How To Be More Productive – This Is What Professionals Do
Certainly every professional who is looking for how to be more productive He also seeks to evolve in his career. After all, the health of a company depends on the productivity of its employees, which is why all entrepreneurs need to take care of many things every day with a focus on keeping the company at its full potential.
Getting things done quickly is important, but you need to make sure your big idea doesn't get lost in the chaos of everyday life. How can you track and manage all your ideas without them getting lost in a disorganized and chaotic sea? There are ways to prevent this.
Doing many things at once is different from productivity. Both are necessary in daily work and personal life. The secret is to do the right things at the right time. Just to give an example, the diary is one of the productivity tools most used by entrepreneurs.
In fact, as incredible as it may seem, the traditional agenda is still essential in the daily lives of many people. The paper version is an example of the traditional agenda, as are the digital versions. In other words, the important thing is to have time allocated for each task, so that productivity can be maintained.
Before we talk about some tools, let's address a very simple but highly effective technique or kind of philosophy. It is based on doing what is urgent and important first, and the rest is scheduled or managed to be done at the right time. We are talking about Eisenhower Matrix.
How to be more productive with the Eisenhower Matrix
US President Dwight Eisenhower built the tool called Eisenhower Matrix, in the 1950s. Although Eisenhower had a busy schedule, many people noticed him for his ability to get a lot done. The president used a tool previously called the Time Matrix.
The Eisenhower Matrix distinguishes tasks into 4 groups: 1) Urgent and important tasks, 2) Urgent but not important tasks, 3) Non-urgent but important tasks, 4) Non-urgent and not important tasks. Therefore, tasks receive attention according to these priority categories.
Years after leaving office, the former president developed a method for discovering what is really important, which was later discussed in Stephen Covey's book – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The Einsehower Matrix is a simple tool that works very well
Best Tools for Productivity
There's no way to be more productive without doing this first
First of all, if you really want to be more productive then you need to apply something called focus today. Human beings, particularly men, are most productive when they do one thing at a time. In general, people are not multitaskers. In other words, if we do one thing, we leave another aside.
Therefore, disconnect from everything that may cause you distraction. When starting a task, end all side conversations and try to organize the environment so that it is as calm as possible. At this point, it's worth putting on some music to work or study.
There is music that can help the brain to carry out activities that require concentration more efficiently. Search YouTube for “music to study” or “music to work on” and you will see several options, generally classical music. This type of sound can help increase productivity.
Today, there is no shortage of productivity tools and apps that help people be more productive at work and at home. Therefore, we hand-selected 10 tools that help improve productivity and that will support you in getting more done more efficiently. In fact, there are 11 tools in total as we have already talked about the Eisenhower Matrix previously.
Pomodoro
Many people search Google to find ways to improve their productivity in practice. The Pomodoro Technique is one of the best known methods. The Pomodoro Technique is a productivity method that helps people get more done in less time.
In the 1980s, Italian Francesco Cirillo created this method to help people be more productive and avoid procrastination. Using a timer, the work is divided into 25-minute chunks, with 5-minute breaks in between. In fact, this technique assumes that taking lots of breaks can make you more mentally alert.
There are many apps for your cell phone and computer that will help you create your to-do list each day and use the Pomodoro Technique to increase your productivity. For Apple devices, both desktop and mobile, you can download the Be Focused.
If you have an Android cell phone or other device that uses the Android operating system, download the To-Do Spotlights. Additionally, Google Chrome has an extension called Marinara which can improve your productivity on any computer.
How to be more productive with Evernote
Many entrepreneurs love using this app. After all, it is the modern office for your professional life, as they say. Evernote allows you to save interesting things you find on the internet, track a task and take notes in a single application.
Your calendar and contact information will automatically sync so you can view it anywhere: on your phone or computer. It is one of the high points of the tool. Evernote is an application that allows free synchronization on up to 2 devices, in the basic version.
Pocket is an app that saves online articles to read later. It works as if you had the materials in your pocket. You can save videos and articles to Pocket. The app is available on many devices and platforms such as Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
On any device (computer, tablet or phone), if you save something to Pocket, the content list will be visible. You can watch it while waiting in line, waiting for your doctor's appointment, sitting on the couch, or even riding the bus to or on your way to work.
