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Darius Foroux is an author of 8 books, including “The Stoic Path to Wealth“, his newest book which is set to release July 16, 2024. He is also the host of his self-titled podcast The Darius Foroux Show which can be heard on platforms such as iTunes and Spotify.
In this article we will be discussing 10 tips that will make you more productive inspired by Foroux’s book titled “Do It Today” In the book, Darius discusses simple yet effective tips on becoming a more productive person by overcoming procrastination and eliminating distractions simply by creating systems that will help you focus on what really matters.
These tips will not only make you more productive, they will also help you become more organized so that you have more time for the meaningful things in life. So let’s get right into it!
#1 – Always Cut to the Chase.
Stop delaying what needs to be done and just get it done, already! Cutting to the chase not only increases your productivity, it saves you time and energy by allowing you to accomplish more in less time. This leads to you having more time to focus on new goals and opportunities.
“If you want to get sh!t done, you have to jump straight into the action.”
#2 – Record All of Your Thoughts and Ideas
In the book, Foroux emphasizes how your human RAM stores relevant short-term information, but as we all know, our memory’s capacity is limited. When it’s full, it will delete older information to make room for new information.
We can unload our RAM’s capacity by keeping a log of our thoughts and ideas. Writing forces you to organize your thoughts, which can help clarify complex ideas and make them more understandable. Writing also helps reinforce your memory, making it easier to recall important information and ideas later on that your RAM’s capacity limit may have pushed into your long-term memory a very long time ago.
Try keeping a notebook or journal with you at all times to keep log of any thoughts or ideas that you may have throughout the day.
#3 – Learn to Say No!
For some reason, saying “no” is one of the hardest things to do for human kind! If you’re like me, telling someone “no” sometimes makes you feel like a big meanie who goes around ruining everyone’s hopes and dreams. But you know what, screw them! Well, not really screw them, but learn to tell people “no” more than “yes”. If all you do is tell people “yes” to every request they have, you’re living life for them, not yourself.
“If you keep saying yes, you’re living someone else’s life.”
And a lot of times, telling others “no” can be a blessing for both you and them. When someone hears “no”, it may sting for a moment, but it forces them to look at other options and avenues that will assist them in being more independent and that will eventually give them their “yes” they’re desiring.
Saying “no” helps you maintain your personal boundaries, ensuring that your time, energy, and resources are spent on what truly matters to you. This protects your well-being and decreases burnout. It also reduces stress and prevents you from becoming overwhelmed by taking on too much.
#4 – Eliminate Everything That Distracts You
This is simply said, but easier said than done. You have to make up your mind that nothing will distract you from your goals nor your tasks. Find ways to remove your distractions. For cell phone distractions, go into your setting to turn off notifications; and for social media sites you’re having difficulty refraining from, use app blockers.
Eliminating distractions will allow you to fully focus on your tasks, reducing the cognitive load on your brain which decreases stress and mental fatigue.
#5 – Keep Away Clutter
A cluttered mine contributes to mental clutter while a tidy space leads to a clearer mind. Did you know that a cluttered environment can be a significant source of stress and anxiety? It’s not only important to keep your space clean because Mom or Dad said so, but it also allows you to be more efficient in your environment.
A clutter-free environment enhances your focus and decision-making which increases your productivity. Keeping a tidy space is also more visually appealing, comfortable, and a mood-booster that creates an inviting atmosphere for yourself and others.
“A cluttered life means a cluttered brain.”
#6 – Focus On One Thing
Focusing on one thing at a time offers significant benefits for productivity and overall well-being. When you concentrate on a single task, you can dive deeper into the work, leading to high quality results and a more thorough understanding of the subject. Additionally, single-tasking enhances efficiency by eliminating the time lost in switching between tasks, known as context switching, which often results in errors and delays.
If you have recurring tasks, try doing a batch of them in one day. For example, the author writes “two to three blog posts in one day”. Doing that allows him to take his focus off of writing and direct his attention to other important tasks. If you’re into creating content, you can record in batches and schedule your postings ahead of time which frees up a TON of time for you to check off other to-do list items.
#7 – Create Routines
Creating a routine offers numerous benefits that can significantly enhance productivity and overall quality of life. A well-structured routine helps to establish clear expectations and priorities, making it easier to manage time and reduce procrastination. By having a set schedule, you can build consistent habits, which in turn can lead to improved efficiency and the ability to accomplish more tasks with less effort. Routines also minimize decision fatigue, as you no longer have to spend time and energy figuring out what to do next. This consistency fosters a sense of stability and control, reducing stress and anxiety.
Creating morning or evening routines has shown to be very beneficial to numerous people (just search morning/evening routine on YouTube). A simple but effective morning routine can include waking up every day at 5am, exercising, and spending a few minutes making your to-do list to ensure a productive day.
“Decisions fatigue your brain, and routines eliminate decisions which leads to more brainpower.”
#8 – Plan the Next Day
By taking a few minutes to outline your tasks and priorities for the upcoming day, you create a clear roadmap that helps you stay focused and organized. This proactive approach minimizes decision fatigue, as you wake up knowing exactly what needs to be accomplished, rather than spending time figuring out where to start. Additionally, planning ahead allows you to allocate time effectively, ensuring that important tasks are prioritized and less critical ones are managed efficiently.
As mentioned earlier, this can be done during your morning routine or right before bed during your evening routine. Whichever you decide, planning your days ahead allows you to optimize your time, enhance your efficiency, and create a smoother, more productive daily routine while having a sense of control and preparedness.
#9 – Exercise
I don’t care what self-help book I’m reading or which self-proclaimed productivity guru’s YouTube channel I’m watching, EVERYONE emphasizes the importance of exercising. Of all of the tips provided, this may be the most important one because we can’t do any of these tips if we’re not feeling well enough to do them.
Although I think we all know the main benefits of exercising, I’ll still give you a few reasons why you should incorporate this into your daily routine. Exercising not only works out your body, it works your mind out as well. Exercising promotes better brain health and leads to heightened mental acuity which helps you to focus and learn faster. Also, did you know that having enough discipline to exercise regularly translates into better time management and organizational skills?
Exercising also releases endorphins that aids in boosting your mood, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. It improves your memory and concentration as well. And all it takes is a measley 30 minutes a day! (I’m saying this to myself because I suck at exercising, but anyhoo…)
And last but definitely not least…
#10 – Do the work!
Enough said.
So there you have it! Those are 10 Simple But Effective Tips That Will Make You More Productive given to us by Darius Foroux. To learn more about the author and any upcoming releases, be sure to visit his website dariusforoux.com. To purchase his book “Do It Today”, you can find it here.
Hey people!!!!!
Good mood and good luck to everyone!!!!!