Are you striving to become more productive? Do you believe highly productive people are actually born productive? Nope. No one is born with this important quality, but it’s possible to acquire it. Everyone can be productive in their own way and you should determine your own version of productivity.
Once you realize your own vision of productivity, you can feel a huge difference in the way you live and work. Productive people stick to several powerful rules that keep their success levels high. Luckily, with a little effort, you can master those rules as well. Here are some of the most effective productivity rules and how to use them.
1. The Rule of 3
Have you ever felt like your day was unproductive, albeit you’d worked all day without breaks? That’s because you worked reactively rather than deliberately. Does this feeling occur each day? Explore the Rule of 3 and incorporate it into your life. One of the best productivity techniques, the Rule of 3 involves completing 3 most meaningful or most important things daily, weekly, monthly, and annually.
We often work hard trying to accomplish as many tasks as we can, without having a clear vision for our desired outcomes of those tasks. The Rule of 3 makes you identify why you’re doing these tasks and what the outcome is. This productivity rule is simple.
All you have to do is to figure out the 3 most important outcomes of the day/week/month/year. If you’ve used to begin your day with a long to-do list and feel disappointed at the end of the day because you couldn’t accomplish all those tasks, stop it. Choose the 3 most critical outcomes you’d like to see at the end of the day and focus on them. The key is to focus on the outcomes, not tasks. Allow yourself to work deliberately. Be open to changes, though. If an important task pops up unexpectedly, you should alter your expected outcomes right away.
You’ll need a paper notebook to write down all your tasks, outcomes, and plans. It’s better if you plan the night before, as planning of the Rule of 3 takes time.
2. The 52/17 Rule
Unlike the Rule of 3, the 52/17 Rule keeps you organized each hour during the day. This rule involves taking more breaks while still working productively. This means you work 52 minutes without distractions and take a short 17-minute break. This rule will keep you concentrated on the tasks while rewarding you with the 17-minute break to rewire your brain. This way, you’ll produce the effective results without overstressing yourself.
The hardest thing about the 52/17 Rule is eliminating distractions during this 52-minute period. Why 52 minutes? Experts believe people tend to work more productively and efficiently for 52 minutes. If you keep working without taking a break, you’re going to feel sluggish, irritated, and tired, and to have poor focus. A 17-minute break is enough to increase your energy and improve your productivity.
The 52/17 Rule is particularly a time-saver for people working from home, albeit you can use it in the office as well. It will teach you the right strategies to get more tasks accomplished throughout the day.
3. The 10-minute Rule
Believe it or not, 10 minutes might drastically improve your productivity. Create your to-do list and dedicate 10 minutes to each of them. If one of those tasks require more time, break it into smaller 10-minute steps and focus on completing them. Set a timer for 10 minutes on your phone to ensure you stay on track with a certain task.
You might feel skeptical at first, but as soon as you change the way you frame your tasks, you’ll see how many things you could complete in an hour. You can start implementing this rule in your daily life, too. Have a 10-minute breakfast or a 10-minute shower. This rule is ideal for busy people who end up their days feeling stressed over the things they fail to do during the day. Don’t forget about a 10-minute lunch and a 10-minute break, though. Get out your timer and challenge yourself today.
4. The 80/20 Rule
One of the most popular productivity rules among successful entrepreneurs, the 80/20 Rule, also known as Pareto’s principle, is when 80% of your successful results derive from only 20% of your overall action. Chances are, you’ve already implemented this rule in your daily life without realizing it. For instance, 20% of your work produces 80% of your financial rewards. Or 20% of employees in your office provide 80% of your company’s success and revenue.
If you’re struggling with your never-ending to-do lists and all you achieve is chronic fatigue and tons of debts, give the 80/20 Rule a try. Check out your to-do list and select a few tasks that really help you move forward in life. The least important things could wait, so leave them where they are – on your list, not in your mind. By completing those important things, you can achieve enormous success. The quality is more critical than quantity here.
What’s also important is to find your peak work time and complete those things at this time. This way, you’ll finish your job faster, without feeling chronically tired or worried about missed deadlines. By developing an 80/20 mindset, you’ll become more focused on the specific tasks and spend less time distracting yourself with social media networks or looking for new opportunities.
How to Use Productivity Rules to Conquer More Final Thoughts
Make your productivity take a big leap forward with these simple yet effective rules. Instead of forcing yourself to work hard, learn how to work smart. You’ll get more things done without sacrificing too much of personal time. Professional time managers swear by these 4 powerful productivity rules and often mix them together during the week. Give each one a try to see what will work best for you and help you increase your efficiency, effectiveness, and most importantly, productivity. Not to mention that you’ll significantly reduce your stress levels.