How to improve your productivity, and why it is crucial to develop self-discipline?

All my words are based on the book "Eat that frog" by Brian Tracy. I will share with you some tips I've started using in my life and describe how it has changed my vision. If you want to dig deeper into this topic, read this book! I just share my thoughts and experience after reading.

The parallel between frogs and tasks

Brian Tracy uses the word "Frog" as a synonym for the word "Task". Initially, I didn't get what the frogs the author mentioned. But when I read the first rule in this book, I understood that it is a pretty great meaning. So, the first principle is that if you have to eat two frogs, you must eat the ugliest one first.

People often pay attention to the none profitable things in their lives. And here is a simple answer to the question "Why?". Generally, "small things" are easier than your most important goals to do, and we automatically choose not a tense option. I want to introduce to you the "80/20" method. Imagine that 80 percent are all your tadpoles, and 20 percent are your biggest frogs. As I said before, people get used to paying attention to 80 percent, but here is the thing if you want to reach success, you must adamantly refuse to work on tasks in the bottom 80 percent while you still have tasks in the top 20 percent left to be done. So, resist the temptation to clear up small things first.

Keep this rule in your mind all the time and relate my next words to this principle. Likewise, one of the most important things is to adjust your habits, and now I will elaborate on it.

Importance of habits

If you are reading this now, it means that one of your goals is to increase your productivity and improve time management. So, due to the book and this article you have to learn how to turn out tips into habits. Undoubtedly, to make this process a part of your life you have to practice. Then, you will not notice how you apply it to all your thoughts. I guarantee you that life will be easier and you will change your mind on how to set and reach your purposes. Firstly, you have to want to make changes in your life, and understand that it might be difficult sometimes. Secondly, be ready to fight against the odds and apply all advice immediately. And eventually, when you get used to the new habits, you will be undefeatable!

What methods I've started using in my life to be more effective?

1) Think on paper. Write out goals and objectives before you begin to work. A few months ago, I thought that it is stupid and unprofitable employment, but when I started using it, I noticed something. I have started thinking clearer than before. This is because materializing your thoughts and plans helps to clear up your mind. You don't feel like you forgot something, because all your ideas are in front of you on the paper. And when you get done with one of the options, you just cross out it. Then you will feel this accomplishment, and it will motivate you to keep going through your list.

2) Sort your goals by priority and apply the "ABCDE" method. After you write your purposes, put them in order. The first one is the most valuable option and the last one is the bottom of your objectives. Here is a piece of advice on how to make this process easier - use the "ABCDE" method. I will mention the most valuable letters for me. After you have applied this method, you will be more focused on your priorities.

• "A" - it is a goal, that if you get it accomplished, will bring you the most positive emotions and the push with motivation to move on. Probably, it is the most complicated task on your list.

• "B" - it is a task that you should do. Someone can be not satisfied if you haven't made this thing. For instance, you need to reply to an important email.

• "E" - it is something that you can delete from your list because it will not make any difference. Often it is something that you just enjoy doing. "E" option - it is the barrier to your "A" tasks.

Do not forget to ask yourself a couple of questions:

• What are the potential consequences of doing or not doing this task?

• What are my highest-value activities?

• What can I and only I do, that if done well, will make a real difference?

• What is my biggest frog of all at this moment?

3) Plan ahead. One of the best ways for you to overcome procrastination and get more things done faster is to have everything you need at hand before you begin. The more thought you invest in planning and setting priorities before you begin, the more important things you will do and the faster you will get them done once you get started.

Here is the "10/90" rule. This 10 percent of your time you invest in planning everything you need for your job. Yes, it takes some time, but it is worth it because it is a contribution to your future. Likewise, this principle can reduce the time your work, therefore your productivity increases.

4) Create a schedule and set deadlines. Also, you need to create a day/week/month plan and write there all information that you have read before. It will help you to feel your objectives and track your success.

