Living in such a busy and distracting time can make it difficult to focus and complete all the tasks we have to do each day.
People want to be more productive, but they don’t know where to start or think that it would require too much effort.
Here are some ways you can make your life easier and more productive starting today.
Authenticity means being true to yourself, not who you think you should be.
In today’s society, it is easy to become caught up in comparing ourselves to others and feeling as if we do not measure up to the standards set by society.
Stuart says that he used to tell himself that writing was just a hobby, not a real job. He was looking for approval through promotions and success, but neither of those things made him happy.
The author writes that in order to be happy, we need to stay true to ourselves, follow our dreams, and be proud of what makes us unique. Instead of worrying about how we compare to others, we should focus on whether or not we are reaching our own potential and doing what we value.
Quitting your job may make you happier, but it is not an option for everyone.
Instead of focusing on the things that make you conform to what everyone else wants, focus on the things that encourage you to be yourself. For example, if you’re a night owl, don’t force yourself to wake up earlier just because everyone else is telling you to.
Post Your Three Most Important Tasks
One of the key things to realize about productivity is that some tasks are more important than others. If we list our tasks and assign a number to each one to denote their level of importance, we’ll likely find several tasks we’re responsible for that we shouldn’t spend valuable time on.
If you want to boost your productivity and get more done, you can start by making a list of the day’s tasks and identifying the three most important tasks that you need to complete before the day is over.
Write the top three goals for the day on a sticky note and have it in front of you all day so that you’re frequently reminded of what you’re working toward and what has to be completed by the end of the day.
Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a strategy to help you focus on one task at a time without interruption for 25 minutes. You set a timer for 25 minutes and work on the task until the timer goes off. Then you take a 5 minute break.
The Pomodoro Technique is effective because it allows you to focus for short periods of time, knowing that a break is coming up. This is less daunting than trying to focus for a long period of time, and many people find that they are more productive in 25-minute chunks than at any other time of day.
Reduce Screen Time
The average amount of time Americans spent with the media per day in 2019 was 12 hours and 9 minutes. Even before COVID-19, that amount was expected to increase by an additional 4-minutes.
If you spend a lot of time on your phone, you may start to feel anxious or depressed. Your sleep habits may also be affected.
It can also negatively impact your performance at work. In fact, research has found that reducing screen time at work results in:
- 75% of people believe that they get more done and are more productive.
- 57% stating that they’re motivated to do their best.
- 51% feel more confident.
- 49% reported that they’re happier.
- 44% claim that they deliver higher quality work.
At the same time, distancing yourself from your phone and computer is no easy feat. But, here are a couple of painless suggestions to get started:
It is advisable to do similar tasks together in order to stay focused and efficient. This is particularly true for checking email and social media. By setting aside specific times for these activities, you can avoid feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Additionally, it is helpful to turn off notifications or use apps that block access to these sites during certain periods of the day.
Create areas where electronics are not allowed. This includes banning electronics from your bedroom, bathroom, and anywhere you eat.
What are some things you can do when you get bored because you are so used to scrolling through your phone? Try picking up a hobby, going for a walk, or cleaning up around the house. You could also try reading a book to distract yourself.
Delete social media apps from your phone. Social media can be toxic and addicting, so if you only need to use it for branding or networking, login from your computer or laptop instead of your phone.
Schedule more in-person meetings or phone calls instead of relying on chat or email threads.
When you go on a walk or to the store, don’t bring your phone with you. It’s okay, the world will keep turning if you’re disconnected for a few minutes.
Send a Brief Message
You can use the time you spend looking at screens to your advantage by practicing gratitude and bolstering relationships.
Shawn Achor, author of Before Happiness, suggests writing a two-minute email, tweet, Facebook message, or text message praising or thanking one person you know.
It only takes a couple of minutes to do, and you just have to write down a few sentences about a different person each day for 21 days.
Anchor’s research found that, if you do this for three weeks, you will feel happier. More importantly, you will also feel deep social support. He said that social support is just as predictive of how long we’ll live as obesity, high blood pressure, and smoking are.
Achor claims that people spend too much time worrying about negative things rather than realizing how a simple, positive email could brighten someone’s day.
Achor says that while text messages and emails are good ways to communicate, nothing is better than a phone call or talking to someone in person.
Expressing gratitude through a hand-written essay can improve the well-being of both expressers and recipients.
