3 Ways To Be More Productive Tomorrow

If you want to get twice as much done tomorrow, try these 5 tactics. Your “it’s done” list will be much bigger.

1. Check Email Last. Make only one check of email tomorrow. Do it at the end of the day, right before you end work for the day. Devote no more than 30 minutes to this.

2. Do It Now. Anything that will take 5 minutes or less – just do it now. Period. If it will take longer than 5 minutes, either delegate it or schedule it (either of which will take… less than 5 minutes.)

3. Say No More Often. Practice this: “Thank you, but no.” Say it with a smile, but don’t relent.

4. Go On Vacation Next Week. Ever notice how you get more done the week before vacation than in most months? Just pretend you’re going on vacation next week. Hustle.

5. Have a Top 5. Before you check email at the end of the day (see #1), make a list of the 5 things you MUST get done tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, make those 5 things the first things you do – before any meetings, phone calls, or anything else.

Try it. Let me know how you do.

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Jon Poland 5 pts

Excellent advice Ray. Point #4 and #5 really resonate with me. Point #4 is all about having a "Sense of Urgency." People with a sense of urgency are the people who get stuff done. Period.

Point #5 is powerful. By getting the critical tasks done first you are "setting your sail" for the rest of the day. When the first part of your day is productive it really does set the tone for the rest of your day. If you get off track at the beginning of the day (reading email will do this to you), it's tough to get back on track.

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RayEdwards 10 pts moderator

Jon Poland Thanks Jon - I think of Point #5 as a "secret weapon" for overcoming inertia.

My latest conversation: Ben Settle, Email Marketing Contrarian [Interview]

JuleS

So.... was it three or five? Last time I checked, this what a five looks like: 5 and this is what a three looks like: 3!

Ray Edwards

I over delivered. That's what exceeding expectations looks like the
last time *I* checked. ;-)

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Dan

Hey Ray,

Checking email at the end of the day feels like a death sentence if you're a freelancer. There have been so many times that a sales call said, "Wow, that was quick!" and was very impressed that I responded within 5 minutes of getting their email. I've had some literally say "I went with you because you had the fastest communication. I'm always nervous people will take days or weeks to get back to me during a project."

I guess it depends on your industry?

--Dan

I don't think it depends on your industry - I think it depends on what kind of clients you want to attract. Easy solution: have a virtual assistant answer the "ringing bell" while you make wiser, more productive use of your time.