The clock keeps on ticking all day and you wonder while going to bed, where did all my time go? Not having an answer to the above question can make you feel restless and you know that you need to do something concrete.
Something through which you will gain some value. In short, be productive.
Being productive can give you the satisfaction of completing tasks in time and gaining some value from them.
"Productivity boils down to two steps: Identify the essential. Eliminate the rest."
What is productivity and how can we measure it in our daily lives?
Productivity is getting the results you want with less time and effort. When you try to understand how to be more productive, you are actually seeking better ways to achieve your goals.
The next question is why do we need to increase productivity? The most obvious answer to this is to complete your goal or task before time so that you can get time to do things that you enjoy the most. It can be anything like reading a book, learning new skills, etc.
Completing the task more easily and within time can reduce your stress. It increases your efficiency and you can live life to the fullest.
The bottom line is we all have 24 hrs a day. Productivity is making the most of this time. Getting things done in a smarter way instead of chasing behind an endless list of tasks all day.
Reading further, you will find some simple tips that will help you to be more productive each day.
Following are the tried and tested tips that will help you to increase your productivity:
1. Take regular breaks:
Taking short breaks while working increases your efficiency, creativity, and concentration.
While working for a longer period of time without taking a break in between will increase your stress which will lead to saturation and then, your brain stops working!
So, you can maximize efficiency and productivity by taking short breaks at regular intervals of time that will keep your mind fresh.
2. Do the hard job first, easy jobs will take care of themselves:
This is based on Brian Tracy's "Eat the frog technique". The frog here is the most important task on your to-do list. This is the task that can take you most of your time and effort if you ignore it.
The key to achieving lifelong productivity and efficiency is to do the most difficult and major tasks first thing in the morning.
But what to do when you have more than one important task?
For that, make a priority list, discipline yourself to start immediately, and don't stop until all the tasks are completed.
3. Focus on a single task at a time:
It can appear interesting for anyone to take care of multiple tasks at a time, especially when the task appears small or easy.
But multitasking reduces our focus, increases stress and fatigue.
This definitely reduces your productivity.
Did you know?
According to research multitasking reduce productivity by 40%.
Focusing on one particular task at a time can help you to end up completing that task faster. So, boost your productivity by focusing on one task at a time.
4. Implement "2-minute rule":
The 2-minute rule states that if you have pending work that can be completed within 2 minutes, do it right away.
If you don't do that work right away it will take more time later to review and complete it.
This time management strategy will improve your productivity by reducing procrastination and you will be able to do more tasks in a day.
5. Plan your To-do list:
A To-do list is a great productivity tool. It helps you to stay organized and focused on your tasks and work.
It is very important to create a to-do list before going to bed.
It will help you to kick start your day with the most important task on your list. It should be noted that your to-do list must contain only 2-3 important tasks for the day. Keep it realistic and simple so that it will improve your productivity.
6. Get organized:
Science says that people who have a messy workplace and less organized are more frustrated than those who have a clean and organized atmosphere.
A dirty workplace reduces your ability to process information and hampers concentration. This will increase stress and fatigue resulting in less productivity.
Having an organized workplace will increase your productivity and keep you refreshed while working.
7. Eliminate digital distraction:
Occasionally browsing on your social media handles is not a bad thing. But constantly checking your social media feeds can limit your productivity.
Instead of using your free time on social media use those precious hours to gain knowledge. You can read books, articles or listen to a good podcast.
Set a limit on the amount of time you spend on the internet or social media platforms.
This will not only increase your productivity but also help you to increase your knowledge.
8. Get enough sleep:
Getting seven to nine hours of proper sleep is good for your physical and mental health.
According to research done by Harvard less sleep reduces efficiency and makes you do more errors.
Good sleep increases creativity, reduces stress, elevates your mood eventually increasing your efficiency.
So it is very important to have seven to nine hours of good sleep to enhance your productivity.
By implementing the above-mentioned ways you can get more organized and increase your productivity.
There can be many other ways to increase your productivity, the key is to select those which can prove to be right for your goals. Following the tips given in this article, you will see a positive change in your personal as well as professional life.
These tips will not only help you to increase your productivity but will also help you to grow in your career by increasing your efficiency at work. Being productive all day long will give you a sense of satisfaction by the end of the day.
Let us know in the comments what are your plans to increase your productivity.
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