I have used Getting Things Done by David Allen as my best practice for productivity in coaching for at least the last ten years. He has a very simple process and if you stick with the system you will have a productive day. This post by Dan Reiland was excellent:
Have you ever come to the end of your workday, or even a workweek, and asked yourself, “What did I accomplish?” You certainly did not have a highly productive day.
You know you showed up, went to meetings, worked hard, but somehow, sometimes, wonder if you really accomplished much. You are not alone.
The good news is that there is something you can do about it.
It’s always important to start with the big picture in mind. Or as Stephen Covey has said, “Start with the end in mind.” If you don’t know where you’re headed or where you want to go, you will likely arrive somewhere else. Somewhere you don’t want to be.