6 Things The Most Productive People Do Every Day

Here's a great blog post that Eric Barker pulled together over at Barking Up The Wrong Tree while he was researching that guru of The 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferris.

I like it because he hits on a few habits that productive people have that are often over-looked in the massive amounts of online advice and self-help, career, and business books.

For example, the first one:

1. Manage Your Mood

Barker and Ferris explain the science: "Most productivity systems act like we're robots - they forget the enormous power of feelings.  If you start the day calm it's easy to get the right things done and focus."

So to manage your mood you want to create a routine for yourself. Routines put us in control. And control is what you're after to manage your mood and get your day off to a productive start. This is where The Habits of Mentally Strong People can also help.

That means, avoid things that force you to react. Stay off e-mail, for example, for as long as you can. Make progress on your To-Do List first, before you start working on everyone else's To-Do List (which is what your e-mail Inbox really is! Other people's To-Do List!)

This e-mail example rolls right into the second habit in their list. I won't delve into describing the rest here, but I'll give you the headlines. Follow the link so you can get their explanation on these other great habits that we can all start today.

1. Manage your mood
2. Don't check e-mail in the morning
3. Before you try to do it faster, ask whether it should be done at all
4. Focus is nothing more than eliminating distractions
5. Have a personal system
6. Define your goals the night before

Productive People

By the way, I don't define "productivity" as "working more." And I don't view "productive people" as "workaholics." I am a recovering workaholic myself, and I absolutely believe life should be enjoyed, not worked. So I see "productivity" as getting done what you need to get done in as little time as possible. That's a good thing because it frees up more time for us to spend the way we want, with the people we want.

Check it out:

6 Things The Most Productive people Do Every Day by Eric Barker

And for more about Tim Ferris' book, The 4-Hour Workweek, you can find it here for your convenience: