When you run your own business, productivity is key. However, productivity doesn’t just mean getting things done. It means getting things done consistently. People who manage to get a lot accomplished aren’t extraordinary, they’ve just mastered a few time-management tools that help them keep their to-do list under control and their productivity levels high.

So here are a few ways to be more productive and adapt your business and work style so that you can get more done in a lot less time.

6 Essential Ways to Be More Productive and Get More Done:

TURN OFF DISTRACTIONS

One main productivity killer is the distraction of the constant emails, texts, phone calls, ect.. The technology that is supposed to help us can sometimes be the very thing keeping us from getting stuff done. The good news is, we control that technology and can turn it off when it becomes too much of a distraction. For half an hour, try turning off your phone (or put it on silent) silence your email alerts and if you need to, disconnect from the internet. This will allow you to give all your attention to the task at hand without the constant interruptions.

BATCH WORK

If some of the tasks you need to get done are similar, you can group them together and schedule a specific time to get them done. Answering emails? Editing photos? Scheduling your social media posts? Instead of interrupting your other tasks to do these things intermittently, try batching them instead. Batch working is a simple productivity tip that allows you to take advantage of your full concentration by grouping a bunch of similar tasks together and doing them all at the same time.

ARM YOURSELF WITH THE TOOLS TO BE PRODUCTIVE (specifically, I upgraded my laptop after 7 years–yikes!)

No matter how organized and focused you are, if you don’t have the right tools, it can be hard to be productive. If the equipment that you’re using is holding you back, then consider upgrading or switching it up altogether.  The first step is understanding your different options and choosing those best fitted to your business needs.  For me, I was using a laptop from 2011 (yes, 7 years old!) and its performance capabilities were slowing me down.  The thought of having to go out and find the right laptop for my needs was daunting and it was easy to keep putting it off.  I decided on the HP Pavilion Touchscreen 15.6″ HD Notebook, with Intel® Core™ i7 Processor to speed up my workflow.  This laptop is perfect for those who need a computer that can run their office from home or on the go that is fast and efficient enough to run video editing and major browser and app multitasking. It has 8GB of RAM so it’s a breeze for me to download photos and videos from my photographer. It’s powered by an 8th Generation Intel® CoreTM processor and provides smooth system responsiveness and fast load times for an exceptional PC experience. And did I mention the amazing price of $649 from Sam’s Club? Not bad at all!

LISTEN TO MUSIC TO SET YOUR FOCUS

Listening to music can be a great way to block out distractions and help you concentrate on the task at hand. Of course, it’s important to pick the right type of music based on what you’re working on. For example, instrumental music is proven to be great for mentally demanding tasks like writing. You can visit https://coffitivity.com/  or create your own Spotify playlist.  Or check out focus@will, answer a few of their questions and they will give you a scientifically optimized music channel to help you focus!

SET TIME ASIDE TO MAKE YOUR TO DO LIST AND PRIORITIZE ON WHAT TO TACKLE FIRST

If you’re anything like most people, it can be pretty easy for your to-do list to get out of hand. As the list grows, so does your anxiety level and it starts to feel like you won’t have the time to get everything done. A good trick is to look at your list and prioritize the top three tasks that you need to accomplish. That way, you have a plan to tackle the most important items on your lists without feeling completely overwhelmed. When prioritizing your list, consider a few things liked due dates, importance, the consequences of getting that task done and the benefits of crossing it off your list!

TIMEBOX TO GET THINGS DONE

If you know you have an ever growing to do list, try blocking off specific times during your day to get certain things done. Set a timer on your phone and for that allotted amount of time, work on a particular task. Have a project that you know needs to get done but you always find a way to avoid it and work on something else? Timeboxing is a great way to fix that problem because scheduling time to work on things forces you to create the space to do them.

DECLUTTER YOUR WORKSPACE

For me, I need an office space that is organized, free of clutter, and stylish to be able to focus on my projects and feel inspired during the workday. Clutter can act as another distraction that will tear your focus away from the project you’re working on. Check out my blog post about 5 Tips To Refresh Your Office Space to get some ideas on how you can make your office a more productive place to work.

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