Productivity is measured in time. It’s about how much you can achieve at the end of every day, week, or month. The thing is that sometimes, you may not be able to do so much. Not because you don’t want to, but because a lot of things are clamoring for your attention.
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Well, let this serve as encouragement and also a push. You’re doing well, yes, but you can do better. So, if you’re looking for ways to achieve more while you stress less, jump on these tips.
1. Start With a Morning Meditation
Meditation helps in reducing stress and sharpening your focus. Doing it first thing in the morning is a great time because there are not many distractions.
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Just like any other successful habit, you have to make it a part of your routine. That’s how you’ll be able to know how helpful it is.
2. Timebox Your Day
While having a to-do list is okay, it doesn’t tell you when to do a particular task, or how long to spend on it. This is where ‘timeboxing’ comes in. Schedule your tasks, with specific times attached to them.
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Some apps can help you timebox, and sticking to the schedule you set would help a whole lot. Don’t start and ditch it in the middle of your day.
3. Try the Pomodoro Technique
This time-management technique started in the late 1980’s. The Pomodoro Technique involves breaking work into smaller but timed intervals.
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You can work for about 25 minutes and take a 5-minute break. After about four rounds of the Pomodoro, you can increase your break time to 15-20 minutes.
4. Grow a Forest
If you can’t stop checking your phone when you need to work, try an app that helps you focus. Apps like Freedom and Offtime can block certain apps or your whole phone for a set time.
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When you want to focus, set a timer, plant a virtual seed, and put your phone down. If you leave the app, your tree will die. If your tree grows, you earn coins that can help plant real trees through a charity called ‘Trees for the Future’.
5. Take Digital Notes
Going to a meeting or class? Take a smart notebook with you, instead of pen and paper. It feels like writing on paper and can turn your handwritten notes into text you can edit. It also saves your notes to the cloud.
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It’s nice to leave your laptop at home and just carry one notebook. Plus, writing by hand helps you learn better than typing.
6. Go For a Lunchtime Walk
It might seem strange to take breaks when you’re busy, but these breaks help you focus better, reduce stress, and generally make you feel better.
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If you take a walk outside during your lunch break, it’s even better. You get fresh air, vitamin D, and you’d have exercised a little. Plus, you can listen to music while you walk.
7. Listen to Some Music
Research shows that music can help you work better and think more clearly, especially when you’re doing repetitive tasks. Lyrics can be distracting. So, instrumental music is the best.
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If you can’t concentrate when music is playing, you can listen to your favorite songs during your breaks. You can also listen before you start working to boost your motivation.
8. Lock Your Phone Away
Your phone is your biggest distraction. When you want to work or study, turn off social media notifications or use an app to help you stay off your phone.
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If that doesn’t help, put your phone in another room or lock it away. This way, you won’t get distracted.
9. Relax With a Good Book
Taking breaks is just as important as working or studying. Breaks help you stay motivated and keep your mind and body healthy.
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Plan time to do things you enjoy, like playing a game, a hobby, or hanging out with friends. You can also read books about how to be more productive.
10. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep is just as important as eating healthy and exercising. To sleep better, try to go to bed at the same time every night.
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Keeping your phone out of the bedroom is a really good idea. But, you can use it to listen to a bedtime podcast or lullaby to help you fall asleep.
Rounding Off…
There’s nothing new here, just more encouragement. Try these tips and watch yourself grow more productive each day. It may not be easy at first but I assure you, it always gets better.
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At the end of your day or week or month, you’ll be able to track how much progress you’ve made and you’ll see it’s a whole lot.
