Work Against The Clock

Still in the time is money spirit, do you have any idea how much time you waste on irrelevant things. You probably don’t have the slightest of clues, so here is a quick eye opener: You waste a staggering amount of time:

• Checking email
• Checking social media accounts
• Answering phone calls
• Surfing the internet
• Et cetera, et cetera

To fix this problem, you need to work against the clock by timing yourself and sticking to your guns. If you dedicate sixty (60) minutes to a project, don’t do anything else within that hour without first completing the project. Set definite time to check email, tweet, return calls, chat and StumbleUpon a million websites – when you’re not working. This calls for a little self-discipline, which is a key ingredient to being more productive.

Build A Routine

Many will argue routine is the death of creativity. A few of us will even go ahead and affirm the famous “The less routine the more life” quote by Amos Bronson Alcott. Well, a poor time-dependent routine will hamper your creativity and reduce your productivity. On the other hand, a relaxed time-independent routine will let you work when you are the most productive, which will boost your creativity as well as productivity. This is what I mean:

You can plan to prospect for new clients for two hours and work on any given project for two hours every Monday. You can plan to do accounting for an hour and review your progress for an hour every Friday and so on. You can work when you’re most productive instead of trying to work around time. Once you develop a routine, stick to it because you need stability. A routine gives you confidence and control. You need the two if you dream of becoming a more productive.

What is your greatest distraction? Is it your romantic partner? Is it social media? TV? Movies? Netflix? Or perhaps you have a thing for funny cat videos as well. Know your distractions and eliminate them. Just before you succumb to to the lure of your greatest distraction, please remind yourself why it’s important to keep working. Better still, set time for distractions; we all need a break once in a while. Don’t take too many breaks though.

Break Down Big Projects

Projects that seem big can intimidate motivation right out of your veins. When motivation leaves, you automatically become victim to procrastination. So you keep putting off the big project to the tomorrow that never comes. The project creates a backlog, But in true sense, no project is really big especially if you break it down into smaller tasks. We usually have more time than we like to believe. Don’t let procrastination pull the rug from under you.

SHUN PERFECTIONISM

Perfectionism is the enemy of progress in any field, not just creative fields. The following are very destructive thought patterns:

• What if I could make this design a bit better? Just a tiny bit better so the client will fall head over heels in love with me.
• I followed all the directions but what if the client doesn’t love this design?
• I will spend a few more days on this design because, well, I could have finished it last year but I never know when to stop. Just one more day
• Etc

Don’t sacrifice your productivity trying too hard. Follow the client instructions to the letter and do your best but don’t waste time obsessing over tiny details. First, complete the job, and then revise later. Don’t shoot productivity in the foot (haha) by working and revising at the same time.

Live Healthy

You can’t be more productive if you are not healthy. If you fall sick (because you’re not taking care of yourself), your work will suffer. A healthy web designer is a motivated designer. Period. How many times do you need the doctor to reiterate:

• Exercise regularly
• Shun junk food in favor of healthy food
• Get enough rest (Sleep 6 to 8 hours per day)
• Drink plenty of water (Eight glasses per 24 hours)
• Reduce stress by taking walks, talking to friends, spending time on hobbies and never biting more than you can chew

Your health is your greatest wealth, and if that isn’t going on for you, your productivity will suffer. Take care of your health. Live healthy.

Cut Back On Your Working Hours

Working long hours doesn’t necessarily mean you are being productive. You can boost your productivity by working less hours per day. This might seem illogical but I’m not pulling your leg. This is the genius of working lesser hours.

If you have a deadline coming up, you will be much more efficient. You won’t have time for distractions and you will achieve more. You might even work through lunch just to complete your project in time. Lesser working hours will eventually turn you into a productive machine.

Because, you have the ability to do so much in a single hour but if you always have the entire day at your disposal, you won’t ever realize this innate potential. If you work for twelve (12) hours per day, cut that back to eight (8) or six (6) hours and continue from there. Try to resist the urge to work beyond your working hours.

You must be ready to grab all opportunities that come your way! Take time to keep up with changes. Learn as much as you need to stay ahead of the curve. The confidence that learning brings will help you to remain motivated and productive. Moreover, learning is great for your work and personal development.