LITTLE KNOWN SECRETS TO HAVING A PRODUCTIVE DAY

Sometimes, I have found myself being caught up with a lot of things.The feeling of having a lot of things to do and end up not doing anything or not achieving up to what i intend to do, the feeling of guilt that comes with procrastinating about the tasks ahead of me. It is a normal feeling to feel overwhelmed especially when you have things on your plate.

 But

Do you know you can have a lot of things to do and eventually be able to achieve it all?

Do you know that the feeling of being overwhelmed can be erased?

Do you know there are always secrets to being productive?

In this write-up, I will be sharing three major secrets that help in productivity.

1. Determination: Everything you want to do in life starts from you first. You are accountable and responsible for your life. Much more than the feeling of being overwhelmed, make a decision that you can overcome or tackle whatever task you have ahead. Tell yourself, ‘I can do this!’ If you are determined and you believe in yourself , then there is nothing you won't be able to achieve no matter how difficult it is.
2. Goal setting: At the start of each day, set goals as to what you want to achieve for the day. There is five acronyms when it comes to Goal setting; 

S- Specific

M- Measurable

 A- Achievable

R- Realistic

 T- Time- bound

However, before explaining what these mean, there is something I would like you to do. Have a small notepad where you write your daily goals. ‘Small’ because it is easier to carry it around anywhere you go. Well, you can also use reminders on your phone or download a to-do list software application. These will help you become more alert on what to do when. So, let’s continue from where we stopped:

• Specific: Your goals must be specific, that is, you have to make an outline of what exactly you want to do. For example if you intend to read a book, for your goal to be specific , you have to state it , ‘To read 10 pages today’ or ‘I will read two chapters today’. It makes you know what to do. The following questions can guide you: What things do I want to achieve today? Which ones are more important than others? How can I achieve all my goals?
• Measurable: Your goals have to be measurable, that is, you must be able to track your progress even as the goals are achieved. Questions like how much should this task be done and how can I indicate my progress would guide you better.
• Achievable: You should set your goals in such a way that you can achieve them. You cannot set a goal of reading a book with 500 pages within an hour, when you know it is not possible for you to do that. Make sure you have the resources available so that you can have a productive day.
• Realistic: You have to make sure that the goals you set are realistic, in the real sense, you can achieve what you want to do within a specific time frame.
• Time bound: Your goals should be set within a specific time frame. Just like the example stated above, if you want to read 10 pages in a book per day, you have to set a particular time to when you want to achieve it, eg I will read 10 pages between 3pm-4pm. That is how to make your goals time bound and it will also keep you on your toes that at this particular time. This will help you not to have your tasks roll over to the following day. 

3. Eliminating distractions: Distractions are one of the major enemies of being productive. It is very important to eliminate distractions so as to improve productivity. Below are some of the ways to eliminate distractions; Creating a workspace to work: which should be preferably away from home to avoid more distractions. After creating a workspace, set specific work hours; Make the working hours known to those around you to avoid being disturbed during the hours. Prioritize Tasks: Use task prioritization techniques to do important tasks first, before moving to the non urgent ones. Turn Off Notifications: Turn off social media or non essential notifications on your phone to reduce distractions. You can also put your phone on "Do Not Disturb" modes.

In the midst of making your day productive, don't forget to take regular breaks because It helps to reduce stress levels and it also helps to focus and recall.

 An article by Ifeoluwa Ajayi