Productivity comes in many forms; whether it's getting homework done or finishing some paperwork for a job we all have things we need to get done every week, the trouble is getting it all done on time. Everyone has, at one point, had trouble managing their time and making the most of it. There are many things we can do (or not do) to be more productive and get the most done. It's hard to not just ignore the task at hand and to just have an 'I'll do it tomorrow' mindset, but hopefully, these few steps will help you manage your time and become a more productive person.

The first step to becoming more productive is to make a to-do list of everything you need to do. Include dates for when you need or want to finish the task by. Now, with your presumably large to-do list you should really evaluate what needs to be done and what you can cut off the list. Anything that can be cut off the list or delegated to someone else (if you are in a position to do that) should be done right away to take less off your plate.

The second step is to take the narrowed down list and plot out the due dates onto a calendar. The calendar can be on your phone (which you can set to notify you at certain times) or just a paper one you keep around, but you should get one that is always accessible to you. Of course just having due dates won't do much, so you should break the tasks into smaller pieces and set self-prescribed due dates for them. These smaller due dates should also be put onto your calendar so that you can stay on track with each task.

Next, you'll want to start working on the tasks whenever possible. If you start early enough, try not to do it while you're tired (simply because it's much harder to work while you're tired), instead take a decent nap and then work on it. Also while you are working, you should eliminate distractions. Responding to a lot of text messages, having the TV on as 'background noise', or trying to multitask while trying to get work done is almost never going to help you. Rather, you need to cut out distractions and allow yourself a certain amount of time to commit just to the specific task (as opposed to just sitting down and trying to have the 'I'll just finish it all at once.' Trying to finish it all at once is a hard thing to do and thinking about doing a whole paper or task at once can be overwhelming).

So, you've made a list of what you need to do and you've plotted out when you will have everything done by, and you've even started your first task and think you are on track. Well, there's one more important step to consider: commitment. Committing to doing each task when you've decided you should is actually the hardest part of this. Almost everyone can feel productive for a couple hours and do the past couple steps, but it takes a person whose sincerely committed to becoming more productive to actually continuously check your calendar and do what you're supposed to each day. The key to making yourself committed is the mindset, think to yourself about what you hope for the outcome of all this to be. If you are in college, keep in mind where you want to be after you graduate. If you are in a new job, think about how much you can achieve there. Regardless of your situation, think about why you are doing this, think about where you want to end up. Remind yourself enough and being productive will become second nature.