Make a single-tasking plan

Keep a to-do list with focused, actionable items.
Visualize your to-do’s one at a time.
Schedule your daily to-do’s. Each task gets a specific time slot when you’ll only work on that one item on your list.
Create unrealistically short deadlines to force you to stay focused.
Keep a timer on your tasks.Tracking how you spend your time at work forces you to commit to one task at a time.
Theme your days. By doing this, you give your mind clues as to what to place precedence on each day.

160 SAVES

210 READS

IDEA EXTRACTED FROM:

Why Focus is Your Competitive Advantage at Work (plus 19 ways to actually do it)

doist.com

TOPICS IN THIS IDEA

Time Management

8 Ways To Improve Your Focus At Work

Recently I started working on a project that required me to track my time. I didn't give it much thought until I started working, and that's when I discovered something-I have trouble staying on task. At least, I have trouble staying on one task.

forbes.com

Work in chunks

Our brain focuses best in short spurts, so dedicating 25 minutes to one activity, taking a five-minute break, and then resuming that activity or switching to another activity for another 25 minu...

Miles

@miles_n697

How the 2-minute rule can help you save hours a week

If you're interested in personal productivity, you have more than likely at least heard of Getting Things Done (GTD)-the productivity system designed to move every task, idea, and project that's currently in your head (where they're prone to stressing you out and bubbling up when you're trying to focus) into an organized outside system.

blog.rescuetime.com

Getting Things Done: the basics

Capture. Write down everything you need to do.
Clarify. Break down each task into an actionable next step.
Organize. Move each of those actionable ta...

The 2-minute rule

If a task takes less than 2 minutes, then do it now.

If the effort to keep remembering a task is more than just getting it out of the way now, then do it.

Fixing small tasks

Fixing things is empowering. Our confidence increases or decreases based on our ability to make progress.
Any progress builds momentum (and your mood): No matter how small the task is, crossing it off your to-do list gives you a boost of momentum and enhances your mood.
Small steps turn into habits: When a task is easy to do and quickly completed, it’s much easier to turn it into a habit.

4 more ideas

Maddox

@maddoxe44

11 Practical Tips for Finishing Your To-Do List Faster

"Work smarter, not harder." Chances are, you've heard this phrase before -- and probably more than once. The philosophy behind working "smart" is to maximize your productivity when you are working so that you can get more stuff done in shorter periods of time.

blog.hubspot.com

The philosophy of working "smart"

... is to maximize your productivity when you are working so that you can get more stuff done in shorter periods of time.

By working smarter, you'll find yourself with more time in th...

Find the to-do list app that work for you

The best one for you depends entirely on your working style and personal preferences.

You can use a physical notebook around everywhere you go, but it's easier to use a to-do list app or tool that syncs across all your devices. That way, you can access your to-do items whenever and wherever you need to, whether you're at your desk, in a meeting, or on a business trip.

Prepare in advance

Write out your to-do list the day before:

You'll free your time to dive right into your to-do list in the morning - one of the most productive times of day.
It can help you spot obstacles ahead of time and prepare accordingly.
Knowing what you have going on well in advance could help you relax and sleep better the night before.

9 more ideas

deepstash

helps you become inspired, wiser and productive, through bite-sized ideas from the best articles, books and videos out there.

Over 2M Installs

4.75 App Score

Deepstash is better on the app. Discover new ideas and get inspired daily.