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End 2024 With More Productivity: Simply Do These Two Things!

Updated: Oct 19, 2024

Derek Lovett

October 18, 2024



As we enter into the 4th quarter of 2024, many individuals are starting to reflect on the year. For some, this year has been just as productive as their expectations were high when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve 2023. For others it has been lackluster and, in spite of the busyness, they still feel like productivity has been a disappointment. For the latter, I am about to share two simple practices that can be easily implemented to improve productivity for the remainder of this year and set a foundation for consistent progress next year.


Foremost, these two practices are things that I can almost guarantee you have done either consciously or subconsciously throughout your life. Nonetheless, I have found that the key to driving consistent results is making intentional, calculated effort. Therefore, taking these two practices and making them a critical part of your day will make all the difference. That being said, let's get into it!


START ON PAPER

Notice that I said "on paper.” It’s not enough to plan things in your head. When the day gets busy, most individuals don't remember the smaller tasks that still need to get done. In fact, statistics show that by writing things down we are able to better organize our thoughts and ideas. Moreover, statistics show that by planning for 12 - 15 minutes at the start of the day the average person wastes 2 - 3 hours less time.


Let's think about why this is for a second. How much time and energy do you spend during the day just trying to figure out what your next activity will be? And how much time is wasted scrolling through social media or streaming tv shows because you did not already plan how to use your down time? Some of that time could have been spent on your goals.


Oftentimes individuals feel like they just don’t have enough time to complete tasks and work towards goals. However, regarding the time that is wasted, many of these individuals have simply failed to plan their time well enough. Remember, two hours per day equates to 10 hours per week which is roughly 40 hours per month. What could you have accomplished last month with 40 additional hours? (Hint: If you want a reference point for gauging how long it will take you to do something, simply search the internet with "how long does it takes to accomplish [blank] in hours?")


RECENTER

The reality is that even the best time managers are not going to have optimal focus every single day. We are only human. So, don't be discouraged when you have those off days. Some days we won't have much control of inefficiencies in productivity, such as those days when we have unplanned events and disruptions to our routine. And then some days you will just not have the energy to really engage with your tasks like you would like to. And all of that is okay. But it is important to note that there is an underlying battle that is simultaneously going on with your battle for productivity. This is a psychological battle we all face. Being productive makes us feel good. Not being productive, frankly, makes us feel bad. Therefore, this next practice is meant to help you win this psychological battle on those "off" days. By doing this you will be empowered to have a psychological win which can make all the difference in how you feel about yourself and your progress.


I like to call this practice "recentering." When you do have those days in which you don't feel like you were very productive, here's what you should do:

  • After the bulk of your day is over, you should look at the plan you wrote down for your day to assess what has not been done.

  • Then you should reasonably evaluate what you can still do with the time you have remaining for the day.

  • Plan to fit those tasks in while still allowing time to decompress and wind down from your day.

While you may not have completed all your daily tasks this will ensure that you end your day with some victories. Those small victories will produce dividends of encouragement and esteem as you make daily progress!


These ideas are from the planning framework, Refresh, Refocus, Rebuild. For more on daily planning and productivity, subscribe to our blog.

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