How To Improve Your Productivity

January 20, 2024
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There are many self-help books and motivational seminars about productivity, but these strategies are often long, drawn-out plans that can be difficult to implement.

If you need some help getting to the next level of productivity, the five tips listed below are simple ways to start.

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1. Plan ahead

Whether you prefer pen and paper or a mobile app, you need a planner. At the end of each day, take a few moments to review what you will need to do the following day.

Write down specific tasks, and mark urgent or time-sensitive ones so you can focus on those first. The more steps you take to streamline your day the night before, the more time you have to be clear-minded and productive when you wake up.

2. Get enough rest

Burning the midnight oil hurts your productivity, and sleeping in an uncomfortable space does. You feel lethargic when you don’t get enough quality sleep, and your mental performance suffers. This lack of sleep has a cumulative effect, so the more rest you miss, the harder it is to get back to your peak productivity.

Make it a priority to invest in a quality mattress, and make your sleeping space as comfortable as possible to optimize the amount of sleep you get.

3. Set a timer

Everyone has a finite amount of focus and attention. If you push past that limit in the name of productivity, you’ll get less done even though you worked longer.

To combat this, set a timer to only work on a task for 10-20 minutes. When the timer goes off, set it aside, and take a short break. When you return to your job, you’ll find that your focus is sharper and that you can finish more quickly.

Even though it might feel like you’re working less, you can review your to-do list and see that you’re getting more done than possible.

4. Hide your phone

Even if you silence your ringer, having your phone in your line of sight is far more distracting than you realize. The temptation to check your notifications, scroll through social media or check your email divides your focus and makes you less productive.

After you silence your phone, put it in a drawer or somewhere out of sight. It might seem small, but this trick takes advantage of the old “out of sight, out of mind” adage and makes you more productive.

5. Organize your space

When your workspace is chaotic, your mind can’t focus, and everything seems to take longer. Before starting your to-do list for the day, take a moment to clear your desk, unclutter your computer screen and ensure the surrounding space is clean and comfortable. This will put you in a relaxed frame of mind and sharpen your focus.

The idea of “being more productive” can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Start with any of these tips, and you’ll see an immediate difference in the flow of your day. One small bit of success is all it takes to make a big change.