For a long time, productivity was considered a dirty word. We were urged to slow down and enjoy the moment, not always aspire to work harder and achieve more. But all of us want our lives to be as successful as possible, whether it’s through making money or doing something we feel is worthwhile. And to do that, we have to be as productive as possible. So here are a few tips on how you can be a little more productive and get a lot more done.
Start your day right
The first moments of the day are very important. If you’ve just woken up and eaten breakfast, then you’re ready to tackle that morning commute. Some people like to start with a cold shower, others with meditation and prayer, but for others, it’s all about coffee and preparing for work. However you do it, make sure that you’ve set up for the day right from the very start. A routine is important to keep you on track. If you don’t have time in your morning to finish all of the things you need to do, then move them over to the night before or even better yet, use Sunday as catch up time where you can easily and quickly complete all of the things you couldn’t do the rest of the week.
Use the time you have efficiently
This point is more about being aware of what you’re doing with your time rather than anything else. As mentioned at theartofliving.com, time is a precious commodity that you don’t get back once it’s gone, so be conscious of how you’re spending it. You have 168 hours per week, don’t waste them on things you can do tomorrow. Also, try not to check your emails too often. If you’re working, then work! Nothing should distract you from the task at hand, so switch off notifications and close all other windows on your screen.
Create a schedule and stick to it
Creating a schedule is step one in being productive – if you know what work needs doing, then there’s no point putting it off until later on because you’ll be wasting your time in the long run. Then you need to stick to it – creating a schedule is pointless if you don’t work according to it. You should have an hour allocated for each task, so if you have five tasks, then that’s five hours total. If you can’t get them all done within that time, then perhaps you’re taking on too much, or they need to be broken down into smaller chunks.
Stop multitasking
Multitasking might seem like a great idea, but it’s a myth. As mentioned above, try not to check your emails while you’re working on something else because that will just waste time, and you’ll lose concentration as well. If you’re trying to watch a football game while writing an article, then you aren’t giving either of them your full attention. You’ll be working slower and less effectively, which means that the whole task will take longer to complete. And if there are any mistakes in your finished piece, then it’s unlikely you’ll spot them, so the final product won’t be as good. Instead of trying to multitask, focus on one task until it’s completed before moving onto the next. Instead, focus on one task at a time, or your work will suffer as a result.
Use your breaks wisely
It’s easy to try and cram every last minute of work in when you should be taking a break – especially if you’ve been working for several hours straight. You should make use of your spare time to let your brain relax and provide you with a fresh perspective on what you’re doing, allowing you to better focus when it comes back to working. If you work too much without taking a break, then you risk making mistakes, getting frustrated, and ultimately giving up. So relax for an hour or so after lunch before coming back to the task at hand with renewed vigor.
Keep learning
One surefire way to become more productive is by increasing the amount that you know – if you don’t have the skills to take on the tasks that require them, what good are you? So always be looking for ways to improve your skills, even if it’s learning something new online – you’ll quickly discover that your productivity will shoot through the roof, and you can get a lot more done in less time. Constantly improving and learning new things has other benefits too because the more you know, the more interesting your work becomes, which will help to keep you motivated. And when it comes to being productive, no one wants to do boring tasks for hours on end!
There are more than enough ways to boost productivity in your life. And if you aren’t as productive as you could be then it’s not because you don’t want to be – most of these tips are easy to implement and will quickly make a difference, so give them a try today!