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Most times when one particular strategy doesn't work for you, you would probably be considering productivity methods or other strategies for running your business more effectively than in the previous times. The quality of these efforts obviously will rely heavily on your efficiency.
Even with the numerous available advice about a few common productivity methods, there are some more unique processes that might just be in pseudo mode but could supercharge your efforts. Although not easily noticed, but they include creating checklists, as well as eating frogs. These techniques have something in common and that is: they help you more effectively approach the pile of tasks on your to-do list.
Productivity Methods
With this in mind, let’s look at some productivity methods that aren’t usually discussed. We’ll talk about using anti to-do lists to clear your outstanding tasks, and more!
Use a simple checklist to improve consistency.
Improve your sense of achievement with an anti to-do list.
Decide whether to “eat that frog.”
You are a few letters aways from learning about those frogs?! Keep reading!
- Use a simple checklist to improve consistency
The first of our productivity methods is likely one many might have already tried. For example, you’ve probably created checklists for completing personal day-to-day tasks.
On the other hand, what helps you ensure consistency and efficiency is using checklists to carry out complex tasks with many elements or steps.
This strategy was outlined to near-perfection in Atul Gawande’s book the Checklist Manifesto. In it, he postulates that >if one rigidly follows a simple checklist, then one's processes are less error prone, meaning you can reap the benefits of a significant reduction in ‘human error’ mistakes.
Implementing this method is simple. The next time you carry out a task — any task — document the exact steps, including login details, email addresses, and anything else that’s pertinent. Then simply follow the checklist to the letter, and add in any elements you missed. Over time, you’ll improve your ability to create comprehensive checklists and build up a handy set of resources for recurring tasks.
2.Improve your sense of achievement with an anti to-do list
Of course, how to use a basic to-do list is common knowledge when it comes to productivity methods. However, this strategy is unfortunately negative, because at the end of the day, all your list shows is what you failed to achieve.
Thus, Anti to-do lists are a smart solution to that problem.
check out this brilliance!
They begin empty, and by the end of the day, are filled with the tasks you’ve completed.
This self-motivational tool can work wonders for your productivity and sense of self-achievement, and it helps you keep track of everything.
Take small steps in a bid to implement this technique. Begin by hand-picking items from your regular to-do list and completing them, but note what they are. Look at the list the next morning, and then do the R&R (refresh and repeat) .
From here, you can take things further, such as using a dedicated Trello board to keep track of your daily lists. Eventually, you might find less use for your original to-do list. Over time, you’ll learn to self-prioritize your workload, and receive a motivational boost in the process.
#3. Decide whether to “eat that frog”
Who ever said being productive is achieve in comfort zones?
The third item on our list of productivity methods doesn’t exactly sound appetising, but that’s the point. This weirdest of productivity methods is derived from an oft-quoted soundbite from Mark Twain:
“If the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing it’s probably the worst thing to happen all day.”
While the source of this quote is in question, it’s still a sound way to improve productivity. All you have to do is apply this technique to your own work and kill all forms of procrastination. The frog! It is the best description of your most important or challenging task of the day, and eating it simply means getting it done.
Preferably, you’ll complete this task first thing in the morning, before any of your other work. After that, nothing else you need to do will feel quite as stressful. After all, if you’ve already completed your most demanding task of the day, everything else should be a a walk in the park.
Final thoughts on productivity methods
As the old saying goes,
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.”
In other words,
to see increased success, productivity, and efficiency in whichever level of life you are presently, you’ll need to change up your approach.
Also published on Medium.
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