I think I know something about you… You want to be more productive.  I do too!  We all have dreams and aspirations, and in order to make them happen, we’ve got to put in the work.  Each of us has 24 hours in a day, yet some are much more productive than others.  Why is that?  How is it that some people can accomplish more in 2 hours than others can in 8?

The ability to be productive is key to success.  Nowadays, professionals desire to have a nice “work-life-balance” and that means that when it’s time to work, they need to be efficient and effective!  Below are 5 tips that can help you increase your productivity and ultimately achieve success!

1. Eat Right: This is all about controlling your energy level.  In general, we know there are certain foods that tend to decrease energy while others increase it.  However, on an individual level, you need to know what works for you!  For example, some people may have a paradoxical reaction to a warm cup of coffee at night.  Instead of keeping them awake, it might soothe them right to sleep.  Be mindful of which types of foods give you that extra boost to perform on the next level!
2. Choose one Device: In the age of technology, digital devices are among the biggest killers of productivity.  Often times we have our phone in hand, laptop in lap, and TV in the background.  We’ve grown accustomed to flipping back and forth between devices depending on which one interests us the most at any given time.  Here’s a tip; use just one device at a time.  I understand that we all feel super important and think people need access to us 24/7.  The truth is…they don’t!  Even as I’m writing this on my laptop, my cell phone just buzzed and I chose to ignore it because I’m already on my laptop (but if my wife needs me she’ll call and I’ll answer it).
3. Choose One Task: Similar to the prior tip focusing on a single task is critical.  Our productivity levels drop when we multitask.  Each time you take your mind off a task then return to it, you must bring your brain back up to speed.  Simply put, getting off task slows us down.  Each hour, decide what the single most important thing that needs to be done is.  Once you’ve identified it….do it!
4. Maximize Passive Time: How many minutes a day do you spend in transit to a location, exercising, laying in bed, or simply sitting around doing nothing?  All that is passive time.  Consider how much learning can be done if you used that time wisely.  For example, how about listening to a podcast or audiobook while driving.  Or perhaps you could direct your brain power towards planning a creative project.  Not infrequently, I drive to work in silence so I can go into deep contemplation pertaining to a problem I have to solve.  Remember this…Passive Time=Learning Time.
5. Prepare In Advance: This might be the single most important thing you can do to increase your productivity.  Consider this extreme example.  You’re going on a trip to Disney World but didn’t map your route ahead of time, didn’t book hotels, and didn’t buy theme park tickets.  I on the other hand did all three of those things.  Who do you think will have a better time in Orlando, me or you?  The same concept holds true for every day and every task you take on.  If you know what you’re getting to ahead of time, the complexity drastically decreases.  You’ll save time and you’ll also feel more confident.  This in turn will skyrocket your productivity.  Be prepared!

At times, it feels that there aren’t enough hours in a day and we can’t get enough done.  Let me assure you, God designed the day perfectly, and getting enough done is on us.  We must be intentional in our efforts to be productive and get rid of wasted time and effort.  Doing this will allow us to enjoy every free minute of our days.

I know we’ve got a lot of smart people on PreMed STAR and I’m curious to know if any of these tips have worked for you.  Also, what other tips do you recommend?

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