Over the last year, I’ve found that Quora has emerged to be one of the foremost sources of information on the internet. I spend large chunks of time everyday scouring Quora for questions related to marketing, tech, travel and so much more!

During some of these Quora-fuelled knowledge trips, I’ve come across some brilliant questions on productivity, time management and working smart. Now, I must confess that I’m a big productivity nut and I’m always on the lookout for the next productivity tool or technique that can help me work faster, smarter and better!

Of course, I know that a lot of you are obsessed with productivity too, so I thought I’ll share some of my absolute favourite Quora questions on productivity and time management, with you all :)

1. How does one manage time more effectively?
   This one definitely takes the cake for some of the best and most detailed answers for managing time effectively. I particularly like Oliver Emberton’s answer which elaborates on the importance of classifying tasks as important or urgent. In reality, many urgent tasks (checking & responding to emails, meetings etc.) aren’t as important as, well, the important tasks (increasing conversion rates or launching a product). The ability to differentiate between the two and prioritize accordingly is the essence of Time Management!
   
   
2. What are some uncommon ways to work smarter instead of harder?
   The answers to this question speak about a lot of ways to work smarter. Some of these include Keyboard shortcuts, time management techniques like Pomodoro, the Email Game, doing the least desirable thing first and even using a Kanban board. There are some great tips here, some of which I’m going to try as well!
   
   
3. How can I increase my productivity?
   Again, some fascinating answers to this question. One answer that I really identified with and I think will help other marketers as well is the one by James Altucher. The essence of James’ answer is to keep an ideas list instead of a To-do list. In his experience, he’s found that noting down your ideas first thing in the morning can help you focus on the big picture for the rest of the day. This is how he built, expanded and eventually sold his startup. Check it out!
   
   
4. As a startup CEO, what is your favorite productivity hack?
   Reading about the productivity habits of CEO’s and Founders is inspiring to say the least. While this group of answers is no different, I was surprised to find so many techniques and tools I wasn’t aware of. Some of my favourite tools from Matt DeCelles’ answer include Fiverr.com, RescueTime, SelfControl and VIP inbox in iOS.
   
   
5. How do the most successful people spend the first hour of their day?
   Definitely an interesting question with quite a few interesting answers too! Most answers include the basics such as exercising, eating breakfast, meditating and even visualizing the rest of the day. However, some answers also talk about taking it slow, spending time with loved ones or among nature. While I think, each technique works differently for different people, it’s worth reading through these answers for some great life mantras!
   
   
6. What is the secret to insane productivity? 
   This question raises a topic that I’m sure we’ve all obsessed about one time or another. How can I be as successful as the Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerbergs of my time? How can I work 70–80 hours a week and still be productive? Well, All the answers have one resounding message — Obsessing about productivity isn’t going to make you work smarter or for longer. Also, working more doesn’t always guarantee success. Quite a few awesome lessons in this group of answers. Take a look!
   
   
7. What are the best ways to avoid distraction when you are working? 
   This is a situation we all face on an everyday basis. With the number of distractions around, how do we keep ourselves from being interrupted? There are a bunch of ways as mentioned in the answers to this question — Switch off all notifications, star emails & respond when required, block out time on your calendar for continuous work so your co-workers know when not to disturb you and more! You can also check out my post on the 6 kickass tips for minimizing distractions and increasing marketing productivity.
   
   
8. How can I improve my focus?
   While most of the above answers talk about quick and instant techniques to be productive, the answers to this question focus more on the long-term changes one can make to improve focus. Some of the tips include meditation, fasting, cut down goals into smaller, more achievable targets etc. Definitely a must read!

So there you have it folks. I hope these set of questions help you become your productive best!

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