Are you productive or just busy?

This morning I did something I have never done. While rushing into the gym, I left my smart phone, my lifeline, in the car. I didn’t even notice it until I climbed onto the elliptical, jammed my ear buds in my ears and reached for my phone to check messages before getting started. For a moment, I was torn. Do I go back to the car and get it and risk losing my machine or endure an hour of wondering while I workout in limbo? I chose limbo. I chose to do what that time slot in my calendar had been blocked for with no compromise.

Surprisingly, I finished my workout on time and exceeded my usual calorie burn by 30 and worked in an extra set of squats. So while I sit and type this with an especially sore backside, I feel lighter somehow..energized. I feel productive.

Many of us mistake being busy for being productive and I can assure you, they are two very different things. To be productive is to accomplish ones stated goals in a timely manner with relative ease. To be busy is to do a whole lot of stuff, sometimes all at once, at a crazy pace only to conclude that you’ve really gotten little done.

We’ve been taught that being busy means that we’re good at what we do. So, we flood our calendars. We overcommit. We multitask.

In a perfect world, I opt to be productive and leave being busy to the bees. I’ve got a few ideas on how to do that…

1. Clearly define the buckets of time you need to accomplish your goals and structure your week around them. Set aside time for prospecting, making calls, client appointments, and closing deals. If you’re doing your own marketing, set up an editorial calendar to help you track your content, when to write it, on what topic, and when to promote it. Checking email and answering calls throughout the day will sabotage your plans so add a time slot for that as well.

2. Know when to say no. The sooner you realize that you can’t be everything to everybody, the better. You can’t attend every function nor can you take on every project. That’s a good way to stay busy, but a great way to become unproductive. Every month, take a few moments to consider which events make sense to attend. Respectfully decline those that hold no value for you. The same goes for your work projects. Some jobs are just too small to be profitable and aren’t a good use of your time. Maybe you can recommend it to a friend who does what you do but on a smaller scale. Your time is your most valuable asset, don’t waste it.

3. Set a timer. Yes, a timer. Be it the timer on your smart phone or the white timer with the dial on it from the kitchen, use something to help you know when it’s time to move on to the next activity. We all get caught up in what we’re doing and the next thing you know, you’re bleeding into the next activity’s time slot.

It is every business owner’s dream to get it all done and maintain an inkling of sanity. Make a commitment today to keep your focus, stick to your plan, and trade being busy for being productive.