I have to redo my productivity journal post since changing the name of this business. But this relates to questions I’ve been asked repeatedly, so I think not only is this post overdue, the video will be coming shortly.
A productivity journal is a productivity management tool. Some know this to mean time management. However, I assert you cannot manage time, but you can manage your actions and level of productivity in that time.
Due to the fluidness of life, managing our day to day activities to be most productive can be difficult. Each day, new challenges you didn’t expect pop up. How do you intertwine these unsuspected things that need to be taken care of amidst the things you had planned to take care of for that day?
This comes down to prioritizing. Yes, there are some life emergencies that will always take precedence, however, as you grow your business, your family or simply find the need to stay on track with life goals, it comes down to selecting the most important tasks to the detriment of others. Making these selections will not automatically mean you forgo the other things that need to be done, but it will ensure that you do the most important things first and therefore always be moving closer towards your true goals.
This is where the Productivity Journal comes to play. My journal is usually a notebook. I personally like the feel of the pen and paper. However, you can create your journal electronically if you choose, and it’s not difficult to do using apps such as Evernote or ColorNote, or even your standard tasks app on your phone. In addition to my notebook and pen, I use ColorNote and I love it. I use it for smaller lists such as errands and grocery lists or on the occasion I don’t have my notebook (rare) on me.
First let me start by saying that it’s super helpful to take 5-10 minutes to outline tomorrow. I usually have a good idea of what my day should look like. I’ve checked my calendar so I don’t miss any appointments I’ve set. Then I jot down the tasks I want to complete for that day. Remember, be realistic. Most likely you will not complete 30 tasks in one day. When you write these things down, highlight (star, asterisk, underlined, etc.) the top 3 items you MUST get done that day. Take a look at everything else and determine 1) Do I need to do this, or can I delegate it? 2) Do I need to do this today? 3) Do I need to do this at all?
Answer these 3 questions and that will determine what will be on your list with your focus being on those 3 items you highlighted. The next thing is to note is to give yourself extra time on each task. If you estimate the task to take 2 hours, give yourself 2 ½. This will also help you figure out what can reasonably fit into one day as well as leave some extra time for other things that will inevitably pop up throughout the day. The last tip for using this journal is to determine as things pop up, if they belong on your list. This means asking those same 3 questions above to every new task that pops up that day.
I’ll definitely make sure to go through this with a visual on the video. Stayed tuned. This is a super helpful tool for managing your productivity and helping to move you closer to your goals, addressing your level of discipline and dedication to your goals.
I hope this was helpful. Please drop your comments and or questions below. I will answer them.
~JMJ