What is your number 1 productivity tip?

[RazorCut]

I used to be a night owl in the days of my Counterstrike addiction. I’d say to myself ‘hey what’s that noise’ and realise it was the dawn chorus outside and think hell its 4:30am, time for bed.

Now whether you believe it or not you are not born a morning person or night owl. It’s all habit. I owned a pizzeria at the time so wouldn't come home till late and was so wired I'd stay up late and that had become my ingrained habit long since I moved on from B&M to online businesses.

However, in the last 7 months I have been studying hard particularly around habit formation and self-improvement as I identified these as my main weaknesses. I made a vow to improve my productivity by switching my routine. Now I make a conscious effort to go to bed at 10pm and get up at 5am. This was a killer for me to start with. I mean a real killer. At 5am I didn't even know what planet I was on. However I have persevered. I have learned that if you can do something every day for 3 weeks you should have retrained your neural pathways into creating a new habit. I always air on the side of caution and will not break the cycle for at least 30 days. This means still getting up at 5am on weekends when I could easily lie in. That is another tough barrier to break through.

Anyway this has had a huge impact on my productivity. I get up, hit the shower, dress and have breakfast and am at the PC with a coffee and a pint of water just after 5:30. (Another habit I've cultivated is to have good hydration so I make sure I have at least 2 pints before 10am).

That early start gives me well over 2 hours to work in the solitude of a quiet house until I head for the office at around 7:45.

Now I have just started adding 15 minutes of quiet meditation time first thing in the morning so the alarm has been brought forward to 4:45.

By getting up early I guarantee to move forward towards my goals every single day regardless of how the rest of the day pans out, (you know those days that just goes south really quickly and nothing gets achieved? I get far too many of them lately).

So anyway that is my #1 tip. What about you? What have you found to make the most difference in your entrepreneurial life?

 

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[Boo Blizzi]

Time boxing.

Get a timer and set it to 33:33 and don't work on anything else EXCEPT the one task you need to get done until that timer rings.

Most of the time, you will find yourself in the groove and keep working past the alarm.

A major distraction for most of us is turning on the computer and checking emails, FB, twitter, etc before we began work.

The way I get most of my work done is by taking a writing pad with me when I go to the bathroom. I jot down everything I need to do step-by-step so when I get back to my computer... my work is like copying and pasting or executing from the list for dummies. (which we sometimes need)

 

[Vigilante]

Sam Walton had a saying… he said:

"anything that I spend any time on that doesn't directly benefit the customer is a waste of my time."

 

[JamesSJ]

First tip - email management

Based on something from Tim Ferriss.

I set up a vacation reply on all my email accounts (it's on 24 hours a day/7 days a week) that says something like

Thank you for your email!

Due to my current workload I am only checking email at 11am and 4pm (GMT).

If your email is related to X (vendor support, business opportunities etc) please email xx on x@x.com (My V.A)
If you need anything immediately please call or message me on Skype so that I can address this important matter with you.

Thank you and have a great day!

I really do only check my email twice a day. Previously when an email came in I would address it instantly and so was constantly treading water. With this approach I only check twice - can delegate what ever I necessary, reply to anything urgent and add anything to my todo list for tomorrow at those times...

I also just found a plugin for gmail called streak - https://www.streak.com/email-snooze-in-gmail

It let's you 'snooze' an email into the future... so if I see something I want to read or reply to but don't have time i'll have it removed from my inbox and sent at a future time or day.

Zero inbox - Big one for me - my inbox has zero in it or at least under 20 mails. Everything is archived and I extensively use Google's labels and rules to ensure email is not just one big giant list. There is nothing worse than seeing an inbox with 15,364 emails in it... move them or use a rule to delete all the junk. With archive they are all still there - your inbox can become a short and concise 'to do' for the day if it only has 4 or 5 emails in it...

Which leads me to my second productivity tip - To Do List.

I have a list of todo's
Every night I work out a list of 5 - 10 things to achieve tomorrow.
That give me a structure for the following day.

Third - Exercise, eat well and drink water

I try and get up around 6.30 every day - i'll run or head to the boxing gym (on days I skip this exercise I feel less motivated to get through work!) for a couple of hours. Days I do this once i've eaten and showered I can power through my work.

Fourth - delegation.
Bootstrapping is fine. However there comes a point when trying to muddle through something is deflating and counter productive. Hire someone on elance etc to get the small , tedious stuff or the work you can't do yourself done so you can work on the bigger picture.

