Have you ever wished you could get more done in less time?
It’s a Monday morning, I’ve already gotten 2.5 hours of proactive work done before breakfast! It’s one of those magically productive mornings that I love to have. And I’ve got a news flash for you! The strategy most people use for achieving hyper-productivity is actually hurting your productivity! It’s keeping you tired and unfocused. If you want to get more done in less time, this article will be perfect for you! Read it, take notes, track your progress and share with your friends. When I FINALLY understood these concepts, it was a game changer for me!
Here’s my facts and myths about hyper-productivity to help you turn the tide and get more done in less time.
- What is hyper-productivity?
Myth: The ability to get a lot done consistently over an extended period of time.
Fact: Hyper-productivity is the ability to get a lot done in a specific area in a condensed window of time. To be repeated at spaced out intervals.
We simply cannot maintain prolonged periods of intense work. It isn’t good for us. It causes what I call, “brain pain.” When I’ve tried to push this level of intensity longer than a couple of hours, I end the day with an ache in my frontal lobe. My creativity is shot. And my thinking turns to mush. Short and focused is best. If you work this way, you’ll find you get more done in a couple of hours than any other time of the day.
- When is the best time of day for hyper productivity?
Myth: First thing in the day. 5 o’clock club! Be up before the sun rises. Early to bed, early to rise…
Truth: It could be first thing in the morning for you. And it could be afternoon, or you could be a night owl and get your best thinking done between midnight and 3 am. We are all wired a little bit differently. The key to getting a lot done in a short period of time is to choose when you are most likely to achieve hyper-productivity. For me it’s morning, but not too early in the morning. Anytime between about 5:30-11 am I am very mentally sharp. When are you the most mentally sharp?
- How do you achieve hyper-productivity?
Myth: Have a long to do list with everything you need to get done, and then work your way through your list.
Fact: That is the WORST way to work through your list. Instead, try a short, focused list. And stop multi-tasking immediately. Instead focus on time blocking. Do a lot of one thing rather than jumping back and forth between tasks. The more you time block the more efficient you become with each task. For example, I’m breaking my rule this morning. Normally I write 4 blog posts at once. Each one takes me on average 20 minutes to write. But the first one takes the longest. This blog post all said and done, will be 30 minutes. So if I blog once a month, I can do 4 articles in 80 minutes. If I blog once a week the same 4 articles takes me 120 minutes. Time blocking is your best friend.
- What is the best day of the week to be hyper-productive?
Myth: Monday should always be the day you kick off the week with gusto!
Fact: Every individual has a flow for their week, just like they have a flow for their day. What is your most focused day of the week? What is your least focused? I’m going to guess that your most focused day is the day after your rest day. Sundays are my rest day. So Monday is my most focused day. If I have a Sunday with a lot of meetings and no down time, guess what? Monday I struggle with my focus. You can adjust the day of the week that you feel the most focused by adjusting the day that you unplug and rest. If you don’t have an unplug and rest day, then you need to take one in order to achieve hyper-productivity.
If you want to get more done in less time, you CAN! We are wired as humans to be able to extend great amounts of focus, energy and brilliance. We just can’t do it all the time. If you will start creating space for these bursts of hyper-productivity you will find that you get more done within each week, and each day, than you did just trying to grind through your week.
Happy producing!