“To help me focus on the most important projects I need to give attention to each day, I identify three or four major projects each week that are the most important on my list. Then I schedule in time for them every day. I also schedule in small tasks that will let me take breaks from the major work, but still get work done. If I finish a project before the week is up, I may look for additional tasks from my secondary list I can add in to fill the time. Or I may use the extra time as a reward for getting the work done on schedule and go out for a cup of coffee.

Since I started working this way, I’ve surprised myself with how much I can do in a week. I had a task list before, but I created it each day from what I felt were that day’s priorities. That meant I didn’t look at the big picture often enough, and sometimes I was left scrambling to finish big projects. Life is much more calm for me with this system.”

—Cindy Hudson, author of Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs

* * * * *

SHARE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY TIPS!

I feature tips from Productive Writers like you every Tuesday. If you have a great productivity tip, feel free to offer it in the comments below. I’ll repost some of my favorites in future Productivity Tip Tuesdays. I’ll also be tweeting tips every Tuesday via #prodtiptues (Productivity Tip Tuesdays); tweet along, won’t you?