The importance of documenting to improve your productivity

The importance of documenting to improve your productivity

Learning & Development

Carlos Garcia

Carlos Garcia

163 week ago — 7 min read

It's Thursday 11:02 AM. I’m in the middle of my working hours while doodling thoughts as well to declutter my head and to focus on my work, and, this article is part of it.


How are you today? It's almost Friday and I'm already done at 80% of my tasks. Just one more meeting at 13:30 and we're done for the day!


Just want to share with you some of the things or hacks that I discovered last year (2020). These came from Business Vlogs, usually from contents coming from Ryan Serhant in Real Estate, Gary Vaynerchuck when it comes to documenting and reiterating the importance of content. Don't get me wrong, I'm not an influencer. Ha ha!


Since I don't yet have the luxury of having a secretary to remind me of my meetings, fix my calendar, or my to-do list, I am making a very strong migration from physical calendar or planner to Microsoft OneNote and Google Keep, sometimes, Google Calendar for reminders since 2018. I gradually let go of jotting down on paper to the convenience of my handset. Less to bring - thoughts, ideas, meetings are readily accessible.


Though from time-to-time I still use a pen and paper to list down or manifest my goals and aspirations in life. There's still this practical sensibility of channeling your thoughts on a piece of paper -- it's still helpful!

 

Recently I have started a planning session with myself the night before, usually around 9 PM, to conceptualize and structure my day for tomorrow. I call it, 'T+1'. It's now on my alarm. 


Just last year I made a habit of documenting my day via Microsoft OneNote it's easy to jot down events, meetings, unexpected interactions, or planned, structured day.


Also, recently I have started a planning session with myself the night before, usually around 9 PM, to conceptualize and structure my day for tomorrow. I call it, 'T+1'. It's now on my alarm.


I think the scale now of any organization should be, 90% and 10%, digital and physical respectively.


I wanted to share with you my personal experience when it comes to documenting. Let's just put it in a general aspect. Now, it's not always about keeping everything on one app, you can also film and take photos!


1. You can easily revisit

It may be your thoughts, an event, or unexpected meetings you've had. One of the features of OneNote is you can easily 'Find' your documented texts, even if it's written in an image. OneNote can track it immediately. And also you can sync through your laptop and handset.
 

You can revisit your past successes, the job that you manifested that you're clocking-in right now, or other important stuff may be inside your operations or business. The good thing about it is, whenever there's an important thing that comes up, you can easily pull something out. It can be a returning client reminding you of some of the footage or document you've had with them before. Who knows? That may be an opportunity for repeat business because you know exactly where it was and you delivered it immediately. Good quality is also quantity of time. And, there is a cost for being disorganized.


2. You can easily spot trends in your life

One of my business colleagues makes it a habit to jot down details in his life whether it be a downtime or a happy, victorious, or triumphant time. It's not bragging. It's a mere gesture to yourself to remember old times when you are at your worst or at your best as well.

 

Like in the Stock Market per se there's a trend line to measure breakout above the resistance that's the time you'd know the price would start trending on an upside direction, price would go higher. It also has time stamp and dates to measure its trend line. For me documenting helps in identifying trends and could also help in pivoting in the long-run.


3. Reconnect with old colleagues

It’s like a mini diary. This is a chance for you to reconnect, remember the things you talk about. An interaction that you may remember that can give you branches to other aspects or other networks that your friends have. Network to Network, name of the game.

 

Also read: 5 easy ways to grow your business network on GlobalLinker


4. You'll realize how blessed you are

To the extent, sometimes we forget about how God brings us abundance and grace into our lives. Those recorded annotations inside your memos are a sign that somehow, life is not that bad after all. We have a lot of things to be grateful about. Practice gratitude every single day and pray always.


5. Beating your personal plateau

As the mighty Bruce Lee said: "There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you." Okay, so that last line may be quite exaggerated. But for a certainty, we all have that plateaus in our lives it would help somehow if you know where to take off again to rally through another opportunity to leverage your position.


6. Feel excited for the better things to come and be blessed 

As per the book of Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.


And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Prayer is needed in our everyday lives. Our successes, achievements didn't come from our own wit, grit, or understanding. It's given by the grace of the Almighty. Be grateful for the past, now and the things that you'll be blessed upon, in your career, business, family.

 

Also read: Achieving breakthrough results: The process behind it


Image source: shutterstock.com


To explore business opportunities, link with me by clicking on the 'Invite' button on my eBiz Card.
 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, official policy or position of GlobalLinker 

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Carlos Payumo Garcia

I'm Carlos P. Garcia. A Landlord and Business Development and Leasing Administrator of a Mercantile Leasing (Private Market) Business. I am offering stalls for lease to cater...