10 Rules Highly Productive People Follow

Rebecca Lewis May 08, 2013

If you’re like most people, you probably wish you have more time to do all the things you need to do. But the fact remains that the clock ticks for only twenty-four hours a day. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something to address your productivity issues. If others can, why can’t you? Below are the 10 rules highly productive people follow. Incorporating them in your daily life will certainly help you master your time.

1. Remember this: being busy doesn’t mean being productive.

Highly productive people are able to get things done on time without having to cram and make themselves busy. The first thing you need to do is identify the things you are busy about. Are those things really important? If not, better set them aside.

2. Accomplishing 20 per cent of the most important tasks give you more satisfaction.

The Pareto Principle of Time Management suggests that around 80 per cent of what we achieve comes from just 20 per cent of what we do. Therefore, to become productive, you need to allocate more time and energy accomplishing the top 20 per cent of your goals. This will make you feel satisfied for the rest of the day.

3. Plan your day-to-day activities.

Make use of a planner so you can schedule your daily activities, including the strategies you need to accomplish your tasks in a speedy and effective manner.

4. Prioritise important things over urgent matters.

Many people think that just because a task is urgent, it is already important. But this is another time management myth. Last-minute distractions from your daily tasks are not necessarily priorities. They can eat a lot of your time.

5. Take note.

It doesn’t matter whether you type it on your mobile phone or write it in a sheet of paper – making a list of the activities you need to accomplish in a day can greatly give you the motivation you need to stay focused and accomplish whatever it is you need to accomplish.

6. Learn how to prioritise (Create an “A” list).

Maybe you have a lot of things to do in your mind so you list them all down. Having a long to-do list can make you feel overwhelmed even before you start doing the first task. Remember rule no. 2? You need to focus on the most important to get more productive. After listing down all your plans for the day, categorise each one according to their level of importance. Create an “A” list. Make sure that the most important are on top of your list!

7. Be able to distinguish obligatory time from discretionary time.

The latter is the time you have full control of while the former is the one which has been decided for you by someone else, probably your boss or your parents. Examples of the obligatory tasks are meetings, conferences and appointments. Although you can’t always change these matters or make an excuse to avoid them, you have discretionary time to do all other tasks you need to finish.

8. Start as soon as you can.

Focus on accomplishing your “A” list first. Then carry on with the rest of your planned activities. You will realise that even if you were not able to do them all, accomplishing your “A” list will make you feel productive and fulfilled.

9. Don’t leave the unfinished tasks behind. Schedule them again tomorrow.

The remaining tasks that you weren’t able to accomplish for the day can be included in your to-do list tomorrow. Don’t forget to re-prioritise.

10. Practise self-management.

The secret to successful time management is practising effective self-management. Although you don’t have control of time, you can definitely do something to manage it properly. Be positive that you will be able to complete a task, accept the responsibility that comes with it, and exert extra effort to gain better outcome.

One of the most satisfying experiences in life is having a productive day. With these tips, you can accomplish more whilst doing less.

What are the hindrances that prevent you from being productive? How do you deal with them? We’d love to hear your story. Share a comment below.