We are all guilty of procrastinating on particular issues, but I’m sure everyone would agree that in the end, it doesn’t do us any favours. In business, we may miss an opportunity, lose a client or not achieve as much as we could in terms of day to day and ultimate success. Business Insider Australia previously compiled a list of 20 essential tips to maximise productivity and get more done. We’ve detailed seven of these ideas that we think could make the most difference to your productivity:

1. Prioritise one thing each day. Write out the tasks that are causing you the most stress and ask, “If this were the only thing I accomplished today, would I be satisfied with my day?” to decide what should be your number one priority.
2. Find your peak time of day. Figure out which point in the day you’re most productive, and keep it distraction-free. Finding these “productivity pockets” will help you maximise your time.
3. Start a “done list.” At the end of each day, write down what you’ve accomplished. It will help you realise how efficiently you’re working and where you can improve.
4. Take short breaks. Try the Pomodoro technique, in which you work for 25 solid minutes followed by a three to five-minute break to let your brain relax.
5. Only check your email once an hour. Instead of jumping on every new email the minute it comes in, give yourself specific times to check your inbox. You’ll be able to concentrate on other projects without interruption every time a new message comes in.
6. Keep yourself accountable. Setting deadlines for yourself is great, but telling another person will keep you accountable for meeting those deadlines.
7. Try the “under 10-minute rule.” If a task can be completed in 10 minutes or less, take care of it right away and move on. You’ll stop pushing off small tasks.

If you are finding yourself lost in the clutter of day to day business, it might be time to take yourself away and refocus. A great way to do this could be to join other SME’s at the Global Business Camps three-day workshop. This is the perfect opportunity for you as an accounting firm, to bring your SME clients and work on your plans together.

Running from the 30th July to 1st August on the Gold Coast, this three-day workshop has been proven to make a big difference to business owners and their future success. Check out the GBC website for details on what’s involved, what to expect and what previous attendees have to say about it.

David and I will be at the event and hope to see you there too. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.