Take 5

Here is a simple productivity tip you can implement immediately.

Soon after you wake up, during your morning coffee (or morning cartoons), take out a piece of paper (or just a Post-It note) and write down the 5 most important things you need to do that day.

Just 5.

Not 2.

Not 10.

Just 5.

They need to be things that you can accomplish in a day. ‘Cure cancer’ or ‘fix relationship with cousin Jimmy’ aren’t things you can finish in a day. Put those on a longer term list.

Then (and this is critical), finish the first two before you open your email. For me, that’s extremely difficult but since I’ve started doing it, I’ve become much more productive.

Now you have the rest of the day to complete the other three things. Set aside time to do so. Often, you need to build in time away from your regular work ‘tasks’ and away from your email inbox.

It seems simple, but it’s so easy to head down so many rabbit-holes everyday. Facebook. Twitter. Email. RSS readers. It’s like reading a “Choose Your Own Unproductive Adventure” book. By the time you realize what page you’re on, you are a long way from where you started.

If you do this everyday, I guarantee you’ll become more productive. 5 x 5 = 25. Most people do not accomplish their 25 most important tasks every week.

Try it for a week. Let me know how it goes. If you hate it, I’ll refund you the cost of the Post-It notes.

NB: If you liked this tip, there are thousands more over at ZenHabits.net, the amazing and wonderful blog by Leo Babauta. If you actively follow Leo’s blog, you will become more productive, achieve your goals more quickly and easily, be healthier, richer, happier and more at peace. Seriously.

NB2: If you want some great, simple web software to help you (or your team) do this, check out TaskFive from the very cool, very smart and very funny guys over at Contrast.

Now go write down your 5 things, on a Post-It, in TaskFive or on your hand. Then do them.

Tagged as: productivity