Fifth - time off, down time
I'm guilty of spending every waking on hour on my business. If i'm not on my laptop, i'm on my phone. If i'm not on my phone i'm writing notes in a book or thinking about some strategy or experiment... I need to stop this.

My goal is to set designated times off work - even just a Sunday off or stop working at 7pm and do something - watch a film , Xbox or something... you need to switch off. I do like a bit of martial arts (Muay Thai) - there's nothing like full contact sparring to take your mind of broken HTML or complaining customers

Bonus - Stop worrying and putting stress and pressure on yourself.

Will this affect you in a week?
Will this affect you in a year?
What about ten years?

If the answer is no to those - then really it's not a big deal.

 

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[Andy Black]

I think my number one productivity tip would be to do nothing sometimes.... to actually decide NOT to do something.

When I was a database administrator I used to have on my CV that I tuned a bit of code that previously ran in 2 hours down to 9 seconds. Interviewers were impressed with the technical skills to do that. I would get hired though by saying that I had wasted my time because I hadn't found out first what the code was doing, because if I had, then I would had recommended not running it in the first place, and thus reducing time taken to 0 seconds.

So that's my tip. Do you really need to add all those features or create that product to launch and find out if someone wants to buy? I struggle with this all the time though.

 

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[Andy Black]

Wow a blast from the past. The alarm still goes off at 5am and I still manage to go to bed around 10pm.

Thanks for the post, I'll give TimeYourWeb a try. I am using Focus 10 as a pomodoro app which works well.

Funny... I read the first few posts and found that 4 years ago my number one tip is the same as what I’d say now, and what I still struggle with.

My number 1 productivity tip is to stop doing things you shouldn’t be doing.

 

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[davedev]

Wake up. Do 30 pushups. Immediately knock out task #1 that you wrote down on your Todo list before you went to sleep.

 

[Magik]

Eliminate, Automate, Delegate (or outsource), Defer, and Do

1. Eliminate the things that you do not need to be doing. Remove anything from your life that detracts from focus. This could be a job, a negative person, a bad habit, etc.

2. Automate whatever you can, which won't be much beyond bills and certain parts of your business like if you use Wordpress, Hootsuite, etc.

3. Delegate/Outsource: If you are long on time and short on money, probably not wise to do much of this. You also don't want to outsource something extremely important to your business.

4. Defer: Is this something that needs to be done later? If so, put it on the back burner

5. Do: Something that needs to be done now or very soon.

--Batch Tasks: All errands, phone calls, emails, appointments etc. should be all done at one time, not stretched throughout the day, and not stretched all over town.

--Project Monogamy: Obviously only one business, but also only work on one project at a time. If you are writing a book, put all of your focus into finishing it. The winners in life are the ones who finish many things and do it in an excellent manner. Focus is important, and if you're working on too many things, your focus will be spread too thin.

--Work Scheduling: Things that require creative focus should be done during the part of the day when you have maximum focus. For me, this is the afternoon. For things that are more mechanical, save those for the portion of the day when you aren't at maximum focus.

--Errand Scheduling: Always best to not run errands when the herd is there at it's peak. Stay out of rush hour traffic, don't go to the grocery store on Sunday, don't go eat lunch at noon, etc.

--Minimize Interruptions: Once you start something, zero in on it and don't jump to something else. 4 straight, solid hours of work without interruption is better than 8 hours filled with interruptions.

 

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[Jakeeck]

Time boxing.

Get a timer and set it to 33:33 and don't work on anything else EXCEPT the one task you need to get done until that timer rings.

Most of the time, you will find yourself in the groove and keep working past the alarm.

A major distraction for most of us is turning on the computer and checking emails, FB, twitter, etc before we began work.

The way I get most of my work done is by taking a writing pad with me when I go to the bathroom. I jot down everything I need to do step-by-step so when I get back to my computer... my work is like copying and pasting or executing from the list for dummies. (which we sometimes need)

This is a big problem for me. I've deactivated Facebook, which keeps me off of there, but I'm always checking forums when I should be working. I've gotta start writing out a list because sometimes I get so scatter-brained and lose my train of thought, and that's when I hop on the forum "for a couple minutes" which turns into more than a couple minutes obviously.

 

[Joe Cassandra]

Use the App Any.Do. Right 3-4 things YOU WILL do the next day, you'll get into the habit of crossing them off and they stay in the notification box on your phone so you'll always be reminded.

Thus, they weigh on your subconscious all day until you finish them.

Just found the app a couple weeks ago, works every time. I find the days I don't use it, I'm more unproductive.