In other words, this app is great for those who don't depend on Wi-Fi and sometimes the signal is very bad or doesn't even exist, and then they just open the app to read its content. Pocket is available on all major devices and operating systems. There is also a free plan as well as a Premium one.
MidNode
First of all, what this app does is work with mind maps. A mind map is a visual representation of ideas, starting with a central thought and expanding from there. Therefore, MindNode allows you to draw your ideas clearly and connect processes and hierarchies.
There are two plans available for MindNode: Free Editor and Plus. The Free Editor plan is free and the Plus plan requires a payment. There is only one caveat regarding this app and that is the fact that it is only compatible with Apple devices.
Cold Turkey
Who has never opened apps or WhatsApp to check out the latest news, watch memes or that viral video, right in the middle of work? By blocking websites, games, and apps that take away your free time, you can increase your productivity and reclaim your free time. The program is called Cold Turkey.
Just Cold Turkey Blocker lets you block apps on your phone, according to the tool. You can use it to block yourself for a set amount of time each day, until a computer shuts down or until you enter a set number of words.
The paid version of this tool offers extra features such as blocking programs on your computer and different calendars that determine when your productivity blocks will occur. It is a free tool, but it does not have these additional features.
How to be more productive with Trello
Trello helps you organize your projects and keep track of things you're working on, both for personal and work use. If you're working with others, Trello is a great tool. Trello allows you to create boards for each process, create cards for each task and set deadlines and notifications.
If you are working on a project with your team, you can make checklists and keep track of what each person is doing on the checklist. You can access the website on your computer or mobile device, or install its applications. You can also access the site in your browser no matter where you are.
Video Speed Controller
Video Speed Controller is a wonderful tool for productivity as many video sites still don't have the feature natively and need to be speeded up. This Google Chrome extension allows you to speed up the playback rate of any video on the internet.
In other words, this extension allows you to watch a 1-hour class in 30 minutes. But here's some advice: don't speed up the video if the content transmitted is presented by someone who speaks too quickly. In other words, for someone who speaks very slowly, the tool is wonderful.
News Feed Eradicaator for Facebook
Facebook can be incredibly addictive, and if we get lost in countless posts and information, we would lose hours of productivity. Just like in the days of Orkut, most people love Facebook, but we also know that we have to be careful not to spend too much time on it.
Besides, we all know they don't have how to be more productive if we stop several times a day to take a look at social media, the news of the day or the jokes that friends send to each other. Therefore, common sense is the keyword for high-level productivity.
To eliminate clutter from Facebook feeds, many people use News Feed Eradicator for Facebook, which is an extension that can be installed on your PC using Google Chrome. The app locks your Facebook posts in the timeline, so they are not visible at that moment.
Google Workspace
Google offers business management tools that leave nothing to be desired by any other tool or application on the market in this segment. Using just your Google account, all tools are connected, which helps people be more productive at work.
Google is probably best known for its search tool and GMail. However, there are many other resources available in the cloud, such as spreadsheets, calendar, virtual hard drive, document collaboration tools and video conferencing.
In other words, it is a rich and comprehensive package that practically provides tools for all types of management and productivity tasks you may need. Google Workspace is free to use for 14 days and has paid plans for commercial use. Visit the Google Workspace page to see all the details.
How to be more productive with a paper diary?
Yes, paper diaries still exist! And it is still widely used, despite there being so much technology available. The reason for this is simple: carrying a small book with you brings unparalleled satisfaction. What's more, writing by hand, with a pen or pencil, produces a pleasant sensation that doesn't happen when we use our fingertips to handle our cell phone.
What's more, people like to decorate their diary in a variety of ways, decorating it in their own way to give it a unique look. Additionally, we can use highlighter pens in several different colors. And, finally, an insurmountable advantage: diary doesn't need a battery and doesn't need Wifi!
How to be more productive – Suggested books
There is no doubt that books on productivity are plentiful. Books can offer not only productivity tools, but also fantastic stories, studies, and ideas that can help you be more productive at work and personally.
