From sad to happyEvery small business has productivity problems. It’s not because small business employees are lazy; in fact, it’s the exact opposite. There is so much to do as a small business that sometimes it can be hard just keeping track of the long to-do lists. So how can one possibly get everything done? How do you focus on the important things while you can? Here are just a few tips to help.

Take Advantage of Your Small Chunks of Time

Instead of playing around in your email or on Facebook while you’re waiting in line or sitting at your doctor’s office, use that time to work instead. Even if you just have your smartphone, chances are that your phone is more powerful than some of the current laptops and can accomplish quite a bit in a limited amount of time. Over time, you’ll probably become pretty talented at taking advantage of your small blocks of time – a lot can be done in a half an hour.

Write It Down and Cross It Off

For those who still keep mental lists – don’t. Research shows that creating lists and crossing things off those lists is more satisfying. In addition, you get to see the progress and things you accomplished in any given day. Over time, you can also figure out just how much you can accomplish in one day without becoming frustrated or overwhelmed.

Record It

Sometimes you can’t just sit down and write something. Sometimes it’s much easier, especially if you’re on the go, to simply talk instead. Don’t waste that time you spend talking though. Make sure you make it productive time by recording your thoughts (most smartphones have this function today). Sometimes it just takes some thinking out loud to really get that blog progress or report done. Sometimes you can dictate an entire post while waiting in line at a grocery store.

Finally, Know the Signs of Unproductiveness

The key to productivity is staying productive, even when you don’t want to be. One of the easiest ways to remain productive is to match up your working times with the time you feel your freshest. When are you most alert? When do you get the most done when you just sit down and do something? Some people are morning people and some are night owls. Either way, schedule time while you’re in your ‘zone’ to get the most important things checked off of your to-do list. During the rest of your work day, you can get things done that might not require as much focus or brain power.

Whether you choose to do a nice check-list or record your each and every thought, there are tons of ways to remain productive these days, even if you feel like you never have a moment to breathe as a small business employee.

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