How to Accomplish More at Work and in Life

We all know and see people around us who seem to be living accomplished and joyful lives.

At first glance, I often think they must be overwhelmed and stressed out. Yet, when I begin to talk and interact with them, they actually seem genuinely calm and happy.

What is it that makes someone’s drive to succeed actually deliver success? Think about it, if you were more accomplished, wouldn’t you be more content, too? So…how do they do it?

• It takes knowing yourself and understanding how you truly spend your time. You are doing this exercise to be more productive and happier, so be honest with yourself in thinking about your work schedule and your days off.
• Make a list of the activities that excite and energize you, then make a list of activities you find depleting. Find ways to spend most of your time on projects you enjoy and eliminate the ones you dislike. I wish I had been an early adopter of online grocery shopping instead of spending all those hours in grocery store aisles!
• Schedule your most important projects, professional and personal. Make accomplishing them sacrosanct. Nothing comes before these. I did this often but not always, causing a few regrets.
• Focus on using your strengths and abilities rather than improving your weaknesses. Sadly, I took numerous self-improvement courses and read books to overcome my deficiencies, when I feel that I should have spent that time becoming an expert on the things I am good at and enjoy.
• Even in your free time, limit anything that feels wasteful. Time is your most precious commodity. A prime example is excessive digital scrolling on social media. Unfortunately, technology addiction is real. I can’t tell you how many Instagram rabbit holes I’ve crawled into. I have cut back substantially and deleted the apps on my work devices.
• Don’t multitask; instead, give total focus to your most important projects. Being focused allows you to “get in the zone” and do your best work. I get it while writing something I believe wholeheartedly, like this blog. 🙂
• Be a lifelong learner and ask questions. Grow your mind and, most important, READ! It doesn’t always need to be business journals or books; read anything that interests you. It increases your vocabulary and makes you a more interesting person. I’m currently reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo…juicy!
• Focus on the present and the future rather than ruminating on the past. I took particular heed to this one because I often have this habit. You can’t change it, so push it out of your mind and direct your brain power to what will move you forward in life.
• And most importantly, make time for the people and things near and dear to you. You will increase your happiness quotient and have a greater sense of accomplishment when spending time with people you love and doing the things that bring you joy. Hopefully, you’ve freed up some valuable space in your life by instituting a couple of these recommendations, making this goal a priority and achievable.

We only get one life — make it happy and successful! If you enjoy reading my KimMartinTheCoach blogs, follow me on LinkedIn, Medium, or subscribe to my newsletter on my website at kimmartinthecoach.com!