You may believe that only really smart or super motivated people get things done. You might even think that being "productive" is really just a business term that was created by employers to measure how much stuff their employees were doing. But being productive is more than that. Being productive is the difference between sitting on the sidelines watching life pass you by and actually getting in on the action and making life happen! If you don't do anything you can't achieve anything. Can you? It's not possible is it? But getting everything done all the time isn't some myth that only parents, teachers and bosses believe exist - anyone can make it happen - even you. So without further ado, below are the 7 laws of productivity that serial executors consistently engage in.
1. Break the cycle of inactivity. The biggest reason that projects are never brought to completion is because - we aren't getting off our behinds! Imagine that! If you are in a pattern of inactivity, passivity and/or procrastination, deadlines will pass by, opportunities begin knocking somewhere else, and we're still in the same spot we were when we began wondering if we should get on that project or not. Whether you're getting bogged down in the preparation process, spending more time talking and dreaming rather than doing, or just plain old being a lazy bum, you must begin challenging yourself to be an active participant in your life. The very moment you act, you start to finish. Don't talk, dream, or chill - DO!
2. Start small. How do you feel when you stare down a huge project? Typically, you wind up thinking, "man, this is over my head I don't see how I can spend that much time and energy doing one thing. Maybe some other, easier opportunity will come my way and I'll still achieve my goals a different way." Guess what? Things don't work that way. To earn anything worthwhile, you cannot get around the fact that you'll need to put in a lot of effort. So, instead of fretting over the mountain, fix your gaze on the next highest ledge, hoist yourself up, and keep going - that is, create a list of small, immediately attainable goals that will gradually lift you higher and higher toward your finish line. Smaller tasks are so much easier, and we often forget that all that larger goals are is a collection of smaller ones.
3. Fail, fail and then fail some more. The best way to get things done right? Why fail of course! There is no need to worry about having everything perfect all the time. Guess what, life isn't perfect. Trial and error is important. It helps us learn. Often when we try something for the first time we're not good at it. Big deal! It's persistence that matters, not avoiding failing. Rather than being discouraged by your "failures", learn from them. Then try again. And then try again. Sooner or later, you'll start kicking butt.
4. Create ordered task lists. If you don't set up benchmarks to help you actualize what you're aiming for, how will you know when you're gaining any ground? In addition to thinking small, it's always a good idea to give yourself a specified goal that you can put behind you within a specific timeline. For example, you can decide you'd like to, "learn five new American Sign Language letters by the end of the day". Simple, and totally doable is the way to go, you can get it done and it feels great to be that much closer to your goals! Don't stress yourself out with enormous day-to-day goals, or you could risk burnout.
5. Develop a routine. Consistent action is dynamite. Why? Well it explodes your outcomes. If you read for 20 minutes each day you for a year you will have read for 7300 minutes. That's over 120 hours! That's a lot of reading - and it's also a great lesson on why it's incredibly important to maintain momentum. The important thing isn't how much you do - it's how often you do it. It's true that routines can seem boring and uninspiring, but - on the contrary - they create a foundation for getting what you want.
6. It is okay to say no! What we mean by this is you must value your time as much as your friends and family may not understand, it is incredibly important you do not run yourself into the ground trying to help others. This, of course, does not mean you need to push your family and friends away. What it does mean though is when they approach you with tasks and lists that really don't fit in with your new routine or rules of productivity, it is okay to tell them no. Let them know you will get to it as soon as you can but your schedule is packed tight right now. And it really is! You are making time for you, your goals, your routine, and your productivity!
7. Remember that rules - even productivity rules - are made to be broken. All of these tips here should only be followed as long as they are working for you. Don't beat your head against the wall. If moving forward has become impossible with your current routines, then it's time to try something new. Do what works for you. But make sure you do something. Do nothing and you've fallen behind. Do nothing again tomorrow and you're even further behind. Do nothing again the day after and - well you get my drift. So get moving today!
1. Break the cycle of inactivity. The biggest reason that projects are never brought to completion is because - we aren't getting off our behinds! Imagine that! If you are in a pattern of inactivity, passivity and/or procrastination, deadlines will pass by, opportunities begin knocking somewhere else, and we're still in the same spot we were when we began wondering if we should get on that project or not. Whether you're getting bogged down in the preparation process, spending more time talking and dreaming rather than doing, or just plain old being a lazy bum, you must begin challenging yourself to be an active participant in your life. The very moment you act, you start to finish. Don't talk, dream, or chill - DO!
2. Start small. How do you feel when you stare down a huge project? Typically, you wind up thinking, "man, this is over my head I don't see how I can spend that much time and energy doing one thing. Maybe some other, easier opportunity will come my way and I'll still achieve my goals a different way." Guess what? Things don't work that way. To earn anything worthwhile, you cannot get around the fact that you'll need to put in a lot of effort. So, instead of fretting over the mountain, fix your gaze on the next highest ledge, hoist yourself up, and keep going - that is, create a list of small, immediately attainable goals that will gradually lift you higher and higher toward your finish line. Smaller tasks are so much easier, and we often forget that all that larger goals are is a collection of smaller ones.
3. Fail, fail and then fail some more. The best way to get things done right? Why fail of course! There is no need to worry about having everything perfect all the time. Guess what, life isn't perfect. Trial and error is important. It helps us learn. Often when we try something for the first time we're not good at it. Big deal! It's persistence that matters, not avoiding failing. Rather than being discouraged by your "failures", learn from them. Then try again. And then try again. Sooner or later, you'll start kicking butt.
4. Create ordered task lists. If you don't set up benchmarks to help you actualize what you're aiming for, how will you know when you're gaining any ground? In addition to thinking small, it's always a good idea to give yourself a specified goal that you can put behind you within a specific timeline. For example, you can decide you'd like to, "learn five new American Sign Language letters by the end of the day". Simple, and totally doable is the way to go, you can get it done and it feels great to be that much closer to your goals! Don't stress yourself out with enormous day-to-day goals, or you could risk burnout.
5. Develop a routine. Consistent action is dynamite. Why? Well it explodes your outcomes. If you read for 20 minutes each day you for a year you will have read for 7300 minutes. That's over 120 hours! That's a lot of reading - and it's also a great lesson on why it's incredibly important to maintain momentum. The important thing isn't how much you do - it's how often you do it. It's true that routines can seem boring and uninspiring, but - on the contrary - they create a foundation for getting what you want.
6. It is okay to say no! What we mean by this is you must value your time as much as your friends and family may not understand, it is incredibly important you do not run yourself into the ground trying to help others. This, of course, does not mean you need to push your family and friends away. What it does mean though is when they approach you with tasks and lists that really don't fit in with your new routine or rules of productivity, it is okay to tell them no. Let them know you will get to it as soon as you can but your schedule is packed tight right now. And it really is! You are making time for you, your goals, your routine, and your productivity!
7. Remember that rules - even productivity rules - are made to be broken. All of these tips here should only be followed as long as they are working for you. Don't beat your head against the wall. If moving forward has become impossible with your current routines, then it's time to try something new. Do what works for you. But make sure you do something. Do nothing and you've fallen behind. Do nothing again tomorrow and you're even further behind. Do nothing again the day after and - well you get my drift. So get moving today!
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