So, below are 7 books on productivity that we highlight for you, among those that we consider to be the most impactful in helping those who want to achieve the highest productivity possible, whether working as an employee for a company or working on their own.
Work 4 hours a week
This book provides guidance for a new world that is being created, both for overworked workers and entrepreneurs trapped in their companies. The author, Tim Ferriss, explains how no one like your boss can learn to value your performance more than your presence at work.
Tim teaches how to be more productive through simple tools, techniques and tips just using intelligence when tackling simple tasks on a daily basis, avoiding mistakes that many people make and which are easy to solve. Therefore, the book proposes 3 pillars in the search for productivity.
How to be more productive working 4 hours a week
- How to be productive and manage other people without being in the office.
- What people who have avoided work and the office need to know. How to cultivate ignorance of things you don't want to know
- How to live a full life with fewer working hours.
The Power of Habit
There is no way to be more productive without taking our habits seriously. In the book The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg, explains how habits work, how to be successful and productive, how to be a good parent and how to exercise, all with the ultimate goal of achieving better results in all areas of life.
In other words, habits can have a huge effect on our well-being, productivity, financial situation, and long-term health. While they may not seem important on their own, habits formed over time can have a big impact.
Faster and Better
Some people seem to be able to change very quickly, while other people have difficulty changing. This book explains why. Charles Duhigg wrote another book, Faster and Better, which explains how some people and companies are so efficient. There are 8 principles that explain this productivity.
The author explains how we can all work more efficiently, how to be more productive and achieve more without having to give up what we love to do and at the same time achieve greater productivity. We can all be successful with less stress and effort.
Some studies have shown that productivity is not always related to working more hours in a day, or being more efficient. Productivity is about the choices we make and when we do each thing at the right time. In other words, productivity is highly related to using time well.
Make Time
John Zeratsky and Jake Knapp have spent a lot of time trying to help people use their energy, focus, and time in the best way possible. They've put together the best strategies into a four-step daily plan so anyone can better manage their day.
The book Make Time doesn't offer crazy ideas about how to be more productive, like throwing away your cell phone or closing all your social networks at once. Instead, it focuses on small, achievable steps that can help you improve your productivity little by little.
The small changes guide helps you change small things in your life so you can be less distracted, be more productive and focus on the important things in your life by putting together a priority scale and putting the important and urgent things first place.
The Time Triad
The best time management and productivity specialist in Brazil, Christian Barbosa, offers in this book a solution for people who want to have a more balanced life, focused on their goals and dreams. For him, balance and a calm spirit are the keys for those looking to be more productive.
More than 42,000 people around the world were interviewed and he used their answers to develop a personal planning method that will help you get things done and keep everything organized.
Productivity for those who want more time
Written by Gerônimo Theml, who knows the secret to productivity, the mission of this book is to make you achieve more results without working harder. This book teaches you how to create time to do what you need to do and still be able to take care of yourself. In fact, there is no way to be more productive without your health in order.
Gerônimo can teach productivity to those who really need it. For all the people who find themselves overwhelmed by their own lives and who want to structure their daily lives with better results, this book is perfect as it sheds light on the subject and lends a hand to those who feel bogged down with tasks.
How to be more productive with SCRUM – Practical Guide
In his inaugural book, JJ Sutherland laid out the Scrum framework, applied by almost all of today's technology leaders. It is a project management method for driving rapid innovation while focusing on customers and continuous improvement.
Scrum is the secret weapon behind some of today's most successful companies and employees, including Google, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Amazon, and Apple. In other words, Bigtechs are very likely to be more productive, starting from the CEO to their technical systems analysts.
Final considerations
Being more productive involves a sense of responsibility and also determination. In other words, productivity is about focusing on the objective, pursuing the goal until it is achieved. Anyway, here are the questions: what do you want to be? What do you want to do? What targets do you want to achieve? The answers are important support to be more productive.
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Anyway, tell us in the comments what your favorite productivity technique or tool is and which book you’re going to read! And if you have any other tips or app suggestions that could help increase productivity, please share them too. A big hug, see you later!
