Being Productive and Getting Work Done Faster

This insightful infographic from FundersandFounders.com has great tips on being productive and getting things done fast. Just because we have done things a certain way for a long time, does not mean it is the best way to do it.

Control Your Environment

Keep lights bright

I have just recently discovered that having an ultra bright room really makes it easier to get things done. I have a desk lamp, but as my desk is at the back wall way from the window I found that turning on the overhead light has a big impact.

Listen to music

I also like to work with background music, but for me it has to be music that does not distract and is calming.

About 15 years ago, I was looking for some calming music and discovered that Hawaiian music did that for me. First of all I did not understand the language and the music made me feel relaxed. The not understanding the language is no longer true as I have now picked up some Hawaiian words. My favorite online station is KKCR.org (Kaua`i Community Radio).

Assorted Tips

The first 15 minutes

The secret to get your work done fast is to just start and not question anything in the first 15 minutes of doing it, don’t stop, don’t correct typos and don’t get sidetracked.

Emails

Keep your emails short and to the point. You don’t have to write a book. If you like to write long emails, this will be difficult. For me the opposite is the case. I can’t write long emails or reports. When I studied English in Bournemouth, ages ago, my first essay came back with a note from the teacher: good but brief. I first had to look up what brief meant.

Go with the flow

If you are stuck and things just don’t flow and it feels like molasses, the best thing is to move on to something else. When the timing is right you can come back to this task and might find that you get it done in no time flat.

Stick to the task at hand

Our mind is like a race track and a very crowded one. Focus solely on the task you are doing and ignore all the other thoughts buzzing through your brain, multitasking really does not work and makes you inefficient.

I was lucky in that I went to primary school in a 2 room school house with about 60 kids and 2 teachers. My classroom had grades 4-6 (8, 10 and 12 students respectively). The teacher taught some subjects to all classes , then other times to 2 classes and only one to class. As a student I learned very fast that paying attention to what the teacher was doing rather than your assigned work, had dire consequences. So finishing my assigned work fast, left me time to listen in to the other classes.

Make Time Your Friend

Use a Timer

I find that time is a very fluid thing. When you are in the flow time just flies, but when you are stuck time moves at a snail’s pace. Use a timer method, like the Pomodoro method where you work in 25 minute segments and then take a 5 minute break or if you have to do something you know will take longer, do 2 25 minute segments back to back and then take a 10 minute break. Use that break to walk around, read some email or play a quickie computer game and then repeat the whole cycle again.