Due to deadlines, you will be motivated to get done things faster, because it is like pressure on you. No pressure after the task is done = an enormous quantity of dopamine to get the next option done even faster.

Develop a sense of urgency. To reach your full potential, you must form the habit of putting the pressure on yourself and not waiting for someone else to come along and do it for you.

5) Key result areas and weaknesses. A key result area is an activity that is under your control. It produces an output that becomes an input or a contributing factor. The key result areas of management are planning, organizing, staffing, delegating, supervising, measuring, and reporting. In the same way, you should figure out where are your strengths and weaknesses. To be better, you have to learn things where you do feel not confident. It stops you to move toward your dream, so you have to get back and enhance yourself in this particular field. And then, you will be able to achieve success and you won't make the same mistakes in the future because you will know how it is hard to get back and learn something again. Remember that everything is learnable! If someone has learned something, you can learn it as well! Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.

If we are talking about the job, and you have a lot of responsibilities there, write them out and ask yourself “If you could do only one thing on this list all day long, which one task would contribute the greatest value to your organization?”. Choose three tasks. Everything else you do is either a support task or a complementary task that could probably be delegated or eliminated. Since you must procrastinate anyway, decide today to procrastinate on low-value activities. You can get your time and your life under control only to the degree to which you stop doing lower-value activities.

6) Motivate yourself. Be a fuel for your own. Automatically you should be focused on the solution rather than the problem. Because such, you won't fill your mind with bad thoughts, and vice versa, you will help your brain to thrive and learn how to find a way to overcome the problem. Refuse to complain about your problems. Keep them to yourself. The last of the human freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.

To keep yourself motivated, you must resolve to become a complete optimist. You must decide to respond positively to the words, actions, and reactions of the people and situations around you. You must refuse to let the unavoidable difficulties and setbacks of daily life affect your mood or emotions. And, undoubtedly, if you are not satisfied with your environment in terms of friends and you feel that you receive nothing except joy, you must change something in this field too.

7) Adjust your zones of silence, be focused. The time that you waste at work often has to be taken away from your family. You have to either stay late or take work home and work in the evenings. By not working effectively and efficiently during your workday, you create unnecessary stress and deprive the members of your family of the very best person you can possibly be.

I have changed the preferences of notifications on my gadgets and left only the most important apps. To not be distracted during my work, I have adjusted my Focus Mode on the phone. So, now if it turns on, I can only receive the calls and messages from my family in case something happened. No friends, no groups, no distractions at all during the period of working.

Also, I am trying to make a dopamine detox by not using a phone for 3 hours after I woke up. And only when I have done my "A" task routine, I can reward myself with checking the phone and massages.

Likewise, I have cleared up all my chats and emails. You should do it not only on your computer, but keep your real workspace clear as well. Such, you will have only the things that you need for your task on the table and your device.

8) Work until the job is 100% complete. One of the keys to your living a wonderful life, having a successful career, and feeling terrific about yourself is to develop the habit of starting and finishing important jobs. Like I said before, learning something again is harder than learning everything immediately. This rule will save your time as well. Once you get going, keep going!

Came up with the new idea? Get that wishful idea out of your mind. All you can hope for is to be on top of your most important responsibilities. The others will just have to wait.

Why you should do this?

The purpose of time management, of eating that frog, and getting more done in less time is to enable you to spend more “face time” with the people you care about, doing the things that give you the greatest amount of joy in life. You must never forget that your ultimate goal is to live a long, happy, and healthy life, and these tips are like an improvement pill. To apply it all and feel the relief after applying, you should develop your discipline. Do not lie to yourself, be transparent!

No one can disappoint you the way you can do it yourself

Your success only depends on you. To hone yourself, keep asking the question “What is it in me that is holding me back?”. Make changes now! Life is an amazing game, where you should teach yourself how to play. So, I have the last question for you, my dear reader. If you had one shot or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted, would you capture it or just let it slip?

P.S If you know who is the author of the last lyrics, please, write in the comments!