7 Productivity Hacks for Planners

Planning meetings demands a certain level of organization that few other tasks require. Keeping a sharp focus while speedily accomplishing your work is key.

Here are 7 hacks to stay on track and  improve your productivity:

1. Make Checklists

One of the most important parts of the day is the 20-30 minutes you spend planning out the tasks you need to accomplish. Set aside time every morning to organize your day by making lists. For some, it helps to spend the first half of the day working on projects and the second half focusing on emails and calls. If you do the opposite, you could find yourself so caught up in responding that you never get to what you need to do.  

2. Turn Off Notifications

With all the email, inter-office and social media notifications you get in a single day, it’s amazing you can get anything done. Turn off anything but essential pings during your work day. If you have committed to starting a new project or are on a deadline, turn off your phone and email alerts until you are done.

Obviously, the ability to be unplugged varies depending on your setting, such as when you are running an event. One hack to limit your notifications on site is to make everyone aware that you will only be replying to texts.

3. Chip Away at Projects

The most effective way to not be overwhelmed by large-scale projects is to break them down into smaller, more attainable tasks. Breaking down a big project will help you to focus on one step at a time, while you are thinking in advance about what’s next.

5. Organize Your Calendar

Keeping a well-organized calendar can help you keep track of tasks and plan out your day. Having your entire schedule available at a glance allows you to focus on upcoming projects and to properly plan out new ones as they arise. Some planners use a paper calendar and others prefer their Outlook calendar, which they can sync to all their devices. Online calendars also have pop-up reminders, which can be a helpful tool in themselves.

6. Identify Your Most Productive Time of Day

Understand what time of day you are most productive and plan your schedule accordingly. Morning people might be more comfortable accomplishing their work before the sun even comes up, while others might need a cup (or two) of coffee before they swing into gear. No matter what time of day you work best, being self-aware and honest about your most productive hours will help you to increase your output and improve your concentration.

7. Stop Multitasking!

That’s right: Contrary to what most people believe, multitasking does not lead to higher productivity. The time you spend jumping from task to task can be actually wasteful and lead to a lack of concentration. Try to focus on one project at a time and see that through to completion before moving on.