Four Steps to become More Productive
In the mist of Covid-19 (Corona Virus), we at JDS WebDesign are hoping everyone is safe, washing your hands frequently, sneezing and coughing in your elbow, and practicing social distancing. Over the next several weeks, we are planning on blogging about how to make your website more business friendly. We will have some tutorials on our favorite plugins and features, which will make your site more efficient.
Being productive is very important in your daily life, but more important in your business life. Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” Unfortunately many fail to plan, so they ultimately plan to fail. There are four steps to move your business in the correct lane. Plan one week at a time. Create plan over the weekend, not during the week. Schedule your day, with a few exceptions. Lastly, schedule 3 major task in your day.
Plan one week at a time
While keeping a monthly list is fine, make sure your plans are week to week. Set some goals, what do you want to accomplish this week. Do you want to send out invoices by Wednesday? Do you need to reach out to a potential client? Are your support emails becoming over looked? Do you need to contact a client? Do you need to work on a plugin for a client? Put together a list of items to accomplish and provide yourself a reward for accomplishing your goals.
Create plan over the weekend, not during the week
Do not wait until Monday to create your plan. Create your plan over the weekend. Monday – Friday (or Saturday) is designed for working. Your plan should be in place prior to beginning work on Monday. I work on my weekly schedule on Saturday, usually after lunchtime. I write down, what I need to accomplish. What needs to be worked on? What I need to do? Do I need to reach out to a potential client? Do I need to send out a proposal? Should I follow up on a proposal.
Schedule your day with a few exceptions
Begin with the basic. When are you schedule to begin you work day. What time is your lunch period? When are you finish for the day? Do not have an open ended day? Do not work until your task are completed? You need to be productive, be active and not reactive. Set up break times. Typically I like to work hard for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minute break. The break can be used to go to the bathroom, grab me a cup of coffee, stretch and move around my office, watch the beginning of the news. call a close friend for a quick conversation, etc.
Schedule three major task in your day
I list only three task a day. That does not mean, that I only do three things a day. But the major task, can be working on a huge project. Sending out an email list. Completing support request. Sending out invoices. Working on new prospective. Checking emails and returning calls are not major task, these are daily task which occur on a regular basis. Most of my major task can take from 30 minutes to several hours. I plan on when I work on them and I am single focus on those task. Remember, just because someone calls or emails you, does not mean that you have to answer right away. Set a time to return calls…mine typically is around 11am or after 2pm. I only set about an hour a day for returning calls. Unless I complete a major task early.
Image courtesy of Kelly Sikkema.
JDS WebDesign is a Web Design and Brand Marketing Agency located in Marietta, Georgia. We create AWESOME on line presence for Start-ups and Influential People/Organizations. To learn more about us or how we can help you and your organization, you can contact us or schedule a meeting.
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