Success Mindset

We all have 24 hours, or 1,440 minutes, a day. However, according to a recent three-year study, what separates the rich from the poor is what the rich do with 240 minutes of the day.

That’s why I’ve prepared a list of 8 tips to help you make the most of your time. Put them into play, and 10x your success!

1. Top priority? Do it first

You know that feeling of being overwhelmed when you’re swamped with tasks and don’t even know where to start? Everyone talks about priorities, but what do they mean? You keep creating to-do lists that never end, and most items are never crossed off.

So, obviously,, you’re frustrated. Because the old-fashioned model of creating mindless lists is broken. We are human. We have high expectations, but our actions are seldom aligned with them.

The remedy is twofold:

1. Don’t worry if most of your to-do list is not marked done by the end of the day – it wasn’t realistic to begin with.
2. Prioritise your list. Choose 1-3 must-do tasks. Go over your list and decide what tasks must happen today, no matter what. It’s an excellent exercise because it forces you to focus on what matters. So if you’re a social media manager, posting about tomorrow’s event is a must-do for today. Engaging with your audience is crucial but can be delayed if no choice exists. Now, start your day with your must-do tasks in order of urgency.

2. Get angry

You need mental fuel, like a space rocket or a car, to drive you to action. What drives you to act?

It’s fascinating because you’ll discover what fuels you as you grow physically and mentally.

I used to think that motivational mantras, positive affirmations, vision boards and all those tacky low-of-attraction methods would magically propel me to action.

And then the time passed, ‘life happened’ (sigh), I got into the family-work-sleep-coffee vicious circle, and about six years have passed since my last attempt to fulfil my blog-turned-content-empire dream.

Little did I know that I needed a healthy dose of anger. Yes, I’m talking about the rage that would cause you to slam a door or a kitchen drawer when your partner tells you that your dream will be shattered because of your time-wasting habits. If you’re like me, this will cause you to lock yourself in the den and frantically work like a squirrel on caffeine until you get results.

So don’t discount the power of anger and that feeling of “Think I can not do this? I’m going to show you, wait…”

3. Addicted to the news? Read just the headlines

We all have our addictions. That’s normal.

But what separates the successful 1% from the rest is their ability to control their addictions and urges.

TV is addictive, like chips, coffee, social media, Pinterest, clickbait web articles and news.

I can quickly dive into news or finance articles and read until the cows return. If the headline catches my eye, it’s a done deal. I can easily waste an hour of my life reading every single word. Why? Because I’m curious, I want to get to the end; I seek justice.

But the truth is, this kind of addiction only harms you. Because by passively reading or consuming content, you can’t make a difference.

The solution is to set a limit. I sometimes have this urge to know what’s happening right now. That’s natural, and there’s no point suppressing it.

But you can limit yourself. If you love reading the news, give yourself 5 minutes to review the headlines. But then turn off the website or app and get cracking with your task.

Turn off notifications and don’t peep into that news page or social feed, seeking a new message or breaking news. Doing so will kick you out of your action zone and set you back, further away from your dream.

If you keep distracting yourself, you’re probably not excited by the task.

4. Focus

In other words, be super focused. Design the perfect atmosphere that will help you work efficiently. Your desk should only contain what you need for work, nothing else: no clutter, magazines, or a gazillion of pens.

Where are you the most productive?

At your home office, library, local café or maybe a co-working space like MindSpace or WeWork?

I strongly advise you to try working in an open space environment. These co-working spaces are optimised for productivity – the precise lighting, inspiring design, kitchens with everything you need to keep going, and the right balance of quietness vs not feeling too lonely.

Think about other pitfalls that steal your time and eliminate them.

If you’re distracted by noise and conversations near you, get a quality pair of headphones and find background music you can delve into.

Upgrade your diet if you keep visiting the kitchen for an unannounced snack. Be mindful of the food that enters your system, as it can dramatically impact your performance.

Cut down on sugar and processed food, prefer whole wheat bread and pasta, drink a lot of water and find healthy snacks that satisfy you without taking a toll on your weight.

Good examples are nuts, fruits (within reason), and vegetables. Use forks for sticky food – this will make it easier to nibble while working without having sticky, oily fingers.

5. Love what you do

Two quotes by inspiring entrepreneurs come to mind:

“If you need inspiration, don’t do it.” (Elon Musk)

“Maintain motivation by loving what you do.” (Gary Vee)

If you find yourself constantly distracted, take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself: “Am I doing what I love?” If the answer is no, maybe it’s time for a change. Distraction is often a sign you’re bored of what you’re doing.

Start putting your energy into things you’re passionate about, and you’ll have significantly fewer distractions.

6. Know your why

This is something I’ve often struggled with. Why do I want to write a blog? What’s that glue holding my business together? Why should anyone read my articles? And how to keep coming up with fresh ideas?

We all need purpose. I believe we’re wired this way. Knowing your Why gives you a reason to wake up and take decisive action. It helps you stay motivated even in the darkest hours.

So don’t waste time trying to stay motivated. Instead, design your life around your passion, and productivity will follow.

7. Work on your phone

This may be controversial advice. We always hear that phones are the root of all evil. They distract us around the clock, wherever we go.

But they have one main benefit: Phones are usually fast and handy. You don’t have to wait for your computer to boot, charge, or connect your mouse on a phone. Everything works almost instantly. With a few taps, the app is ready for action, and you can start creating like crazy. This is a huge time saver over any computer or tablet.

That’s why I like to write using my phone’s WordPress and Google Docs apps when I’m on a writing spree. It’s much faster and more accessible, and I can start right away. Bliss!

8. Eliminate distractions

It’s so easy to get distracted. Today, more than any time. We are inundated by useless information and stimulations, and our attention span is shorter than ever.

Make a list of the things that distract you. This will help you identify and combat them.

Writing this list is painful. But it will help you know your enemies before the battlefield. Examples:

• Wiping your glasses
• Checking Facebook
• Checking your inbox
• Hanging around the kitchen
• Chatting with your colleagues

Now, over to you!

What do you think of these tips?

What are your productivity secrets?

Please share them in the comments, and if you enjoyed the article, share it with your friends and loved ones!