Download Your Free Productivity eBook Now: #Howto Get Productive!

Productivity is the goal of pretty much everyone these days. With how busy life can be, fitting more into those waking hours is a necessity as much as a terrible hassle. But when you are feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, the last thing you want to do is more stuff, no matter what those things might be.

The real trick is learning the best ways to make the most of the time you have. That means being better organized, more focused and prepared.

With this in mind, we have put together a quick checklist containing major tools and tips that will help you get productive today!

Download it here!

Tips you’ll learn from the eBook:

1. Wake Up A Little Earlier

I was reluctant to try this one myself. I was already tired in the morning, why would I want to get even less sleep? But it prompted a few changes, the biggest being that I went to bed a little bit earlier in order to wake up on time without losing those added zzz’s. I started out just a half an hour, and I am not getting up an hour and a half earlier. What good does this do? It allows me to get more done first thing in the AM when my energy is high, including exercising, making a healthy packed lunch for myself and family, checking all those internet things that might have distracted me at work, and even a bit of cleaning so I don’t have to do it when I get in from a long day running around. Another thing I found helpful was Sleeptyi.me. This incredibly helpful tool works by letting you put in what time you are going to bed or what time you have to wake up, then giving you the perfect time to set your alarm or go to bed. Your sleep will be better and you will feel more refreshed when you wake up.

2. Make A List

One of the best things you can do is make lists. They are an easy way to keep you organized, and to avoid losing track of your time and schedule. Having more than one is always a good idea. Start by making one for the day itself with all of the items listed as most to least important. Then, set one up for the week, and one for a further time period like a month or even year. You can then keep track of long term goals along with the short ones for the day.

To make it even more convenient, you can download one of many to-do list applications that will sync up devices so you can see your list at work, at home and on the go. Or just use a simple piece of paper and a pen, if you want. Just don’t use a pencil..it is much more effective to use a pen, and so have to cross it off rather than delete it entirely.

3. Automate As Much As Possible

Why spend time on something that you can have done for you? Things like paying bills, sending emails and other small but frequent tasks can be automated thanks to the web so you don’t have to do it yourself. Even social media statuses can be planned ahead these days, letting you use things like Facebook pages or just general accounts without having to dedicate your attention to it at busier moments.

4. Cut Down Your Online Activity

How much time have you spent on Facebook today? Or watching YouTube videos? Admit it, the minutes are at least in the double digits. The internet has many productive capabilities, but it also seems to be constructed to make you procrastinate. There is so much to do and see, and a single Cracked article can turn into a dozen before you know it. Cutting down on how much time you spend on the web can have a huge impact on your time,, and on the quality of the free time that you do have. Try using a program like LeechBlock or StayFocusd that will let you set limits on how much time you spend on certain types, or the internet in general.

5. Create Time Blocks For Work

Sometimes it just isn’t possible to remain focused as much as you should. An easy way to improve how much you get done is to set blocks of time that you work at a time. So you might dedicate a full hour or as little as twenty minutes to a project. Set a timer and don’t stop until that time is over. Then get up, do something else, and come back for another block of time.

Do you have any tips for being more productive? Let us know in the comments.

Image Credits: to do list