Tip Tuesday: How to Stay Motivated When Busy

How do you stay productive, stay focused when you have a million things to do??? Simple plan and execute what is necessary. Here are some quick tips I have learned to improve my productivity and determine what is important!

1. Single Point Focus: People who are successful are able to rate what is most important and they attack that task first. Pick the most important task you have and go for that first!

2. Block Out Distractions: In this tech savy world, we are surrounded by distractions. You must focus, ignore the distractions and get to work. How to do this??? Log out of all social media and focus on the task at hand. Turn off the electronics from TVs to phones and spend the necessary time on your task until completion.

3. Block out time for tasks: Think about that most important task and be realistic with how much time you need. Block out that time in your day so that you do not feel rushed. Being able to calmly dedicate your time to your task will enable you to achieve success faster.

4. Get Up Earlier- YES I mean it! For me to get a good workout in while still working and accomplishing my daily tasks I started training my body to wake up earlier. This enabled me to have enough time in my day to achieve everything I needed to while starting my day off in a positive way. You can train your body do to anything you just have to want to.

5. Set Up Rules: If you know you have to check your emails or you have to go to a meeting set rules. Define how much time you are going to spend looking at thos emails. Set up rules for your meetings so that they are organized and take less time. To help alleviate time with coworker communication make sure you tell them to define what their needs are from the start in the subject line of the email or in personal communication.

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, what you make of it is your choice!

Then I take these 10 quick tips to improve motivation, productivity and focus!

Do you find that you lack motivation? Do you start on one task and get bored easily? Are you someone that wants practical solutions? Then read these simple tips for improving your motivation!

1. ACT LIKE IT: Even if you do not feel motivated, act like you are. When you pretend like you are motivated or excited about the task at hand, within a few minutes you actually will be.

2. Ask yourself questions: In the morning, when you wake up, ask yourself: When you reflect on how you are truly feeling it really puts things into perspective. Ask yourself: What am I _______ about in my life right now? Ask yourself what about it makes you feel _______? And How does it truly make you feel. Also, reflect on what makes you happy and excited. Ask yourself what are you happy about right now and what are you currently excited about right now?

3. If you are lacking motivation or don't know where to start, do something small. Something as simple as cleaning up your workspace can be that fresh start you were lacking. For some it could be the lingering things such as vacuuming that is limiting you to focus. Get the things clouding your mind done with so you can focus on the task at hand.

4. When you look at your to do list- think of what is the most daunting task? Then conquer that first. Everything after that will feel like a breeze!

5. Remember how far you have come. It is hard to give ourselves credit when we are trying to achieve a big goal. Think about the small successes that have lead you up to this point. 

6. Determine what is a necessity- things like car payments and mortgages are crucial to life. Look at your goals and work towards the ones that are a necessity for a successful and happy life. There are plenty of small goals that would be nice to achieve, but first get the most important ones rolling.

7. Scare yourself into success- ask yourself what it would cost your life to put your task on hold? Usually, it is something significant and if you would put it off would be detrimental to your well being. But don’t freak out with this strategy. Fear can paralyze you. Don't let it, just be real with yourself!

8. Determine what mental barriers you are facing. Are you telling yourself you can't? Chances are you are limiting yourself from being successful. Sometimes it is because you don't know where to start other times it is a lack of knowledge. Look at your goal, determine what it is, set a plan to achieve it and if you lack knowledge do your research!

9. Green means GO!!!! Start right away even if you do not feel like you are ready. When we think to much we hold ourselves back. Just go for it. Failure is a major part of life. Learn from your mistakes along the way and GO!!!!!

10. Imagine the bigger picture. Picture how your life will be better. Think about where you will be when you achieve your goals. People are more successful when they picture themselves doing the task.

You can do whatever you put your mind to. The only true limiting factor in life is you. Do not let anyone get in the way from achieving your goals. Rid your life of the negative people who are telling you that you cannot do it. Surround yourself with those that uplift you. That may mean you lose some people along the way. So be it. I know I would rather be surrounded by those that love me and support me rather than those that are negative.