7 techniques to start (and end) your week productively

In this post, I share with you 7 techniques that will allow you to increase your efficiency to start and end your weeks with a sense of accomplishment, greater control of your activities, and a better quality of life. These techniques, which I apply as rigorously as possible, come from various sources (conferences, readings, specialized articles) to which I have added personal touch. I invite you to incorporate them into your daily activities and adapt them to your reality. A technique is only useful if it is applied! And don't be discouraged if the results aren't immediate: it takes an average of 21 days to form a new habit. Of course, feel free to share your techniques in the comments section. Good productivity!

1. Revise (or define) your mission and goals

Productivity does not necessarily rhyme with “doing more”, but certainly with “doing better”. What are your goals, both professionally and personally? What are your current and future projects? Other than paying the rent, what are the reasons that make you go to work in the morning? In the absence of a clear mission and objectives, likely, these questions will likely be difficult to answer. In addition, there is a good chance that your job description does not entirely correspond to your daily reality. This is why you must define your mission and your objectives. These must be clear, short, and concrete. They must be consistent with what is expected of you but must be bold and project you towards a better future. You will gain productivity by defining and reviewing your mission and objectives each week. They will color your actions and help you prioritize.

2. Plan your week (before it starts!)

Once the week has started, it is very difficult to adjust its direction. Tasks are in progress, unforeseen events arise and each passing day leaves less and less time. This is why good planning will greatly increase your productivity in the days to come. The ideal time to do this is at your convenience, but it should preferably be done in a calm environment and before the week begins, so that you can have a clear view of the days to come. Take advantage of this period to review your objectives, prioritize your tasks (see point #5) and, if necessary, block slots in your calendar for priority tasks. When all your colleagues and bosses have requested your available time, it will be too late to regain control of your schedule! I plan my week on Sunday evening. This greatly reduces my stress about starting the new week.

3. Identify (every day) your TPI (Most Important Tasks)

Chances are you already use one (or more) to-do list(s) to manage your activities. Well done! It is also very likely that your list contains several dozen tasks to complete (at the time of this writing, mine contains 59!). It is therefore essential to be able to identify each day, which are the most important tasks to perform each. It's up to you to judge the appropriate number of tasks to identify, but the 1-2-3 rule is quite simple to apply. This means that each day, you will identify one high task, two medium effort, and three easy to complete. Consider your ability and your limitations. It is counterproductive to identify too many tasks to be performed daily. This will have a demobilizing effect and may increase your stress. Proper prioritization of your tasks and a clear vision of your goals will help you identify your TPIs every day.

4. Apply Pareto's Law (to your time and effort)

If you don't know Pareto, you surely know the 80-20 law, that is to say, that 80% of the expected result is generally the fruit of 20% of the cause (or effort). This principle, which is attributed to the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, is of great use in the management of his time and his efforts. Apply it to your agenda so that you use 80% of your time (the equivalent of 4 out of 5 working days) on productive tasks while leaving enough time to manage the unexpected (they are uncontrollable and unavoidable). Conversely, allowing too much time for contingencies will give them importance that they usually do not have. The principle also applies to the execution of a given task. Perfectionists are not generally not very productive.

A report to produce? Do not wait for it to be completed in all respects before having it validated or sending it to your employees. There is a good chance that it will meet the demand and that the finishing touch you would have put on will not be very visible. Attention: the quality must be at the rendezvous! Managing your efforts does not mean that you have to cut corners!

5. Prioritize (is it important or urgent?)

American President David Eisenhower (1890-1969), to whom we owe the priority management matrix of the same name and whose use I explain in one of my posts, said: "What is important is rarely urgent and what is urgent is rarely important”. It is therefore essential to establish and control your priorities for maximum productivity.

People who have difficulty managing their priorities are often very busy, but feel like they have accomplished little at the end of the week. Conversely, if your tasks are well prioritized (by importance, then by urgency), you can easily identify your priority tasks (your TPIs) and channel your energy effectively. An important and urgent task at the same time will have to be prioritized (the roof of the house is leaking!). But once it is completed, do not fall into the emergency trap.

Question the real importance of tasks that appear urgent. What will happen if I don't take care of it right away? Will it become important over time? Again, the Pareto principle applies well here. Why not spend 80% of your effort on important tasks and 20% on urgent (but less important) tasks? An important task well done often relieves pressure on tasks that appear urgent. Email management is a good example.

A good email filing system and good management habits (check only three times a day and avoid pop-up notifications at all costs!) will put you in control of this tool. But your inbox is likely to be constantly full if you don't implement these systems and apply best practices.

6. Take action (starting with the worst!)

We all have different productivity cycles. Generally, in the early hours of the day, we are at the peak of our abilities. The energy gradually drops during the day to reach its lowest point around 3:00 p.m. Some people have a different cycle (students for example).

This is why it is important to know your cycle to align it with your tasks to be accomplished. Although it may seem daunting at first, it is recommended to do the most difficult or less pleasant tasks at the start of the day (or when you are at your peak of energy). Your energy will compensate for the heaviness of the task and you will have a sense of accomplishment at the idea of ​​having completed a difficult task in record time! You can then accomplish your other less demanding or more pleasant tasks!

7. Take stock (and reward yourself!)

Every Friday (or at a time that suits you), take the time to take stock of the past week. Review the tasks you have completed. Also, be critical of those you should have accomplished. Why weren't they? What could you have done to make them? What is the impact? How do you incorporate them into your planning for the next week? Also, take a few minutes to congratulate yourself on your best shot of the week. Productivity can always be improved and is not an end in itself. What matters is that you accomplish your goals as much as possible, be in control of your activities and have a balance in your life. Finally, reward yourself! You deserve it!