It is during these time blocks that I turn off all notifications and use BlockSite to prevent me from being tempted to look at my Twitter or Facebook feed. I need the internet for research and to look up terminology, so it is not practical to close down my browser. With an app like BlockSite, I can temporarily block access to procrastination traps like social media and shopping sites.
Have a plan for the day
This is important if you are going to get the work that needs doing done. Like when you have an important interview, or you are going on vacation, you have a plan for the day, making that a daily habit can massively improve your productivity and keep you focused on what you have identified as being important.
You do not have to be too detailed. Having one or two objectives—tasks that, no matter what, you will get done that day and up to eight other tasks you have decided are important. Doing this will do wonders for your focus, and your sense of well-being and ensures you are getting the important work done every day.
Having a plan for the day also means you have time to do the things you want to do, rather than always trying to catch up with the work other people want you to do. When you plan it out, you make time work for you rather than the other way round.
Use a to-do list manager to collect your tasks
We are inundated with tasks being thrown at us every day. From customer requests, and demands from our bosses and colleagues needing help. If you try to remember all these in your head, you are going to forget something important.
Get into the habit of using a to-do list manager like Todoist. Apps like Todoist allow you to quickly collect your tasks into a single place and later in the day you can decide when you are going to do them. Do they need to do this week, next week, later this month, or next month? A simple decision, but a choice that allows you to manage your commitments with ease and reduce that overwhelming feeling you have forgotten something important.
Doing these three things puts you back in control of your time and your life. Rather than drifting from one day to the next, allowing other people’s agendas to control your time, these simple steps will enable you to decide how you will spend your days. They keep you focused on what you have chosen is important, and you quickly find you improve in so many areas. You will be less stressed, have a greater sense of control over your life, and discover you have more time to work on your goals and plans.
Carl is the creator of the Time Sector System, a time management method for the twenty-first century and the way we work today. To find out how Carl can help you, visit his website at www.carlpullein.com or his YouTube channel and Podcast.
