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Have you set hefty goals for your business in 2020? Are you looking for ways to ensure you achieve them? It’s not always easy to make time to evaluate if you’re on track to reach your goals. Whether you’re looking to add a new service line or get a new event on the calendar, here are ways to be more productive this year.
Set A Morning Routine
And no, this one cannot involve hitting snooze! Setting a morning routine is crucial for the trajectory of your day. For some, this means starting the day at the gym. For others, this means avoiding screen time first thing in the morning. Sometimes checking your inbox and feeling the need to reply immediately sets folks up for a rushed and anxiety-inducing day. Be sure to make time for yourself especially bright and early.
Use the Five-Sentence Rule
When sifting through your inbox, draft responses to emails that are five sentences or less. This tactic can allow you to quickly and succinctly convey your thoughts. There’s no need to spend hours replying or feeling guilty for not using enough exclamation points. Additionally, cut the time spent in your inbox. Aim to check it once in the morning and once in the afternoon. This allows you to focus on other tasks at hand and not live in your inbox.
Learn The Art of Time Blocking
Time blocking is when you segment your day and tasks into chunks of time. For example, blocking time to draft a press release from 9 to 10 a.m. means you must write during that time and once the clock hits 10 a.m., it’s time to move on to the next item. This way, you minimize distractions and multi-tasking. Time blocking also requires labeling tasks by priority level. In this case, drafting a press release takes importance over replying to an email about where to have lunch. Try time blocking your day to recognize which tasks are important and how long they actually take. Pro tip: block off time for self-care too!
Try The Ivy Lee Method
At the end of each workday, write down roughly six of the top things you’d like to accomplish the following day. This is the Ivy Lee Method. Start your list with the most important item and do not list more than six tasks. Using this method, you will only focus on one thing at a time and not move on until each task is complete. If you do not make it through your list, move the leftover tasks to the next day.
Need help achieving your 2020 goals? Contact the Social Ape team to learn more about how we can help you with social media marketing, public relations and more.
