Secrets to Productivity
Written by Tara: Freelance Designer on Sunday, 6 of May , 2007 at 12:02 pm
Ben Yoskovitz is holding a group writing project called The Ultimate Guide to Productivity Char at Essential Keystrokes tagged me to take part. It is also well worth taking a look at Randa Clays secrets to productivity
Its kind of ironic really, Char tagged me for my input on productivity when I was reading her blog and not doing what I was supposed to be doing. Still I guess minor lapses are allowed 
.
I think one of the biggest tips I have is to write everything down - lists, lists, list. At the beginning of the week I create a list of all the live jobs I have and the dates they are due in. Then I try and break that down into days of the week to try and plan in all the work I need to get done I generally do this in quark and keep updating the list but I have created a work planner pdf to show you the method I use. As soon as a job comes in I try to write it down even if its something as simple as remembering to email someone later in the day. I also find that a list makes me far more aware of what I have to do during the day. You set yourself a goal for the day and hopefully you achieve it. Its kind of satisfying to delete things from the list too. There have been a few times I have thought I had done everything I needed to do for the day, glance at my list and realised I have missed something - so although it might sound a bit obsessive it works for me.
If I have a lot of work on I find starting earlier in the morning more effective than working late. When you start early there are no distractions - few emails and no phone calls, whereas I find in the evening you there are many more distractions and it is harder to concentrate.
One other tip that I try not to do too often - is if I am really busy I will turn my email off for an hour or two. Email is incredibly disruptive, a reply here and there, a quick sending someone a logo all adds up to a lot of lost time not used very effectively.
Anyone can take part in writing their tips to productivity, but if any of you have time or are interested I would like to tag -
Kevin at Blogging Tips
Ahsan at Barely Average Blog
Asgeir at Asgeir Hoem.no
David at David Airey
Santosh at Santosh P
Category: Freelancing, General Graphic Design
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Comment by Randa Clay
Made Sunday, 6 of May , 2007 at 3:50 pm
Nice post and some good tips here. Getting a picture at the beginning of the week of what deadlines are falling where is a great way to keep on top of things. Thanks for mentioning my post - that was nice of you.
Comment by matt mcarthur
Made Sunday, 6 of May , 2007 at 5:23 pm
Trying out a similar work schedule just now - will see how it works out.
So far, not so good as I’m meant to be doing letterheads just now…
Comment by Tara1
Made Sunday, 6 of May , 2007 at 5:51 pm
Hi Randa,
Thanks and no problem for the mention.
Matt, I know the feeling its easy to get diverted.
Pingback by My Two Cents on Productivity | Asgeir Hoem | Design and Creativity
Made Sunday, 6 of May , 2007 at 9:45 pm
[…] tagged by Tara, I’m giving my contribution to Instigator Blog’s productivity […]
Comment by RomeoAngel
Made Monday, 7 of May , 2007 at 6:34 am
I have to make another suggestion.
Have you by any chance visited Google Calendar? (that is if you have a gmail account)
Google Calendar is an amazing way to Organize yourself and keep track of everything.
btw, if you dont have a gmail account now it is free to Sign Up.
Pingback by Five top tips for increasing your productivity :: miLienzo.com
Made Monday, 7 of May , 2007 at 1:33 pm
[…] Graphic Design Blog - Secrets to productivity […]
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Made Monday, 7 of May , 2007 at 7:54 pm
[…] Secrets to Productivity by Tara […]
Comment by Jason P.
Made Monday, 7 of May , 2007 at 10:59 pm
Really cool blog! I like designers because I have always wanted to be one!!!
Any who, I hope to get some pointers on some projects I am working on…Keep up the blog!!!
Pingback by at reflections
Made Tuesday, 8 of May , 2007 at 2:34 am
[…] - Secrets to Productivity Randa - Secrets to Productivity StevieB - 100 Ways To Be More […]
Comment by Frank
Made Tuesday, 8 of May , 2007 at 3:06 am
For me I’d have to cancel my internet and cable tv accounts. But that’s a little hard to do…
Pingback by webee | webee’s 5 productivity boosters for design tasks
Made Wednesday, 9 of May , 2007 at 7:53 am
[…] need more information on this, try to read: - aaron’s 5 tips - chris’s flow state - tara’s productivity […]
Comment by santosh p
Made Thursday, 10 of May , 2007 at 5:49 am
Thanks for the link back.. But requesting to change my initial its ‘Santosh P’ NOT Santosh pP.
I am doing a detailed review of yours and few other blogs very soon
Comment by Tara1
Made Thursday, 10 of May , 2007 at 6:53 am
Sorry Santosh,
My finger must have got stuck on the P, its changed now.
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Made Saturday, 12 of May , 2007 at 2:45 pm
[…] Blog. Other excellent posts in this meme areAaron’s 5 tips Chris’s flow state Tara’s productivity […]
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Made Wednesday, 16 of May , 2007 at 10:11 am
[…] graphic design blog: write everything down — lists, lists, lists. […]
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Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 8:40 pm
[…] need more information on this, try to read: - aaron’s 5 tips - chris’s flow state - tara’s productivity […]
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Made Monday, 2 of July , 2007 at 6:50 pm
[…] Secrets to Productivity by Tara […]
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Made Wednesday, 19 of December , 2007 at 6:08 am
[…] graphic design blog: write everything down — lists, lists, lists. […]