What is the key to higher productivity?
To increase your productivity, you need the three pillars mind, clarity and system.
In this blog, I will show you how to drastically boost your productivity by enhancing your clarity.
It's not a secret or a new idea; it has been practiced by people like Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison, or Benjamin Franklin.
You gain more clarity by keeping a journal. And let me reassure you right away, no, you don't have to document your entire day every day. Instead, with simple steps, you can significantly increase your productivity.
Benjamin Franklin is known for his productive routines and his ability to achieve great success in various areas of life. A key part of his productivity was keeping a daily journal. Every morning, Franklin would ask himself: “What good shall I do today?” and in the evening, he reflected with the question: “What good have I done today?”
This journal helped him focus on his daily goals, continuously work on self-improvement, and reflect on his progress. Franklin’s method was a way to cultivate discipline and self-improvement, which made him successful not only as a statesman but also as an inventor and author. His journal showed how daily self-reflection and goal-setting can lead to extraordinary achievements in the long term.
How you can use the power of journaling for yourself and why it helps boost your efficiency, I’ll show you now:
When you reflect in the evening on what you have accomplished today, it not only boosts your motivation because you can see your progress, but it also makes clear what your next task is for the following day. This way, you know right when you wake up the next day what your goal for today is.
By planning your next task the night before, you can schedule and reserve specific times. This reduces the likelihood of procrastination and gives you the ability to unwind in the evening.
You minimize procrastination by breaking down large goals into small, manageable steps each day.
You always have an overview of whether you're working on the most important task that will move you forward the fastest.
And by far the most important point: You identify the obstacles that are holding you back. This way, you can eliminate them and reach your goal even faster.
And with these four questions, you can get the most out of your journal:
What are my results for today? – How can I build on that?
What worked well? – And why?
What didn’t work well? – And why?
What are my 3-5 steps for tomorrow?
These questions help you gain clarity, optimize your process, and move forward faster and more efficiently. Of course, you can modify or add more questions to suit your needs.
Once you’re practiced, journaling will take no more than 5 minutes a day but will greatly increase your efficiency. So take advantage of this opportunity today to reach your goals faster.