 

[Boo Blizzi]

Someone is bound to chime in with using the GTD (getting things done) method by David Allen. His argument is you cant really be psychologically productive until you get stuff out of your head and into a container where you know its safe and you can always reach it. If you dont, then stuff will keep popping up at times when you dont need it and causing you to worry about it.

I tried setting it up a version in Evernote, but I never followed it to the letter. It involves creating a series of buckets (or notebooks in the case of Evernote) and processing information to determine if it is an actionable task.

If the thought can be acted upon, then you assign it to the appropriate bucket and act on it accordingly . This is not exactly as the book teaches, but the buckets would be labeled something like:

• Inbox (this is where you collect everything. all ideas, phone calls, emails... everything!)
• Trash (anything you dont need to keep)
• Do it now (this is where you move anything that can be completed in one action)
• Do next (this is where you move high priority tasks that require more than 1 action and will have a major impact on your goal for the day)
• Do someday (this is for stuff you want to get around to eventually)
• Reference/Project Material (this is where you store all the resources for your key activities)
• Waiting (this is for stuff you cant complete until you get more input from someone or somewhere else)

There is also supposed to be a calendar for you to schedule things, but I use a different app for that. Evernote just added that feature tho... so maybe I will switch my workflow.

 

[Kyle Tully]

Lots of good advice here, especially the early morning stuff.

(It's 4am here in Sydney and I've been up for about an hour!)

My #1 productivity tip is to find the passion in what you're doing.

Whether it's tapping into your big WHY (money, providing for your family, freedom, pleasure/pain etc), loving serving your customers, the sheer enjoyment of the process or whatever... when you have passion driving you forward I've found you don't need any other productivity hacks.

 

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[whiz]

Honestly?

Probably to stop opening your phone/computer without a damn plan.

I put a yellow pad on top of my laptop so before I open it, I write what I'm going to do.

I find that it's better to hack it out on paper before you actually get to it.

If you can't really plan it out with a pen and pad, you probably don't know what you're doing. And you're probably about to waste time.

I like to just sit with the pen and pad and think about my angles, what I'm trying to achieve, etc... maybe I'll write a list or bullet points, or some web diagram thingy... whatever.

All the important/hard work starts with you. Just you and a pen and pad, in a quiet room.

There's a quote, something like:

"Give me 3 months to build a house and I'll spend 2 planning it."

Something like that. That's how I am. I'm not really the "hack away" type. I love to examine angles beforehand, it helps me save time. I'm very analytical.

Other things - a quiet place is great. Especially a place where other people are doing work. Like the library. It's kinda hard to slack off at the library. You feel like an idiot.

Also, eat right, exercise your mind, exercise your body, go for a walk/take a break when needed. Know when it's time to stop.

Coffee.

Lyric-less music - instrumental music is great to keep me going. Think jazz, classical guitar, lo-fi hip-hop beats... that type of stuff. Cyclical kinda music - think how video game music is. It entrances you and pulls you in. That's how the music affects me when I'm working on the computer.

And the most important part: CONSISTENCY.

Working your productivity muscle is like working any other.

You must work it consistently so the "productive you" just becomes "you".

That's everything - I think...

 

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[JasonR]

You know, I do have to admit something.

I have a hard time waking up in the morning. I'll go to bed at 12-2am and wake up anywhere between 8-9 am.

I've been trying to change this, as I'd like to spring up at 7 am and get going.

I've managed to do this before, but in the last 8 months I haven't been able to get on this routine.

One problem is, I don't have to be up for any particular reason (no more job) - where as if I had a job or an appointment I can wake up for that.

Something I need to change...

 

[hotshot]

A recurring theme here is getting up early. I myself get up at 5am every day.

I used to eat breakfast then head to the gym. I made a recent tweak to this routine, and instead of working out, I get straight to business. Then work out at the end of the day. What a difference it makes! So this is my #1 hack, get straight to work.

#2 is using a to-do list. I just keep a notebook where every day gets a new page, and I write anything important on it. This doubles up as a journal that I can reflect back on. Business ideas get highlighted so I can pick 'em off later, to be added to my "idea" notebook.

#3 is to walk for 30 minutes whenever my brain starts to shut down.

#4 is cook all my food for the week in one day. I take 3 hours every Sunday to cook 14 healthy, calorie dense meals. That way during the week, aside from smoothies, a hot meal is never more than a 10-minute microwave session away. I eat about 4000 calories per day, so this is essential for me.

In hindsight the numbering is useless, these are four #1 productivity hacks

 

[Mattie]

Create or Co-create. Anything else is wasting my time. I have a different approach because from the start when I began writing, my spiritual mentor took my focus off how many people followed me, or numbers, or social recognition. Her objective was to get me to create and do without validation, approval, or having people like me. Those followers came naturally, and they come to me versus looking for them.

