Daily Schedule: Use This Form To Strategically Plan Individual Days: Fill & Download for Free

This trick has been/is being used by many individuals who have achieved greatness. One of them is Michael Phelps. The same guy who has won the highest number of Olympic medals ever(22).The Power of Small WinsYou start a day doing what you love or doing what you know you are supposed to do. This starts a feel good chain reaction of sorts, you get more productive as the day goes on.If you have a schedule that you find useful and you follow it, come rushing a group of really addictive chemicals from inside you. All this makes you push your limits.Watson and Crick were unknowingly motivated to work hard due to their small wins:After the excitement of their first attempt to build a DNA model, Watson and Crick noticed some serious flaws. According to Watson, “Our first minutes with the models…were not joyous.” Later that evening, “a shape began to emerge which brought back our spirits.” But when they showed their “breakthrough” to colleagues, they found that their model would not work. Dark days of doubt and ebbing motivation followed. When the duo finally had their bona fide breakthrough, and their colleagues found no fault with it, Watson wrote, “My morale skyrocketed, for I suspected that we now had the answer to the riddle.” Watson and Crick were so driven by this success that they practically lived in the lab, trying to complete the work.Through exhaustive analysis of diaries kept by knowledge workers, we discovered the progress principle: Of all the things that can boost emotions, motivation, and perceptions during a workday, the single most important is making progress in meaningful work. And the more frequently people experience that sense of progress, the more likely they are to be creatively productive in the long run. Whether they are trying to solve a major scientific mystery or simply produce a high-quality product or service, everyday progress—even a small win—can make all the difference in how they feel and perform.The Power of Small Wins.And that is what Phelps did too when he woke up in the Olympic Village in Beijing, he followed his practice routine before his medal winning race. Every thing was as planned, psychologically he was the winner before even starting the race.Concluding, there is no single giant leap towards your goals instead the small steps make everything achievable. Like always, break things down to easier sub parts, and even the most challenging can be accomplished.Success is nothing but a series of small wins. On days you want to accomplish a lot, just have a series of small wins ready to register record breaking outcomes!Edit 1:Just after I wrote this I started thinking that if you can't apply all this, then there is no use of it. Over the last 10 hours, I thought of these 2 applications of the Power of Small Wins that are commendable.Using the Power of Small Wins:1) The Pomodoro Technique:Many successful people use this technique. It breaks down stuff to cycles of 30 minutes, which consists of 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes rest and after 4 such cycles you take a 30 minute break. It makes work really easy. And after you complete 1 cycle, you get going and repeating all this multiple times. Hence, a series of small wins is established.There are five basic steps to implementing the technique:Decide on the task to be doneSet the pomodoro timer to n minutes (traditionally 25)Work on the task until the timer rings; record with an xTake a short break (3–5 minutes)After four pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 minutes)Pomodoro Technique. Well, everything above can be followed apart from 2( you do not need a pomodoro timer). That according to me is a marketing gimmick so that those who market this can make money off of it.Someone really smart and hardworking, who is also on Quora has written about using this technique himself, he is Adam Merberg. He recently finished a PhD in Mathematics at University of California, Berkeley, with a dissertation on non-commutative probability theory and operator algebras. Enough said.2) How athletes use this:Many of the best teams/individual athletes use this, be it the NFL or Swimming or any other competitive sport. This is how Tony Dungy got the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from going almost bankrupt in 1994 to winning the Super Bowl in 2003.What all of them have in common is that they perform the same practice routine everyday, and even on the day of an important competition. So just like as mentioned earlier in the answer, every thing is as planned, psychologically these guys are the winners before even starting the game.You can do the same, just fix a routine, in other words, a series of small wins for your important days.

Most of this has been covered, but here's my take on uncommon ways to work smarter instead of harder. After a certain amount of time doing the same job, productivity will inevitably slow down. However, by working smarter and more efficiently, you can take back your productivity. Indeed, smart work habits will provide more time for strategic planning, thereby decreasing stress levels and exponentially increasing productivity.Let's look at unconventional ways to work smarter and not harder. By following these methods you'll feel less stressed at work.Set a Time Limit for TasksParkinson's Law states that work will expand to take up the time allotted to it. Try giving yourself a limited amount of time to finish each task. To help with this sort of task management, consider using to-do list software and following the Pomodoro Technique.Say 'No' more often.Mulling over decisions is a common productivity killer. Sometimes a decision is put off, and this can create additional work for someone that may not even contribute to the bottom line. Valuable workers do not hesitate to make a necessary decision and learn to say "no" when it is appropriate to do so.Use Keyboard Shortcuts and Other Technology Time-SaversFew people know the intricacies of Microsoft Office or Gmail as well as they should. Take some time to learn the ins and outs of the software you use daily. Outlook is more than just email, and keyboard shortcuts repeatedly save time! Here are the links to a few common tools' keyboard shortcuts: Microsoft Office, Outlook or Gmail.MeditateTaking 10 minutes out of your day to calm your mind have been scientifically proven to help you manage stress, which leads to more productivity. The best results come from developing a practice and sticking with it. Check out Headspace or Calm to help get started.A Well-Designed WorkspaceHaving two monitors at eye level and a comfortable chair that allows for good posture. Removing clutter around your desk can keep you focused, instead of distracted.Build Relationships at WorkNot only will this help employees get their job done, but it increases morale and reduces stress. Take time to get to know your colleagues at work. Try to get a deep understanding of their role at work. When colleagues are on your side it can help you get tasks done in the organization, with limited bottlenecks.ExerciseWhen most of us are overwhelmed with too much work, we barely move. We end up spending eight to eleven hours a day hunched over a computer. Start a fitness routine and get up and walk at intervals throughout the day. Over time, you'll find yourself feeling more energetic and completing your work in a shorter amount of time.Eat (and Drink) WellPeople need to eat nourishing food that does not make them feel heavy and sleepy while they are at work. Eating on a schedule keeps bodies happy and ready to go all day. Drinking lots of water throughout the day can help you feel more alert and less hungry.Better PlanningWorking smart requires planning everything from the to-do lists to the deliverables. Take time in the morning to plan your one big task, that you want to accomplish and make sure you do it! "Eat a frog a day" is the common proverb. Also, spend time once a week reviewing all of your tasks to plan your upcoming week.Ask for More WorkBelieve it or not, sometimes having more work is the key to having more energy in the workplace.Don't forget to check-in with yourself. Executives should ask themselves the following to "check-in" that they actually are working smarter, and not just working harder:Am I following the roadmap? Am I using the methods consistently? If not, they will come into a bottleneck eventually.Am I feeling stressed out during the day? If they are stressed, it is a sign that they are working too hard and not accomplishing enough for their efforts.Am I motivated to continue using the tools I chose? If yes, they are already seeing a difference between their level of effort and their productivity. If not, they are obviously not reaping the benefits and should try different methods or give themselves some additional motivation.Try to complete a self-evaluation and find some project planning tools that help you work smartly and increase your productivity.(Source: 10 Unconventional Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder - Hello Focus)--P.S.I hope you enjoyed reading my answer. These answers take a long time to write, so it would really mean a lot if you would consider signing up for the start-up I work for. Hello Focus is built from the ground up based on leading research around productivity. It's literally designed to help you stay productive! You can get access at: Register for Hello Focus

