Take Your Productivity to New Heights With This Simple Trick
Adopting a laser-focus approach to achieve business and personal goals.
Feeling overwhelmed by your endless to-dos?
Not sure where to start, drowning in a constant flow of information?
Want to get more stuff done in your business and in your personal life?
Then…
Do Less, Then Obsess. And Get More (Much More) Done.
Sounds counterintuitive? Think again. Many studies have found that we humans are not that great at multi-tasking. Some even suggest that taking on too many things at once could lead to as much as a 40% reduction in productivity.
You could be almost half as effective, all the while thinking you are doing yourself and your team a favour by taking on more!
Constantly shifting goals confuses the brain. This is often referred to as ‘context switching’ — your brain has to refocus every time you switch your attention to something else. Using up valuable brainpower in the process.
So, instead of burning your brain cells out — how can you do less, then obsess?
Step 1: Ask Yourself This Question
What can you do right now, that will add the most value?
What will have the most impact, that you can start on right this moment?
Is it to call that lead, respond to a customer enquiry, or post that ad on social media?
Get clear on the top priorities that will move the needle in the right direction for your business. And the same goes for broader life stuff.
This will help you steer clear on brain fog — that frustrating sensation of not knowing where to focus your attention, submerged in mental clutter.
Instead, just decide.
What is the one thing that can have the biggest impact, which you can start working on right now?
Step 2: Laser-Focus On That One Thing
Once you have identified what that one thing is, picture this:
You are sitting at a table. That table is covered with paper, notes, post-its, and other things. These are your scattered thoughts, priorities, and to-dos.
Make a conscious effort to clear up that table. Brush it all off, let everything fall by the wayside. Then, place that one thing you need to focus on right now at the centre of the table.
You will more easily enter a state of flow, and achieve peace of mind, as you clear up your head with the assurance you are working on the right thing.
Mental clarity and sustained attention are the keys to being truly productive. Because you can purposefully direct your energy towards the task at hand.
Where focus goes, energy flows
So be like the hawk.
Stare intently at the problem, task, or challenge you are trying to solve.
Step 3: Nail It And Repeat
Last but not least, nail that one thing until you’re satisfied with the outcome.
Give it your 100%. Go all out. Sweat it. Work it. Start and ideally finish it — or, for chunkier bits, break it down into manageable tasks. This will help you feel like you are making progress towards your goals.
And this feeling of making progress will give you a dopamine hit, creating a positive reinforcement loop. Making it easier to gain momentum, and keep going.
Now, you’re on a roll. It feels great, you are aligned with what you are really meant to be doing right now. This gives you confidence. Focus.
Even better — purpose in the moment. Pretty powerful stuff!
Enough talk.
3 actions for you now:
- Choose your top priorities for the day;
- Take each priority, and break them down into discreet tasks;
- Go over the above 3 steps.
And feel like you own it.
There is a great sense of calm and satisfaction that comes with taking things one step at a time and working on them with intent. Rather than feeling frazzled and overwhelmed.
If you are trying to climb a mountain (your to-do list might be that high!), then focus on each step.
Don’t look up too often.
Just enjoy the process and the journey will become more pleasant as a result, too!
How did that go for you?
