The How to Get More Stuff Done Guide

Since this is easier said than done, you may need some assistance to stay on track. Getting started means understanding the four basic types of productivity styles:

• The Prioritizer - someone who organizes data; uses critical analysis to solve problems; and is consistent, decisive and goal oriented.

    

• The Planner - practical and action oriented; finds flaws and in plans and strategies; is good at organizing projects and data.

   

• The Arranger - thinks about how other feel and understands their emotional needs; brings teams together; and is able to sell ideas.

   

• The Visualizer - the innovator; looks to make changes with creativity; able to look towards future; and develop new opportunities.

Generally speaking, it doesn't matter what type of productivity style works for you. What matters is that you make the most of your approach.

For example, if you're "the planner" type, you work at your best when you're organized and your ducks are in a row. This may not be the right approach for others, but as long as it helps you produce at a high level, you will feel good about this part of your life.

5 Top Productivity Tools

No matter what type of productivity style you've adopted, nothing changes the fact that you may need some guidance from time to time.

Fortunately, there are hundreds of productivity tools to implement. Since you don't want to spend hours on end comparing each one, we're going to examine five of the best:

1. Evernote

If it's on your mind it may be worth recording. And that's exactly what Evernote will help you do.

With this powerful app, you can write out reminders, create to-do lists, save images, and much more.

Best yet, once you make a note, it's accessible from any device.

2. Doodle

You're only at your best when you're comfortable with your schedule. This is where Doodle can have a big impact on your life.

This tool helps eliminate a variety of scheduling challenges, including those back and forth emails that can become so bothersome.

With Doodle, you can better manage your schedule, avoid conflicting bookings, sync appointments to your calendar, and much more.

3. Feedly

Are you sick and tired of your inbox becoming cluttered with Google News alerts? Are you looking for a way to stay current with industry news, all without wasting valuable time?

Feedly can become your best friend, as this newsreader combines all your favorite sources in one place.

It won't take long to realize that Feedly can help you boost productivity by eliminating inbox clutter.

4. Any.do

Some people have a productivity style that lends well to staying organized. Others, however, struggle in this area.

If task management is on your mind, Any.do is a tool to learn more about. Rather than try to explain what this app is all about, let's look at how Any.do defines its service:

"Any.do helps you achieve anything by syncing your personal tasks, work projects, and shared lists so you have a clear path moving forward."

Easy enough, right?

With millions of users, Any.do must have something special to offer. It's your turn to give it a try.

5. Expensify

As a business professional, have you ever asked yourself this question: why do I have to spend so much time creating expense reports?

As you know, this is anything but a productive use of your time. Fortunately, there are a variety of solutions out there, one of which is sure to be right for you and your employer.

Expensify is one of the best tools in this space, thanks to its high level of features and ease of use.

From tracking mileage to snapping pictures of receipts, this app does it all.

If expense reports are dragging you down, Expensify can help all parties involved save time, reduce stress, and eliminate paperwork. 

3 Top Productivity Methods

Now that you know which tools can help you boost productivity, it's time to focus on the methods you can implement to push yourself to even greater heights.

While there are many productivity methods to consider, the three below are considered by many to be among the best:

1. The Pomodoro Technique

The name may be strange, but the results are anything less than stellar.

Created by Francesco Cirillo, this method is all about extreme focus coupled with regular breaks.

The way it works is simple: set a timer for 25 minutes (use your smartphone for this). From there, start the timer and immediately dive into the task at hand.

For 25 minutes, you shouldn't do anything but focus on your work. Once the timer goes off, take a five minute break to refresh your mind and body. 

Now for the interesting part: after four 25 minute sessions, increase your break time to 15 to 30 minutes. This allows you to stay focused for a short period of time, followed by a break that helps you recharge.

2. Getting Things Done

Simply put, productivity is all about one thing: getting things done.

This method is the brainchild of David Allen and is based on the idea that you should get organized as quickly and efficiently as possible, as this helps you better understand what's on your plate.

There's one other thing about this method you need to keep in mind: it's imperative to organize tasks by priority, as well as how much time it will take to complete each one.

If you can get the job done quickly, bump it to the top of your list. Furthermore, large projects should be broken down, allowing you to complete several smaller tasks in a time efficient manner.

3. The Action Method

Are you a man or woman of action? Are you hoping to transform into this type of person? If so, this method is right for you.

The Action Method is based on the idea that you should come away from every event, from meetings to email correspondence, with a clear idea of the "action steps" you need to take.

The primary benefit of this method is the ability to obtain a clear overview of what needs done. From there, all you have to do is take action.

Conclusion

Maybe you feel good about your level of productivity. Or maybe you need to make some changes in the near future.

Regardless of where you stand, these tips will put you on the right track. By implementing the above tools and methods, it won't be long before you are working in a more productive manner.

Read More: 9 Growth Hacks Any Small Business Can Implement