So it is strange to me to learn what everyone's doing in here, because I do, and see results by relating and connecting with people where they are in the moment. She was always teaching me not to pay attention to time. Stay in this moment, and now. So yes schedule's are nice and organization that I have to adapt to now. There's important lessons from both sides.

 

[Aidan]

I'm all about the 5am wake-up call. I can relate to that. I've just spent so much time gaming in the past that I've decided to do nothing but learn and apply entrepreneurial values with my free time. Also, Family, Occasionally friends, and maybe a girl here and there (nothing serious though).

 

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[H. Palmer]

List your personal goals and review your progress every day.

 

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[RogueInnovation]

My tip?

Sit.


If you can handle sitting for a few days, lol, then you can just get up and do work.
No computer or phone though.

I think the reason it works so well is because you are in a state of constant awareness and delayed gratification.


I think its cool cuz, just switchin off bs, turns ON your biz guy.
And I like sitting.


An emergency tip is: (and this is a fav)
Wake up 6 hours earlier than everyone else.
You get 6 hours to think ahead, go into the day ahead of everyone by about half a day.
(not everyday obviously, but for more active tasks like important calls, visits, logistics, and other headaches)

A general tip:
Just scetch tasks every now and then, it allows a flow of reiteration on all your plans, which is better for keeping things naturally productive and at their peak.


A personal tip:
Take time to consider and respect people, nothing wastes more time than ignorance.

 

[Angus]

1) find the short period of time when you're the most productive
2) give your 100% on these hours
3) chill when you're done
4) ????
5) profit

 

[FionaS]

I have not, but I can't imagine reading a full book geared toward waking up early. What am I missing?

It's not just about waking up early, more about creating a morning routine that will make you excited to wake up and starts your day off on a good foot. Wanting to wake up earlier is often just a side-effect.

 

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[RazorCut]

Wow a blast from the past. The alarm still goes off at 5am and I still manage to go to bed around 10pm.

Thanks for the post, I'll give TimeYourWeb a try. I am using Focus 10 as a pomodoro app which works well.

 

[pickeringmt]

I'm all about the ToDo list - I just shared my latest version HERE
I am thrilled with it

Also, get up EARLY. Make a routine for the morning, mid-day, and night - nothing crazy, just a short list of recurring tasks to knock out daily.

Force yourself to take one day a week to slow down and relax. It will make the work you do better and also cut down on burn out

 

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[Get Right]

30 minute focused meditation every day.

Here are some things I "ask" myself:

What is the most important thing I need to do today to get where I want to go?
What are the biggest obstacles in that path?
How do I get over those obstacles first?

 

[Dahava]

My number 1 "productivity" tip is REDUCTIVITY! Reduce the things you do to focus on the essential. As Thoreau said, "Simplify, simplify, simplify." While certainly no entrepreneur, Thoreau's context urged us to focus on the things that truly mattered. Once you've reduced your tasks down to the essential, then implement the techniques mentioned in other comments. This way, you can truly achieve the balance of "efficient and effective" in your processes and tasks.

 

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[johnp]

Here's something that has been working for me with 2 do lists.

I always write a to do in the past tense, even if I have not completed it.

Example:

- I called Mark at ABC Inc about our partnership
- I pruned my list of keywords
- I fixed PHP bug on home page
etc...

After I actually complete the task I'll go back and cross it off the list.

This little trick helps me shift my mind-set into a results driven state and it really helps when you first wake up in the morning.

Maybe this only works for me..idk. But try it out

 

[bizzle]

Another big one is start saying NO!

I fall into the trap of doing everything for everyone. Helping friends with computer issues, helping with construction projects, watching peoples dogs, designing t-shirts for fundraisers, Photoshop projects, listing stuff on eBay....And the worst part is I do it for FREE!

I'm not saying be an a$$, but you need to get your own life in order first! Politely say "I'm sorry, but I don't have time to effectively help you right now." I believe that statement was from Jack Canfield.

Also, I have loved the Miracle Morning for feeling better and getting more done. And I'm not a morning person.

 

[RazorCut]

"anything that I spend any time on that doesn't directly benefit the customer is a waste of my time."

Yes its all too easy to get sidetracked into doing worthless work. 80/20 rules everytime.

 

[Formless]

Do less. Do effective things. Do them repeatedly.

 

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[consty]

1. Wake up early.
2. Make a To Do lists with the most important things to do for the day and bang them out before I do anything else.