Work From Home Ideas

Here’s a self improvement tip that is sure to have a long-term and powerful impact on every area of your life as a whole:

Simplify …

One of the best changes we can make in our lives, that will have a cascading effect in every area of it, is to stop overloading ourselves with long to-do lists, overbearing goals and an obsession to fill every waking moment with manic-like productive activity. Take a breath!

Yes, goals are important and “things need to get done”. But there is a balance we can strive for, and it is a far better long-term strategy to simplify our lives and accomplish a few internally important goals and tasks than to try and be superhuman during the whole self improvement and productivity process.

Additionally, you will find that once you start getting a smaller number of tasks and goals accomplished, you will be energized to continue the process by adding newer and higher goals or writing a new to-do list now that the original is finished. Compare that to the self-beatings we can sometimes give ourselves by not “getting enough done”!

So, how do we start this process of simplifying our lives while improving productivity at the same time?

Here is a list of 7 things you can do right now to help you get the ball rolling:

1) De-Clutter!

Take about 30-60 minutes – it’s okay, your “list” can wait – and clean off all unnecessary paperwork, piles and ’stuff’ from workspace and desk. This will give you a clean slate to start from. Don’t skip this step!

2) Unload Your Excess Books

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a stock pile of books and reference materials that you have planning on getting to for months or years. Bad news – you won’t be getting to them. Get rid of them by either donating them to a worthy cause or selling them on ebay. This will further help you ‘de-clutter’.

3) Check Email Twice Per Day – Maximum!

Email is probably the single biggest time thief you’ll encounter on a daily basis – if left untamed.  Schedule a time period 0f 15-30 minutes to deal with email – once in the morning and once in the afternoon or evening.  Be vigilant!  Either you control your time spent on email, or email will control your time, guaranteed.

4) Keep Your Inbox Clean

This will help you control your email time commitment.  Process your inbox quickly and immediately … file what needs to be filed, and delete what you really don’t need.  I also utilize a folder I created called ‘To Process’, and I put non-urgent but necessay emails in that folder for later viewing.

5) Prepare for Tomorrow, Today

Each night before you go to bed, write out a list of the 6 most important tasks that you need to accomplish for the following day – then prioritize them. This will allow you to rest easy knowing you’ve got a plan all set to go for the following day.

6) Hit a Lead-Off Home Run

During the first hour of your work day, do nothing else but focus on completing an important task (preferably #1) on your to-do list. This will set the tone for the day and get one important task knocked off your list immediately … empowering!

7) Work in 1 Hour Blocks

As you continue to work through your task list, schedule 1 hour work blocks consisting of 50 minutes of uninterrupted, focused and productive work time (no email!) – followed by 10 minutes of relaxation and prep for the next block. Believe me, this step alone will send your productivity skyward.

To assist you in your time-block management, here is a free online tool that I’ve found incredibly helpful for tracking my work and productivity time:

http://e.ggtimer.com/

If you follow these 7 steps, there is no doubt in my mind that your work life will be greatly simplified, and your productivity will increase dramatically.

In closing, I’d like to leave you with these words of (productivity) wisdom from Mark Yarnell, best-selling author and business maverick:

“Do one thing at a time … Do it right … Finish it!”

Related posts:

1. 3 Simple Time Management Tips to Supercharge Your Productivity
2. Self Improvement Plan – Week 1
3. Work at Home Schedule – 5 Reasons You Must Have One
4. Improving Your Life – a Simple Perspective Shift