PRODUCTIVITY HACKS TO HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR TIME

These are the physical, mental and operational productivity tips that have worked best for me and my business partners.

Physical productivity hacks

Wake up early. If you are a father, your children may be demanding you in the morning; Once you arrive at the office, your employees are likely to do the same. It can be difficult, but getting up before everyone else can help you achieve more without interruptions. Even if you use the time to meditate or exercise instead of working, you can benefit from the increased energy and focus you get.       

Exercise. One of my business partners trusts running to clear and gain mental and physical energy. The other says he gets his best ideas during his daily morning walks. It took me a long time to appreciate the value of the exercise, but after starting a regular routine, I can already see the results.     

Fuel up wisely. Keep your energy high by eating the right foods that fuel your body instead of dragging it down. Avoid sugar, simple carbohydrates like pasta and bread, and junk food-they can give you a temporary energy high, but then you may crash. Use caffeine strategically: It can take about 20 minutes for a cup of coffee to kick in, or drink it 20 minutes before you need to power up, and you can be good to go. Above all, try to stay hydrated. Often, when you feel tired or hungry, you need a big glass of water to get back in the game.

Sleep enough. The amount of sleep you need to feel rested may vary from person to person, but you know if you are not getting enough. Yes, there may be times when you need to work late into the night, but try not to make a habit of it. Instead of getting up late, consider getting up early and working when it's cool.     

Mental Productivity Hacks

Have a plan. Try not to start your day without knowing what you need to do. Some experts recommend creating a schedule instead of a to-do list; The point is that the to-do lists can become infinite quickly, while a daily schedule is limited by the number of hours in a day. The key is to be realistic: check your calendar and focus on the three "obligatory" tasks of that day. Once they finish, everything else is salsa.     

Be flexible. As business owners, our schedules can never be set in stone, so be prepared for the unexpected by leaving an unfinished time in your schedule. That way, if there is a customer emergency or if you get stuck in traffic, it will not explode all day. At the same time, do not let every little thing deviate you from the path.

Take breaks Being able to spend an entire morning without slowing down can be productive, but can often lead to diminishing returns. Whether your day involves writing business proposals or a series of meetings, try to build brief breaks to rejuvenate yourself. That could mean walking through the office for five minutes between meetings or getting off the computer to do quick yoga stretches. Consider doing something that is the opposite of what you have been doing; For example, if you have been on the computer for 45 minutes, do something physical as a break. If you've been in a stressful meeting where emotions were accelerating, that could be the time to disconnect Facebook for a few minutes.

Know yourself. We all have different internal rhythms: some people do their best work after dark, while others are very keen to go at 5 am Find out when is your "best time" and try to address the most important things at that time. As an entrepreneur, you are lucky to have more voice than most in the creation of your own program, so, as far as possible, adjust it to your needs.   

Operational productivity hacks

Interruption controls. There are interruptions that you can not control, such as problems with a large order that must be resolved immediately. But technology can present its own interruptions, which can be difficult even   for   the strongest of us to resist. If you are dragged into social networks while updating your business accounts, take advantage of technology to give you the self-control you do not have. One of the business partners has just begun to use Freedom, an application that allows you to block certain websites (or the entire Internet) for a set period of time.

Limit meetings. Every time I hear about the number of meetings that corporate employees have to perform daily, I am even more grateful to be an entrepreneur. You are in charge, so if you think meetings are a waste of time, do not hold them back! If you must hold meetings, keep them short (meeting can be a good way to ensure this), send a short agenda in advance so everyone can be prepared and hold meetings only as needed, instead of the dreaded "week". meeting "that is often just a formality.

Delegate. This is an option that many employees do not have, and unfortunately, it is one that very few entrepreneurs use. Delegating less important tasks, or tasks in which you are not particularly good, can be a good way to free up your time for more important things. You do not need employees to do this, either; Even during the early stage of your business, outsourcing to independent contractors, freelancers or virtual assistants can help you do more.