I would combine this task with batching. For example, when you check your inbox before starting work for the day, send out an email thanking an employee for their hard work or congratulating a friend on their recent promotion.
Block Distractions
Anything that takes your attention away from what you’re supposed to be doing can be a productivity killer. So it’s important to have a way to eliminate distractions quickly and easily.
Before beginning a task, put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode and use a service like Freedom on your computer to block out the internet entirely for a set period of time.
Track Your Time
Think about how you use your time each day. If you don’t keep track of how you spend your time, you might find that you waste a lot of it.
You can track how much time you spend on your smartphone by using an app like TimeLogger. This app will help you track where your time is spent.
An app like RescueTime can help you see how you’re spending your time on your computer so you can make changes if needed. You may not be happy with how you’ve used your time, but that can be a motivator to do better next time.
Show Up Early
Chipping away at important tasks by showing up a few minutes early to work can help increase productivity. This is because it allows for additional time to work on tasks without being interrupted by the start of the work day. By being focused and using this time wisely, even a small amount of time can be beneficial.
Practice the Two Minute Rule
David Allen, the author of “Getting Things Done,” has suggested this small, simple hack.
The task at hand should be completed immediately if it is estimated to take two minutes or less. This is an effective way to manage time because it declutters the to-do list and prevents small tasks from accumulating.
Schedule “stress” time
When these emotions and worries become overwhelming, it can be tough to focus on the task at hand, or anything else for that matter. Do you tend to feel anxious or nervous about upcoming projects or the current state of the world? Does it result in you losing sleep over deadlines or decisions you have to make? Do you feel stressed out about balancing work and life obligations? If so, it can be tough to focus on the task at hand when these emotions and worries become overwhelming.
There are many things that can cause you to feel stressed and anxious, and these are all valid reasons to feel this way. However, you need to find a way to release these feelings. If you don’t, you’re putting your productivity and even your overall wellbeing at risk.
A way to reduce stress is to schedule time to focus on it. This may sound strange, but setting aside a few minutes a few times each week to work through these problems can help.
You may find that much of what stresses you out is irrational or out of your control, meaning you can spend less time and energy on these thoughts.
I suggest doing this in the morning as it can help you clear your head and focus on your priorities. If you do this before bed, you may have trouble falling asleep as your mind is still active.
Move 11-minutes per day
Do not use the excuse that you do not have time for physical activity as an excuse anymore. A recent study has shown that 11 minutes of moderate exercise can increase your lifespan. Furthermore, physical activity has been proven to be a mood elevator and an energy jolt.
The easiest activities to do to stay active are things like going for a walk or using a treadmill. You could also try yoga, dance, or a combination of push-ups, squats, and jogging in place.
Don’t Be a Calendar-Default Deadbeat
Jeff Haden, in an article on Inc.com, argues that the person who invented the one hour default setting on calendar software has caused millions of people to waste hours of their time. He points out that most meetings are not productive and are even disliked by many because they tend to last too long.
Haden states that most subjects can be handled in a mere 30 minutes, and that with everyone knowing the meeting’s time limit, often 15 minutes is more than enough time to get through everything.
He advises not being a slave to calendar tool defaults by only scheduling an hour if you know you need it.
Write it Down
If you want to improve your life today, start writing things down. This is something that Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, attributes to his success.
Writing things down, such as lists of tasks or processes, helps your brain better remember those things as you work towards your goals.
Learn to Say No
If you find that some of the tasks on your plate are not as important as others and you don’t have enough time for all of them, don’t try to do everything anyway.
Learning to say no empowers you and it’s something you should get good at One of the most powerful things you can ever do is to learn to say no. If a task does not help you to be productive and reach your personal or professional goals, why put it on your list? Learning to say no empowers you and it is something you should get good at.
Laugh at Yourself
According to NBC News, people who can laugh at themselves are more likely to be able to manage pain, have better short-term memory, and be more resilient in the face of adversity.
Mocking yourself can actually help relieve stress, make you more compassionate towards yourself, and help you see challenges in a new light. Having a positive outlook can also help you create stronger relationships. Additionally, it can help improve your creativity and problem-solving skills.
Take Time to Recharge
Don’t underestimate how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. If you stay up late at night trying to finish tasks, you’re only making it harder to do your best the next day because you’re not well rested.
It is important to remember that not every task you do is equally important and that none of your tasks are worth losing valuable recharging time over. You can increase your productivity and decrease your stress by using some of these mini productivity hacks today.
