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How to be a productive? We all want to be more productive, and some of us even find it to be one of our New Year’s resolutions every year. But in this day and age, when we are constantly bombarded with requests and demands on our time, how can we possibly live up to our own expectations? Here are 10 simple ways you can start being more productive today, so you can meet your own productivity goals while pleasing everyone else who wants your time and attention as well.
Create a productivity routine
Ideally, your schedule will allow you to set a regular schedule. For instance, if you know that you’re generally busiest between 9am and 3pm, it makes sense to work on those tasks during that time. But if you’re super busy, there may not be a time that works best for you—in which case just find a window of productivity and stick with it.
You might have to try different times of day or even days of week before finding one that suits your needs. Time yourself as you go along so that every task falls within a specific amount of time; 15 minutes is a popular interval.
Prioritize your tasks
It’s easy to overestimate how much time you have and fail to account for tasks that seem like hassle (aka, things you don’t want to do) or take time away from your best tasks. To stay on track, it’s important to assess your priorities and always ask yourself whether you’re doing what needs to be done right now.
There is nothing worse than starting something and not finishing it because of lack of time, so setting a goal at least once per day is highly recommended. If there are things that can wait until tomorrow or later in life, think about whether they should really be on your list at all. The same goes for tasks; as tempting as it may be, don’t try juggling too many tasks at once!
Let go of things you can’t control
We spend too much time and energy obsessing over things that are completely out of our control. Spending your energy on things you can’t change is not only counterproductive, but it will also make you miserable.
There’s no sense in stressing over things you have no influence over, so take control of your mental health by letting go of things you can’t control and spending your time focusing on what you can do something about—namely yourself. Productivity is all about focus and if you don’t have that then all of your other efforts are going to fall short. How to be a productive person? Continue reading..
Avoid distractions (social media, tv, etc.)
In an age of constant stimulation, it’s easy to lose focus. Just being online means we are bombarded with distractions, and it takes effort not to fall into that downward spiral. Turn off notifications on your phone, log out of accounts you don’t need, and silence your phone when working if possible (or just put it in another room).
If there is something important that you need to follow up on, let those involved know you will do so at a specific time. Set aside specific times during your day for checking e-mail and social media and set rules for yourself about what is acceptable behavior.
Start in the morning
Why in the morning? The first few hours of the day are arguably the most important, since they set the tone for your workday. Research suggests that our willpower isn’t limitless, so you should use yours only on high-value tasks. Plus, start early and you can finish early. Finish early and go home or take care of other needs you might have instead of burning candles at both ends into the evening. Getting stuff done in the morning doesn’t just help others; it helps yourself as well.
Also Read : How to Find the Perfect Work-Life Balance
Have an accountability partner
We live in an age of social media, with Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram all available at our fingertips. And because these networks are so prevalent in our lives, it can sometimes feel like we have thousands of accountability partners. We can tweet an idea for something we’re working on or post an update about what book we’re reading and quickly get positive feedback from complete strangers.
However, there is nothing like having a true accountability partner who will push you to reach your goals. An accountability partner holds you accountable for actually following through on your plans; maybe it’s a friend or family member who knows what kinds of things motivate you and will encourage you when needed.
Drink coffee or tea
Drinking coffee or tea boosts your metabolism, allowing you to burn calories faster. If you’re feeling sluggish and need an energy boost, drink one of these beverages before getting down to work. Avoid sweetened drinks and opt for plain old black coffee or green tea instead.
Black coffee or green tea might not make you feel like doing cartwheels, but they will wake up your mind in preparation for focus mode. As they say: The early bird gets the worm. It’s true! Waking up earlier than usual doesn’t come naturally for most people (it takes discipline), but it is worth it because these are two hours when we are most productive… so take advantage of them!
Take breaks
Most people think they need to take breaks, but end up working all day. That’s because our brains like to fill in time. Breaks are important for closing your mind and coming back refreshed. If you work on something for three hours, then take an hour break (even if you don’t do anything during that time), your brain will feel like you accomplished four hours of work when you resume. By giving yourself a mental break and allowing yourself some downtime, your creativity and productivity will actually increase over time.
Use apps for reminders and boost productivity
The tools at your disposal are pretty good, and you can use them in combination with everything above. To start, download your favorite productivity apps for reminders and boost productivity. If you’re not already using them, apps like Google Calendar (Android, iOS), Wunderlist (Android, iOS), Todoist (Android, iOS), Trello (Web), and Evernote (Android, iOS) can all help keep track of what needs to get done on a day-to-day basis and ensure that none of it slips through the cracks.
Reward yourself when you meet your goals!
When you meet your goals and successfully complete your tasks, reward yourself. Studies show that you’re much more likely to stay on task when you’ve hit certain milestones or achieved small wins along the way. Plus, according to one study in The Journal of Consumer Research, rewarding yourself with non-food items (like a manicure) can help keep you from snacking throughout your day! In other words, delaying gratification by incentivizing yourself with non-food rewards may serve as an effective strategy for successful goal achievement.
Conclusion:
Productivity is about being able to do what you want and need when you want and need. This doesn’t mean being efficient all of the time, but it does mean that when it comes down to getting stuff done, you can do so without feeling rushed or panicked.
Start by finding places in your life where productivity feels challenging for no good reason—in my case, email—and actively work on setting goals for how you’d like things to look instead. Also don’t overthink it! There isn’t always one right way; just change as much as feel comfortable at any given time.
After doing so, notice how different productivity feels with these new settings in place, and congratulate yourself for taking steps toward making meaningful changes that actually matter!
