8 tips to help you stay productive

Are you a small business owner with a small case of procrastination?

If the answer is yes, don't fret. You are not alone. We all suffer from procrastination from time to time. It is a natural human trait.

Of course, if we want to do well in business, we not only have to be productive, but we also have to remain focussed on the right tasks.

Thankfully, there are eight easy tips all of us can follow to ensure we remain productive and stay on task all of the time.

Set aside time for emails: Checking your emails each time you receive a notification is distracting and will stop you from completing more important tasks. Instead, set aside a few times each day to check your emails. Start and end of day perhaps?

Write things down: Some of the most successful business people throughout history were known to have kept a notebook on them at all times. You can use your phone if you like, but you might find it easier to commit things to memory if you physically write them down and you can keep your notebooks as mementos!

Save the most important tasks for the morning: Tackling your most important tasks first thing in the morning will mean you're more likely to finish them.

Take a break: Walking away from your desk or the task you're working on might be the best way to reset your batteries. If you're working to a deadline and are suffering from writer's block or feel like you're constantly distracted from the task at hand, get up and go for a quick walk, grab a coffee or some water. You'll find you're feeling refreshed and can tackle your task with a clear mind.

Learn to say no: Agreeing to attend every meeting you're invited to or saying yes to all the tasks people tell you are a priority is going to eat into the time you have for your most important tasks. Meetings will kill time and eat into your day. Productive people only attend the most essential meetings.

Forget perfection: Yes, producing quality work is important, but labouring over the same project once you've completed it is probably a waste of yours and everyone else's time. Do the work, proof read it and follow your gut. If you're not able to let it go, take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes.

Stay Active: Take half an hour out of your day to do something active. Take a walk before work, go to a gym class on your lunch break or play a team sport with some co-workers. Exercise keeps your mind fresh and you'll find you have more energy throughout the day.

Calm down: Don't panic if something goes wrong. Try to keep your stress to a minimum. Anxiety is one of the biggest enemies of productivity.