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One of the most common misconceptions of productivity is that it is measured by how much you can accomplish in one day. But obsessing over crossing things off your to-do list can quickly cause stress and exhaustion. You’re more likely to get overwhelmed and burn out quickly. So what’s the key to productivity? It’s in self-management. Being able to self-manage your day with careful planning and prioritization will maximize your potential and leave you with a sense of accomplishment.
Self-management is one of the most important skills to have if you work from home. To help you maximize your productivity, we’ve put together three tips and strategies for self-management.
1. Keep Lists of Three
Checklist
The best way to start your day is by creating your run-of-the-mill to-do list. The first list has three things you will do today. This list is pretty much your standard to-do list with three of your most prioritized tasks. Limiting yourself to three main tasks allows you to realistically achieve your daily goals and forces you to focus on the important stuff.
Backburner List
The second is three things you’d like to get done, but aren’t essential. Think of it as your “back burner” list. If you manage to achieve your three goals for the day, you can revert to this list as a source for more tasks. You can also use this list as a springboard to plan ahead for tomorrow’s to-do list.
Reverse Checklist
While a usual checklist includes a list of tasks you want to complete, a reverse checklist reflects tasks you have completed. Taking time to reflect on your accomplishments at the end of the day keeps not only ensures you’re achieving your goals but also helps you plan for the next day. This is a great way to improve your self-management.
2. Block Your Time
Leadership coach Jason Womack has developed an interesting method for self-managing your day. His suggestion is to divide your day into 96 different 15-minute blocks. Womack’s strategy is to “make a list of 20 to 30 tasks you can accomplish in less than 15 minutes….This is not a list of to-dos, but rather the extras”, including the everyday tasks such as making a trip to the grocery store, picking up the kids from school or going to the gym. Some tasks may take up more than one 15-minute block. By doing this, you can properly plan and prioritize a productive day, ensuring you have enough time to accomplish everything on your checklist.
3. Harness the Power of Apps
Let’s face it, most of us are fairly attached to our phones. So why not download a couple of productivity apps? Both the Google and Apple app stores carry a plethora of apps designed to aid you in self-management. You can find an app to help self-manage your daily routine. Google Calendar or Apple’s iCal is a definite must for planning and maintaining a daily schedule. One of the most renowned productivity apps, Evernote is an online notebook for storing photos, notes, websites, PDFs, and to-do lists. There’s also Trello, Wunderlist, and Any.Do, all apps focused on creating and completing checklists. These apps are just a few great examples of self-management tools easily available.
Try incorporating these strategies for self-management into your daily routine. Being able to self-manage with careful planning and prioritization will be sure to enhance your productivity and lead you towards the path of success.
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How do you plan ahead and plan your strategies for self-management? Do you have another way to track your goals than what we’ve listed here? Follow CanScribe on Facebook and let us know any of your productivity tips, and check out our news, tips, and more!