Are You Productive? Really?

WE NEED STRUCTURE – PRE-PLAN YOUR WEEK:

Most agents say they don’t like structure because they would rather be spontaneous. What they don’t realize is that structure gives you freedom. I know that sounds incorrect, but it’s true. When you structure your life, you get more done every day, and you have more free time to be creative. Science shows that having a planned schedule for the week increases your profits and your productivity. Set a reminder every Sunday to plan your schedule for the upcoming week.

BREAK BIG PROJECTS INTO 90-MINUTE SPRINTS:

I’m sure you have a few big projects you want to tackle (like updating your CRM system, adopting a new technology, etc.). Our brains fear large projects, so we distract ourselves with mindless tasks. There is something called the ZIEGERNIK EFFECT which states it is human nature to want to finish something once we start. Not finishing a task doesn’t sit well with humans. The hardest part is getting started, so commit to 90 minutes a day of uninterrupted time to work on the project. Our productivity peaks during uninterrupted 90-minute intervals.

GET AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER:

Having an accountability partner can make you more productive. A recent study revealed that you are 65% more likely to complete a goal if you regularly engage with an accountability partner. Since we are not working from the office, this is more important than ever. We developed the Agent Success App as a FREE digital coach to help you plan and track your activities. Add an Accountability Partner in your app, so your partner can help hold you to your commitments.

DO A TIME STUDY AUDIT:

If you aren’t as productive as you want to be, do a time study for one week to see where you are spending your time. When I do this in my classes, agents are shocked at how much wasted time they find. Every hour during your day, stop and write down how you spent your time. What non-productive activities can you delegate?

SET DEADLINES:

People work better under pressure…something most agents lack right now. Studies show that setting deadlines for completing tasks (even if they are artificial deadlines) will help you avoid procrastination and stick to your goals.

CREATE A PRIORITY CHECKLIST:

Write down a list of every project you want to get done for business this year. This should already be part of your business plan. Prioritize these projects on a checklist. Every Sunday when you plan your calendar for the upcoming week, make sure your highest priority project has time slotted on your schedule. Your priorities must live in your calendar or they won’t get done.

DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP:

We spend a lot of time fixated on things that go wrong. Every time you replay the situation in your head, you are wasting valuable time. If something goes wrong, don’t beat yourself up. Analyze what you will do differently next time and move on. You can’t change the past. Every minute you spend reliving the past compounds the mistake by sucking up more of your time. Studies have found that the happy people are 20% more productive. Let it go.

THE POWER OF “NO”:

Our brains are programmed to “save social face” meaning we feel pressure to give in to others’ needs (often before considering our own). You only have so much time in a day. Every time you say YES, you are saying NO to something else. There is a cost to saying yes – your time is finite. The next time someone asks you to do something, pause and consider the tradeoffs before you overcommit. Get used to saying no.

DECLUTTER YOUR WORKSPACE:

Our work environment has a huge effect on how we behave. A neuroscientist at Princeton found that clutter in your workspace competes for your attention and reduces your concentration. A clean workspace has been proven to increase productivity, improve your sleep, decrease anxiety, increase happiness, increase creativity and improve your health. Clean up your office!

STOP TRYING TO MULTITASK:

Very few people are good at it (even if we think we are). Only about 2% of the population can multitask. Constantly shifting between tasks costs you time because your brain must constantly refocus. Multitasking has been proven to decrease your productivity by up to 40%.

STOP BEING AN EMAIL JUNKIE:

Did you check your email first thing this morning? How many emails did you have? Did you read them all? Did you respond to them all? Most people read an email but put off responding until later. This wastes valuable time because you need to read the email twice. Multiply that x 125 emails a day and you’ve wasted hours. On average, people check their inbox over 50 times a day. Apply the OHIO PRINCIPLE (Only Handle It Once). Don’t check email unless you know you have time to respond immediately.

STOP BEING A PERFECTIONIST:

Perfectionism is a form of procrastination. If you are worried about making something perfect, you often won’t get started. You have analysis paralysis. Many studies have shown that when we put ourselves in high-pressure situations our brain power suffers and anxiety kicks in. When we fear failure, we don’t take risks. A study from Stanford showed that when you think too much about a problem (as perfectionists do) it limits your creativity. More time thinking about a problem does not always equal a better-quality result. To help with this, set a start date and a deadline for every task.