10 Things that All Productive People Do

Productivity is a topic that is very dear to my heart because I am a first-hand beneficiary of being productive.

Can you remember the feeling that comes with being productive?

How did you sleep the night you knew you had given your best during the day?

I have felt most fulfilled and accomplished on the days I showed up productively for myself. I sleep better.

This summarizes what productivity can do for all of us if we embrace it.

My mindset shifted when I learned that productivity is not working 15 hours a day but setting 4 daily goals and achieving them within the set time.

We could have a whole discussion about what productivity isn’t, but I really wanted us to look into some of the things that productive people do, at least on a daily basis.

The things we are about to list are what you can also use as a guideline to help you achieve maximum productivity in your personal space.

 

 

1. They are mindful of their time

 

Time is of the essence when it comes to productivity. What you do with it matters.

Therefore, a productive person recognizes that they have 4 hours, for example, to deliver an assignment or complete a report, and they do their best within those hours to achieve that goal.

A productive person is not about to waste some 5 minutes somewhere because they seem little.

They are aware that 5 minutes here and there will help them achieve a reading goal of completing their favorite novel in a week.

Oh, here is another one: if a productive person ‘wastes’ time somewhere, they recognize it and make plans to make up for it.

I’m sure you get the drill on this one so let’s move to the next one that’s equally important.

 

 

2. They have to-do lists

 

 

 

 

To-do lists are an overview of the things that will occupy your day.

I must admit they have been such a lifesaver for me.

I have days that have felt chaotic because I didn’t create a to-do list or a ‘structure’, if you may.

Having three items on your to-do list is a sweet spot. Anything past five is overambitious, but hey, who said they couldn’t be achieved?

On a good day, I add bonus items for myself too.

These lists are not just a buzz- they bring order to your life.

Also, there is nothing as fulfilling as checking off items that you have already covered. So good!

I encourage you to start on it in case it’s not something you have been doing.

 

 

3. They take notes

 

A productive person is a person who achieves and taking notes helps a big deal in that.

Taking notes clears you some mental space because it means you don’t have to remember everything.

You can always refer to the notes you have taken later on.

Take notes in meetings, take notes of the ideas that come to you randomly- normalize taking notes.

 

 

4. They take time to review

 

Reviewing and analyzing is the only way to know if you have been productive.

It entails asking; ‘What are my deliverables for the day and have I achieved them?’

I acknowledge that some tasks might be quite challenging to measure and in such a case, breaking them down is always a good idea.

If for example, one task in your list is physical activity, a deliverable can be walking for two kilometers.

Reviewing helps you see where you flopped and what you can do next time to avoid that.

Maybe you’ll notice you need to allocate more time for some tasks. Maybe you’ll discover some tasks will perform better in the morning instead of the afternoon.

 

 

5. They stay organized

 

Organization and productivity go together.

Why? You ask? An organized space encourages a clear and focused mind.

Such spaces also set up an ambiance for success. Don’t you agree?

I always feel empowered to start working after I tidy up my space.

However, I’ll admit it’s not easy. Child! Staying organized is something else.

I created a whole checklist that can make that a little easier. Feel free to check it out here.

 

 

6. They set clear goals

 

Without a goal, any road seems to be right, but the moment you introduce a goal, you narrow down your focus.

That’s what productive people do. They don’t operate without goals.

A goal always brings you back in line when you seem to veer off. It reminds you why you are doing what you are doing in the first place.

Goals also guide your review process because you compare your results to the desired outcome.

 

 

7. They get rid of distractions

 

There is a gazillion of things competing for our attention and if being productive is your priority you develop a keen eye for distractions and avoid them.

At the top of the list is our phones. They seem to always be within reach.

Whenever I want to get some serious work done, like writing a blog post, I always put my phone upside down and behind my computer to avoid looking at it.

Using timers on the phone is such a hack for me. If I put a timer for an hour, I’ll bury my head into deep focus until the hour lapses.

This can help greatly limit distractions even the distraction of perfectionism. Yep! That too can eat into your precious time.

Just because I have written a draft for a blog post doesn\’t mean it has to be the last one.

I can set some more time to edit it even at a later date.

 

 

8. They have and use routines

 

Just like to-do lists, routines shape your day and save you the mental torture of thinking about what to do every morning or evening.

A routine is something repetitive and it ensures you achieve what you’ve set out to achieve every time you complete it.

To a good extent routines give you a sense of accomplishment even in the mundane things.

 

 

9. They stay consistent

 

Some results are achieved the more you do something over and over.

For instance, a productive person consistently writes to-do lists because they know the benefit.

When you become consistent in such, you become better at time approximation and speculation of future events.

 

 

10. They take advantage of technology

 

Technology is somewhat known for a couple of negative things but productive people know how to use it to their advantage.

For example, if you are pressed for time, and need to do a quick search, there are AI tools that can help with that.

You can also watch a short video on YouTube and learn how to DIY within a short period of time.

The possibilities are endless and you can be productive too.