{"id":7568,"date":"2023-01-13T15:27:18","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T15:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/presspay.ng\/news\/?p=7568"},"modified":"2023-01-13T15:27:21","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T15:27:21","slug":"16-qualities-you-need-to-be-productive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/presspay.ng\/news\/16-qualities-you-need-to-be-productive\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Qualities You Need to Be Productive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You may have heard that highly\u00a0productive people\u00a0<\/a>wake up at 4 am, run 10 miles, and attain enlightenment before sunrise. But that\u2019s not always true. Rather, they come in many varieties ranging from late risers, early risers, singles, couples, and family members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what are the most common traits of highly productive people? They are constantly working on optimizing themselves, regardless of whether they are entrepreneurs, employees, or both. As part of self-optimization, one of the keys is to build strong habits<\/a>. By adopting the right habits, you can save time, energy, and willpower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listed below are 16 habits highly productive people possess. Whether it\u2019s ways to spend less time on emails or ways to stay focused, these productivity tips can help you maximize your efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ability to take initiative and make decisions on your own.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A high performer <\/a>doesn\u2019t need managers or supervisors to tell them what to do. Instead, they seek apt information to finish a project on their own. For example, they could get in touch with the project manager who has worked on a similar assignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even better, they\u2019re willing to attend conferences, enroll in training programs, read enlightening books and even attend night classes if necessary. Why? Because this can develop their careers, they will take on more responsibilities and take on new ways of working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. They\u2019re organized and structured.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The majority of productive people maintain some form of organization system throughout the day that helps them stay focused. There\u2019s probably some sort of desktop storage, as having a clean workspace reduces work-related stress and cuts down on time spent finding stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having an excess of clutter, whether it\u2019s physical or digital, distracts the brain and slows work performance since it\u2019s trying to assess the mess and mitigate the task. A well-organized workspace improves efficiency and creates structure, which improves the quality of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also have a routine in place. It\u2019s critical to follow a routine so you can delegate time and make sure you stay on top of what you need to do. Whether it\u2019s a physical notebook carried around or an online platform, like a calendar app<\/a>, a productive employee shows this by integrating job resources into one place. While routines might seem confined or rigid, they actually give you the flexibility to figure out what works for you instead of just winging it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. They know their priorities and protect them.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Laura Stack, MBA<\/a>, president of The Productivity Pro\u00ae and author of The Six Keys to Performing at Your Productive Best, highly productive people are clear on their direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, they do the right things, not just the things that need to be done. Stack adds that \u201cvalue determines priority; priority determines goals; and goals determine activities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, they delegate. Basically, they don\u2019t waste time on things that can be handled by someone else. Rather, they focus on \u201cwhere their energy is best spent,\u201d says Sara Caputo, MA, productivity coach, consultant, and trainer at Radiant Organizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also know how to \u201csay no, and maintain healthy boundaries<\/a>,\u201d says Hillary Rettig, productivity coach and author of the forthcoming book The Seven Secrets of the Prolific: The Definitive Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism and Writer\u2019s Block<\/em>. In Stack\u2019s view, productive \u201cpeople control their schedules, so they can make time for important activities. They know they can\u2019t be available to everyone every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person\u2019s ability to say no, set boundaries and delegate are all \u201cnonnegotiable success skills that can be learned and practiced,\u201d Rettig says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Take strategic breaks.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People who are highly productive not only set the right priorities but also schedule breaks accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You cannot achieve satisfactory results if you work too much and neglect your health. Because of that, you need to keep an eye on your health, as well as your business. What\u2019s more, breaking away from the everyday business can sometimes lead to new opportunities and be eye-opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, you should schedule short breaks every day, to make sure you\u2019re productive. During these breaks, you should move your body, eat nutritious food, and drink a lot of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of increasing my productivity, I also have found the Pomodoro Technique<\/a> to be highly effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pomodoro Technique involves setting a timer for 25 minutes and focusing on one task without interruption. After that, you take a five-minute break before working without distraction for 25 minutes again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would add that you don\u2019t get too hung up on the exact timeframes. The idea is to schedule blocks of time for undisturbed work, followed by a short break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Drive for results.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost people are willing to accept responsibility for accomplishing goals and to work at a reasonable pace to achieve expected results,\u201d write Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman for HBR<\/em><\/a>. \u201cBut there are a few people who have a great desire to accomplish results sooner and quicker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are overjoyed to be able to check something off their to-do list<\/a>,\u201d they add. \u201cThey\u2019re competitive \u2014 and they compete not only with their colleagues but also with themselves.\u201d Their goal is to set new records in performance and then beat those records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Make deep work a habit.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Occasionally, a task is just too difficult. However, in order to achieve real results, deep work must be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of us have a few daily tasks that can be almost done while we\u2019re sleeping. In fact, it may be difficult to get in the zone with these tasks because they aren\u2019t particularly interesting. That\u2019s probably why you listen to your favorite music<\/a> to plow through them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then again, some tasks are just too challenging. It\u2019s impossible to multitask your way to completion. The best way to accomplish them is to devote a lot of time and mental energy to them. The work described here is known as \u201cdeep work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This type of work is discussed in Newport\u2019s bestseller\u00a0Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World<\/em>. According to Newport, those who master intense focus have a huge advantage over others who cannot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following are a few of Newport\u2019s recommendations for cultivating deep work:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n