This 5 minute practice has doubled my effectiveness

I wanted my priorities to run my day. It is only natural to let notifications, distractions, and fires manage your day. I have become a disciple of this evening practice. That said, executing it judiciously each day is anything but simple. It takes discipline and focus!

Here is the practice that has doubled my effectiveness: no matter how late it is or how tired I am - at the end of each workday, I write down the Top 3 priorities in my journal that I must achieve when I return to my desk in the morning.

I make these three priorities visible. Then comes the most important act of this practice: I look at my calendar to make sure I have enough time to do these Top 3 priorities. What tasks, meetings, and other commitments are my day already obligated to, and are there any white space on my calendar? The key to this practice is ensuring you hand-write these Top 3 priorities and make sure they are visible to your through out the day.

When it’s time to begin my workday in the morning, my Top 3 priorities greet me at my desk. There, I know how much time I have available to get this done, and I try to use it prudently. My focus has improved, and I try to power through as much as I can without distractions.

This practice gives me a clear definition of how I can call my day productive. If I manage to finish my Top 3 priorities - I consider it a very productive day. If for whatever reason, I cannot complete the top 3 priorities - the uncompleted priority becomes priority number 1 the next day. This 5-minute evening practice to planning my day - a day in advance - has had a tremendous impact on my productivity, and I hope you found this useful. It has helped me sleep better also, as I know what is essential to me the next day.

I’m curious; what do you do? How do you manage your distractions so that they don’t lead you?