It’s easy to hit the snooze button when you’re working from home! No rush to get dressed and have a quick breakfast, no commute to stress over, no class at 8 a.m. or a meeting at the office. So what do you do with all that extra time? It would be a shame to waste it by letting the hours pass by without any specific idea of what to do, or without a plan that can give your day more purpose.Here are 5 tips to keep yourself motivated to be productive each day of your job search:Tip #1. Use your mornings wisely to generate more energy.When you are looking for work, it’s more important than ever to feel positive about each day and what it can bring. To help you do this successfully, think about creating a morning routine that is customized to your personal needs as well as your job search schedule.Where to begin: An excellent book to help you make your mornings count much more than just snoozing until noon is Hal Elrod’s The Miracle Morning. It is a useful guide to structuring your mornings so that you can accomplish things early, feel happier and more productive, and work consistently towards your personal goals.Tip #2. Create more focus to your day by asking yourself this question: What is the one thing I am committed to completing today?This technique takes 5 minutes, it’s easy to do, and it can yield big results in the long run. It sets the tone to your day. It encourages you to think strategically about your life, keeps you focused on your job search, forces you to prioritize, and serves as a personal promise to yourself.Where to begin: Put it in writing. Write it in big bold letters on a sheet of paper and hang it on your bedroom or bathroom wall. Read it out loud as you start your day, and come up with an answer on the spot. Then, as you follow your daily schedule, make sure that you devote time to work on the one thing you've identified as important to you for that day.Tip #3. Do your job search like a real pro.This is the perfect time to set aside an hour or two each week to build a strategy of what you’d like to do next regarding your career.Where to begin:Brainstorm ideas on the kind of job you’d like to have: Is it having the same role you’ve had before? Is it a different role where you could also use your skills? Would you like to work in a smaller company or a bigger one? What would be a description of the role you’d like (responsibilities, skill set, goals, deliverables)?Give your resume a makeover. Highlight the skills you’ve developed in your previous roles, create a concise summary at the top of the first page, and use keywords throughout your resume that will get recruiters’ attention. Save your resume in an MS Word or Google doc format (so you can edit it when you need to) as well as a pdf (the most polished format to submit).Pick a website you can use as your job search platform. LinkedIn and Indeed are excellent sites to get started. If you haven't already, create a profile on one of them (or both for maximum impact!) and upload your updated resume so that it is ready when you apply for jobs.Narrow your job search by focusing on companies you find interesting. Instead of focusing on a particular job title, look up companies that promote the work ethic you admire, that are doing well financially, and that foster a corporate culture you’d feel comfortable in. Find out if there is anyone in your network who already works there, and ask them for an insider’s point of view.Measure your progress. Keep a spreadsheet of all the roles you’ve applied for, the dates when you applied, and any follow up information (phone interviews, next steps, outstanding items you need to send to the recruiter, etc.). This makes it much easier for finding information you may need later to keep track of your progress.Tip #4. Don’t forget about your happiness muscle.To make the most of the time you have at your disposal while you’re looking for work, you can start building your happiness habit and actively look for what you can do to be happier every day.Where to begin: A practical book on practicing happiness habits is Tal Ben-Shahar’s book Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Happiness. The author is a popular lecturer at Harvard University, and this book focuses on positive psychology and how to apply the concept of happiness to daily life (from our professional to personal lives), making it a realistic goal that can be achieved through everyday efforts.Tip #5. Do one small thing every day that makes you feel good.Just because you’re looking for work does not mean you should neglect your personal life. This is very important! A pleasurable activity boosts your endorphin levels and helps you to stay positive.Where to begin: If you like to be physically active, schedule in a bike ride, a run, or a session at the gym when you’re done with your job search. If you love music, learn how to play an instrument you never had time for before, or never thought you could excel at. If you love to write, make it a priority to write one page every single day while enjoying a big cup of coffee. If you’re an avid reader, make the time to read a novel for 30 minutes before going to sleep.