5 Things Productive People Do Differently

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” – Paul J. Meyer

There are lots of productivity hacks out there but few are as effective as the tried and tested methods that productive people use. These are 5 things productive people do differently from everyone else that you can try for similar success. 

Practice a strict morning routine

The start of your day often sets the tone for how the rest of it will go. On this basis, many successful people establish a strict morning routine that’s guaranteed to help them meet their goals by the end of the day. 

You can set up a morning routine that suits you best to ensure that you’re able to stick to it for the long haul. For example, you can start your day off with some exercise or a chapter of a motivational book.

Focus on one thing at a time

Multitasking gives the illusion of productivity, however, studies show that it makes you less productive. The best thing to do to ensure you effectively meet your goals without wearing yourself out is to focus on one task at a time. 

By putting your maximum attention on the task at hand, you have a higher chance of completing it satisfactorily, before moving on to the next. By the end of the day, you’ll have a lot more done without feeling overwhelmed.

Finish the least exciting tasks first

Once you’ve mastered the habit of focusing on one task at a time, it’s best to start with the least exciting ones. People are typically more productive at the beginning of their day so it’s the best time to tackle harder tasks than later on when you’re feeling a little tuckered out. 

Leaving your easiest or more fun tasks for last also gives you something exciting to look forward to, so even if you’re starting to feel drained towards the end of your day, you’ll be able to muster the energy to complete those tasks. 

Never put things off for later

It’s always tempting to put things off instead of dealing with them right away. However, this seemingly minor habit can seriously affect your productivity. For example, if you receive an email and read it then put off replying to it for later, that task remains in the back of your mind, distracting you from whatever you’re doing at the time. 

The same applies to any other tasks apart from emails. Committing yourself to deal with issues at once will help with improving your productivity. Don’t put beating procrastination on the back-burner. 

Prepare for the next day beforehand

Preparation is the key to success, or in this case, being productive. Many suggest preparing for the next day the night before as a simple way to set yourself up for a productive day. 

This way, you can start your day strong and dive straight into work, having saved time by doing all the grunt work beforehand. 

“Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else .” – Peter Drucker