It’s too easy to allow entire days to pass by in a blur, without being able to articulate what you’ve actually done. One of the most effective tactics for staying focused and productive is to bring purpose to each moment of your work. Start by understanding and articulating how your daily work connects to your personal goals and the goals of the organization. Then use that information to create a road map in which you identify which tasks are critical and which can wait. Make time estimates for each task, plotting out your work so that you know what you should be focusing on and when. Finally, name your distractions — and understand the root cause of them — so that you can catch yourself and return your attention to those tasks on your priority list. Knowing what you’re doing and why can give your job a fuller sense of purpose.
Adapted from "Stop Mindlessly Going Through Your Work Day," by Leah Weiss
