10 ways to have a more productive year

“We are what we frequently do.”

                                                          -Aristotle

Most of you would be regularly surprised by the elusive and uncanny nature of time and how it seems to glide past you. Minutes, hours and days go by and pretty soon you find yourself making a new set of resolutions again.

The point of focus should be being efficient and effective; there is no single being on the face of this planet that gets more than his allotted share of twenty-four hours in a day. The glaring contrast between productive utilization of time and effort, and the outcome of procrastinating and under-performing is there for all to see; you will never run out of examples and yesteryear legends. Let not the daily hassles and mindless tasks trick your brain into mistaking them for an accomplishment.

Here are a few pointers that may help you make the most out of the everyday bursts of motivation or your daily dose for enriching yourselves for a better tomorrow:

 

• The easiest way to get something done is to start doing it.
• There are no perfect short-cuts. Create routines, practice.
• Be aware and adapt to your working schedule. Remember, our energy waxes and wanes at different hours of the day.
• Know your strengths and work in sync with them, knowing at all times when you are at your motivated best.
• Try short bursts of focused and concentrated work, instead of the usual belief that more the time invested = higher the productivity.
• Willpower and patience are a finite resource and can burn out quick. Plan and use them wisely.
• If multitasking is not your forte, be confident enough to let go of tasks which are dragging you down.
• Assess your sleep pattern and accordingly schedule the most demanding or draining work.
• Have your own to – do list (daily, weekly, etc.; depending on your ulterior goals) and try keeping track of your progress.
• Try mastering the art of differentiating between the urgent and the important.

There are many ways and varied versions of attaining and maintaining high productivity, all true and applicable in their own ways. But all these are just mere pointers to help you make the all-important “start”. Eventually, it all boils down to believing and dedicating yourself to work towards your aims. Remember, in the end it’s all about making your actions speak louder than your words.