If you want to know how to be more productive and get stuff done keep reading as I share tips and ideas to make your productivity soar…

Why is it that you can spend hours working hard yet you’ve very little to show for it? This is such a common problem, yet there is no definite answer.

Procrastination, distractions, jumping from one task to another are just a few reasons why you’re not getting very far.

It can often seem as if you’re busy. But just take a few moments to think about what you’re doing.

Checking emails, replying to messages on social media may seem like you’re working, until you take into account all the little breaks you take just aimlessly surfing the web.

Social media may be a vital part of your business, but if you find yourself being drawn into unrelated stuff, you’re not working

If this sounds like you, don’t beat yourself up! It happens to the best of us at sometime or another. You’re only human!

Scheduling time for doing things like checking your email, and replying to messages on twitter or Face book will make a huge difference.

Just make sure you stick to this though no matter how tempting a quick check on social media may seem.

It only takes one diversion and before you know it half an hour has passed.

There are only so many hours in a day, and unless you’re organized that time will go in a flash with very little achieved.

Working on your own, especially at home is one of the hardest things to do. It’s a lovely way to work, but at the same time you need a ton of self discipline.

The temptation to stop and make coffee, feed the cat, or do the laundry can be hard to resist.

One tip I do everyday is keep a virtual diary. The night before, I note down all the tasks I plan to complete the next day. I also list them in order of urgency.

Starting with the first task, only work on that one until you’ve finished. Then move onto the next.

You will get distractions at home, it’s part of life. Being disciplined enough to stick to what you’re doing, unless it’s critical requires practice.

At the very end of the day, spend a few moments noting down your achievements. Any task not finished, carry it over to the next day. Don’t get downhearted if you don’t get everything done you’d planned.

Why multi-tasking never works

Women especially are often thought of as being great multi-taskers. Cooking the children’s dinner, while texting a friend, and planning a presentation may seem do-able, but in reality your brain can only focus on one thing at a time.

Jumping from one task to another may make you believe you’re being efficient, but in realty you’re not.

What you’re actually doing is slowing down instead.
You may even be making yourself more anxious, especially when you realise just how long things are taking.

It can also be very disheartening to realise you’ve wasted an entire morning with very little done.

Trying to multi-task is like spreading yourself very thinly. You’re only giving partial attention to any one of the tasks.

At worst you’ll make mistakes, and at best you may achieve some small progress.

Why mindfulness can give productivity a boost

You may not associate meditation with getting more work done. In fact you may see it as a time waster.

However one of the benefits of mindfulness meditation is that it gets you to focus only on the present moment. When you’re meditating you’re not thinking about the past or future. Your only focusing on that one task.

Mindful meditation is unique in that instead of contemplation or chanting a mantra, you’re focusing on a specific task, or object. This type of meditation isn’t spiritual but designed purely to make you aware of the present

The only drawback is that it can be hard to master. Especially if you’re new to it.

There is a really great program called Zen12 which I joined recently. I’m usually skeptical of such things, especially when they claim to create a short cut to meditation.

I was so impressed though, I created a review of Zen12. I’m not going to say this will definitely make you more productive as everyone is different, but you can read my review here.

A strange reason why you may be failing to make progress.

You find yourself being very busy planning your next project, yet you’re not moving forward.

Your busy, yet productivity is slow or stagnant. One reason may actually be a fear of success. As bizarre as this sounds, subconsciously you may either feel you don’t deserve it, or you’ll fail in the end.

Be accountable

Find someone to tell your plans to. No one likes the embarrassment of failure, so this in itself will help focus your mind, especially if you create a time limit.

Read about more ways to boost productivity so that you’ll get all your tasks for the day finished in rapid time!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this post and that it’s helped give you ideas on how to be more productive.

Just remember that busy doesn’t always mean your making progress!

Wishing you health and happiness
Take care:)
Kathy