FAQ:  When starting my day, what should I do first?

As a Productivity Expert, I often get asked this question. People want to make sure they are maximizing their time and using effective task management.

If you think about back to when you were in school, you may remember teachers telling you that the best way to approach homework and other projects was to do the hardest task first.  They may have also advised you to tackle the homework subject you disliked the most first, before moving on.  This same approach can greatly enhance your productivity today.

When you are preparing to begin a fresh day at work, try to begin putting this approach into action.  Instead of beginning with a task you enjoy, or one which comes easily to you, start with one you dislike, or one which you feel will be quite difficult.  At the end of the day, you may be pleasantly surprised with how much you have accomplished.  You will also feel that the day has gone much smoother.

FAQ:  What factor s block productivity?

There are few things which block productivity as fast and as surely as distractions.  When you cannot concentrate and focus properly, you cannot get things done.  Even if you do accomplish something, it can feel stressful and frustrating.  Whether you are on the job or at school, reducing the distractions which influence your ability to be productive will help you to get more done.

Are you constantly interrupted by office visitors? Remove the candy jar from your desk, stack files on that extra chair in your office, and turn your desk at an angle so it does not directly face the door! There are plenty of strategies for eliminating pesky distractions.

FAQ:  What should I do when I lack the motivation to get started?

The easiest answer to this is “JUST START!” No matter how big or how small the task, make one step in the right direction. Do not get caught up in perfectionism or worry about finishing. Taking a stab at a dreaded task will show some self-discipline.

Self-discipline is an essential factor for productivity and success.  Without it, one becomes lazy, unmotivated, and dependent upon others.  Lack of self-discipline also makes for a difficult-to-deal-with employee, boss, or coworker.

Exercising self-discipline means, in an old-fashioned term, setting yourself to a task.  You need to know what must be done, when it must be done…and do it.  Good self-discipline includes a basic schedule, or framework, of what needs to be accomplished within a specific period of time.  You do not allow yourself to become sidetracked, or to procrastinate.