Tips for Developing Successful Habits in 2020

As a new year (and new decade) get underway, we have the perfect excuse to set fresh goals and learn new habits to become more effective in our work. If 2019 left you feeling lost or floundering with your business—or even if you just felt less successful than you could have been—there’s no better time than the present to put some new strategies into place. Let’s explore some creative work habits you can adopt to make 2020 your best year so far.

Practice Self-Care

You don’t need to be a Mensa candidate to realize you’re less productive when you’re burned out. Fatigue, lack of sleep and poor diet all contribute to reduced energy and focus. You may not think you have time to take care of yourself, but you really can’t afford not to. Let’s break this idea down into two facets: Physical care and mental/spiritual care.

• Physical care: Eat a healthy diet, preferably rich in “brain foods” like protein, leafy greens and fish. Develop some sort of workout regimen. Get plenty of sleep. Give yourself “downtime” for rest and recreation.
• Mental/spiritual care: Try developing some sort of mindfulness practice, whether it’s mindfulness meditation, prayer, journaling, etc. Studies show mindfulness practices improve focus and keep your mind from wandering (i.e., makes you more productive during work hours). One company reported an increase in productivity by 120 percent after introducing workplace meditation.

Prioritize

Multi-tasking is a myth. You can only truly focus on one thing at a time, and if you keep switching focus, you lose productivity. Plan your day by focusing on the things you need to do first, then do the next thing. The ONE Thing by Gary Keller offers some helpful insights here.

Own Your Schedule

The most successful people on the planet are those who are most guarded with their schedules and to-do lists. Take a few minutes out of every day to plan your schedule, and track your time wisely. Try implementing the Getting Things Done (GTR) method or some other type of time management tool to help.

Find a Quiet, Distraction-Free Workspace

For the startup entrepreneur, the home office or the local coffee shop are not the best places to work—they’re simply too prone to distractions. As an alternative, coworking spaces are affordable and convenient—and since everyone is there to work, you’ll find far fewer distractions there.

We would love to discuss your options for finding the best workspace for a productive and successful 2020. Give us a call at (720) 600-0065 to find out more.