In the hustle of everyday life, we’re all on the lookout for new ways to get more done, since traditional methods don’t always cut it. This article spills the beans on simple, effective strategies to supercharge your productivity.
Tasks Efficiency
An unfamiliar technique that has helped me tremendously, and still helps me a lot, is “the 2-minute rule”, which is mentioned in David Allen’s book “Getting Things Done.” I highly recommend the book as it is full of useful insights.
So, what is this technique about?
If you have a task that can be completed in under 2 minutes, do it immediately when you remember it, so you can check it off as done on your list. When we have a task that is so easy to accomplish, we tend to postpone it, and more often than not, later becomes never.
For example, emails usually require minimal effort. But when you check off that task immediately upon remembering it, not only will you feel relieved, but you’ll also have a sense of satisfaction, motivating you to accomplish more tasks. This way, you’ll effectively manage your time and find that you complete more tasks throughout the day.
Prioritizing tasks
The Eisenhower principle, also known as “eat the frog,” successfully used by U.S. President Eisenhower. In theory, “eat the frog” translates to eating the frog first thing in the morning.
If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.- Mark Twain
In reality, this analogy refers to prioritizing tasks. So, from a group of tasks, start with the most challenging ones to ensure that even if you don’t finish them all, you’ve accomplished something substantial by the end of the day.
The Eisenhower Matrix, which includes a short scheme to help you better prioritize your time: Urgent and Important; Urgent, but less important; Important but not urgent; Not important and Not Urgent.
Results, not tasks
The rule of three – Instead of randomly checking off tasks in a to-do list, set three major goals or outcomes to achieve in a day, then break them down into tasks.
For example, if you’re writing an article, your tasks might include research, writing key ideas, elaborating and publishing.
Using this technique, you’ll experience greater satisfaction at the end of the day because you’ll see tangible results. You won’t just complete tasks to keep busy, but consistently work towards achieving results.
What if none of these techniques work?
These techniques might not always work out for some of you, and you don’t become productive no matter how motivated you are. You get demoralized, then begin to believe you can’t achieve anything. However, if you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, I have a better solution for you!
Set Deadlines
Settting deadlines that you must adhere to, will force you to compete with yourself. For example, if you used to complete a task in an hour before, try to finish it now in 45 minutes to compete with your old version.
Just because you set these deadlines, you feel more efficient and motivated to see your work through. This not only pushes your limits but also forces you to do everything more productively. This way, you’re competing with your old self.
So, how does it work?
The difference between a neurotypical brain and an ADHD brain is that the ADHD brain struggles to differentiate the importance of tasks, making it challenging to prioritize them. A long list of tasks on a to-do list could overwhelm someone with ADHD, resulting in the completion of unimportant tasks at times. That’s why, for instance, the Eisenhower Matrix I mentioned earlier wouldn’t work for someone with ADHD.
It’s not because you’re less intelligent or more intelligent; it’s because your brain simply works differently and motivates you differently. We can categorize these motivations into the 4 Cs: being captivated, creating, competing, and completing.
Being captivated is when something captures your interest and makes you want to see it through to the end. Creating something that requires creativity enthuses you, captures your interest, and motivates you to work. People with ADHD might excel in more creative fields, precisely because this aspect appeals to them and keeps them engaged throughout work. Competing also motivates an ADHD brain. Completing – a person with ADHD doesn’t struggle to finish something but rather to start it. That’s why people with ADHD might perform exceptionally well under pressure or in the final sprint, as they can concentrate best at that moment and have the most significant motivation to work.
Therefore, to maintain focus and maximize productivity, it’s best to leverage one of these 4 Cs to gain motivation for completing tasks.
