead of 4 tomorrow and see how your productivity rolls.
Expand Your Knowledge
I am sorry but although you would like to think you know it all when it comes to your project, you don’t. There is always room for improvement and to learn more. So go ahead and grab a book and read and research some more on what you are trying to do. You will find you have a lot to learn. This learning will enable you to cut down on productivity loss as you will gain much more insight and apply it directly when the time comes you have to put it in action, rather than try and figure out at the very last moment.
Reading what others have to say on similar things will provide more insight and new perspective, hence, increasing your productivity and take things to the next level.
Get A Grip On Your Emails
I have found this to be one of the biggest barrier when it comes to being productive. Whenever I am on the computer I try to constantly check my emails, every minute adds up thus making it a considerable amount of time spent on checking and replying emails.
Instead, limit yourself to checking emails at a certain time of the day. Group your emails according to their importance and reply to the ones that need immediate attention. Make use of folders and subfolders so emails from certain addresses go directly to these folders, this will lessen the amount of time you try to figure out what is important and what’s not.
Too Much Thinking Isn’t Being Productive
Whenever we have a certain idea or project, we tend to think too much in order to make it the best we can. Instead of using that time to think, put it on paper ( computer ) and build around it. Once you see something taking shape you will gain a better perspective on what needs to be changed and done.
Productivity is all about applying and putting things in action.
These are some of the things we can do in order to unleash the productivity beast that resides within us. If we all follow certain rules, we can all be as productive as the guy in the next cubicle (unless you don’t have a cubicle), it’s all about applying and managing time in a proper manner.
What do you think?
This list is in no way extensive as productivity is something that we all handle in different ways. Please share some productivity tips with me and other readers so we can all gain some valuable insight on how we can unleash the beast within us. We all have the capability of unleashing the beast, it’s just the matter of how we do it.
Happy New Year to all the Freelance Folder readers. Let’s make this year the year of productivity and let the beast run wild.
Until next time,
Ritu
******
About the author: If you like what Ritu writes, check out Work N Play, a blog about blogging, technology and a lot of other things. ;)
subscribers
FreelanceCommunity
Design Trends: 25 Of The Coolest iPhone APP Website Designs
One type of design I’ve seen a lot lately are the iPhone sites. They generally follow the same plan of attack but are there some that really stand out?15 Typography Books To Help You Learn and Love Typography
A list of typography books that I personally recommend that has helped me learn, understand, appreciate & absolutely love typography and type layoutPeople to follow on Twitter for design resources
Here are some people on Twitter you should follow to find some great new design resources.Free Photoshop Brushes: Smoke Backgrounds
This set consists high-resolution free Photoshop brushes featuring smoke backgrounds. There are a total of 15 brushes with resolution of 2500 pixels each.A Clients Guide to Vector Verses Raster Art
A good, simple summary of vector art vs raster art for your clients.
PopularArticles
- SEO Techniques All Top Websites Should Use
- When a Client Can't Afford You: Why It's Still Better to Bid High
- How To Stop Scrambling For Clients And Get A Steady Stream Of Paying Gigs
- A Simple Way To Stop Clients From Rejecting Your Proposals
- 3 Reasons Your Rates Are Still Low (And How To Start Raising Them)







11 Rockin' Comments
Zakman
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 pmTerrific tips to consider to improve on the efficiency front, Ritu. Thanks!
However, since productivity is a ratio of output to input, it boils down to more output with less input means better productivity.
Some days could be ambiguous as to whether they’ve been ‘productive’ or not. I mean, if I spend a day researching a proposed infrastructure, to me it’s actually as productive as if I’m actually ‘doing’ the work.
I’d consider smart planning a key component in improving productivity.
Thássius V.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 pmGreat tips! In my opinion, sometimes brainstorming simply doens’t work. For those times, I think the best to do is to forget about your work/project and start doing something that you like.
Inspiration can come from the simplest and unexpected things.
Jansie Blom
January 4th, 2008 at 3:53 amkeep a tight noose on your social bookmarking.
jen_chan, writer SureFireWealth.com
January 4th, 2008 at 8:39 amI think it’s almost important to remember that we should not set impossible deadlines. The purpose of setting a limit is to get our minds focused on doing and finishing a specific task. If we set ourselves up for something truly difficult, it may only further lower our productivity.
redspace
January 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pmExcellent articles Ritu. It just basically managing our time better. There are so many distraction out there. If we lose focus we will wasting our very fast moving 24 hours time. About that knowledge somebody that give me a lot of inspiration said that you only see what you know.
Ritu
January 4th, 2008 at 11:43 pmThanks for your comment guys! I personally think one of the main factor that affects when it comes to being productive is - time and energy management.
Although most of the time we seem to play the blame game upon time, how we utilize the energy within us in terms of efficiency contributes a lot when it comes to being productive.
Trackbacks