For many people, the go-to productivity tool is a simple to-do list. However, this is not the most effective way to manage a workload, because it does not allow the user to think in the long-term. To-do lists often leave professionals thinking solely in the short-term, rather than focusing on the big picture. In a recent article for Fast Company, author Stephanie Vozza suggests six productivity techniques than can help professionals move past the classic to-do list.

  1. Develop a personal mission statement to guide how you prioritize tasks and plan out your weekly time.
  2. Schedule your day by energy and attention, allocating lower-attention tasks into lower-energy times and vice versa.
  3. Establish an accountability relationship with either a friend or an app, such as Focusmate.
  4. Develop some key questions to ask yourself each day in order to check in on whether you are remaining on track and motivated.
  5. Schedule one “power hour” each day where you have no interruptions and can focus on your highest-attention tasks.
  6. Take the time to define your long-term goals, then break them down into smaller sub-goals and action steps.

For more details, click here to read the article in full at Fast Company.