My goal is no longer to complete more tasks but to complete fewer tasks.
Jay, Francine
It’s not about how much work you get done when you’re productive. It’s all about focusing on the most important tasks and doing them as quickly as possible.
For instance, you could be the world’s top email writer, churning out 100 emails every day! But what good are they if no one reads them?
To increase your productivity, you must:
Determine what is most important. Remove everything else.
Leo Babauta is a writer who lives in New York City.
Here are seven practical, easy-to-implement productivity hacks to help you be more productive at work and at home.
Related: Find Your Studying Inspiration (Even If There Isn’t An Exam)
1) Now, Find Out What You’ll Do For Future.
Morning
“I usually write ‘Wake Up’ on my To-Do-List so I can at least do one thing a day,” an unknown author once said. Don’t be like him!
What is the one thing that will truly slow you down? Getting up the next morning and sitting down to work, just to squander half an hour trying to figure out the day’s to-do list, where to begin, and what you’ll need to make real progress.
Spend a few minutes at the end of your workday planning for the next day. You won’t feel like it since you’re eager to get started, but five or ten minutes today can easily save you thirty minutes in the morning tomorrow. You’ll get off to a strong, productive start as well.
After a good night’s sleep, many people accomplish their best work first thing in the morning, when their minds are clear of distractions. You can get a lot of stuff done and feel like you’ve got it all together. Your disposition is pleasant and balanced. That means that the thirty minutes you saved in the morning could grow into an hour or two during the day!
Related: How to Work Out Without Breaking a Sweat
2) Be Aware Of Your Emotions.
Mood
Your state of mind has a significant impact on your productivity. When you are calm and collected, it is much easier to concentrate and go through your workday while getting a lot done. It can take twice as long to achieve something when you are distracted by anxiety, perplexity, anger, or melancholy.
When you wake up, do everything you can to bring your mood back to normal. On your drive to work, listen to a song that motivates you. Eat a nutritious breakfast. Ignore your inbox if necessary and focus on mundane duties in the early hours of the day.
Routines assist us in feeling anchored and at ease. All of these small things add up to amazing productivity tips!
Mood and productivity are so intertwined that there’s even an app for it! Download moo-Q, an iPhone app that measures your mood and mental capacity while you’re on the road.
You’ll be prompted to complete a survey on your present mood several times per day, followed by a series of brief memory-based numeric games. This program will help you see the mood you’re in when you’re most productive, so you can make the most of each day; it’s a modern-day technological productivity hack!
Also Read: The Most Effective Work Planners to Help You Cope With Life
3) Neglect Your Email For As Longer As You Can.
Inbox
It may seem strange at first but think about it. Your email is overflowing with diversions. You’ll be crafting responses in your brain, thinking about how many emails there are and how long it will take to respond to them, and worrying about everyone else’s goals and concerns when you should be focusing on your work.
If at all feasible, leave the inbox until the middle or end of the day.
Checking your email too frequently, according to some experts, is a major element that can lead to a loss of productivity. Check out this recent article for a variety of email productivity techniques that will work for your present job circumstance.
4) Recognize When Your Strength And Focus Are At Their Best And Take Full Advantage Of It.
Energy
The majority of us have a daily window during which we are at our most alert. That window can change from day to day, but if you average it out, you’ll undoubtedly find a set of hours during which you’re most productive (which may or may not be in the morning!).
Determine yours, and if you have the ability to change your schedule, try to maximize your energy window; alternatively, you may try these energy supplements.
Should you utilize it for your most difficult project? Perhaps, but perhaps not. It’s not always the perfect moment to take on a difficult undertaking.
Other times, it’s a good idea to get all of the simple stuff out of the way so you can concentrate on the important stuff. Choose the version of this productivity trick that best suits your personality and working style.
For remote workers, consider not only your daily window of productivity but also your location. First thing in the morning, ask yourself where you think you’ll be most productive that day, whether it’s at home in your PJs, at your favorite local coffee shop, or somewhere new. The right atmosphere can make all the difference!
5) Do not Make a Mistake on Somebody Else’s Profile For the First Time.
Confusing
What should you do if an assignment’s directions are unclear? You may believe that you should be a go-getter and tackle things as quickly as possible and that stopping to ask questions will make you appear silly or slow.
At my previous employment, being a go-getter wasted a lot of time. I found myself repeating duties, which not only cost me money but also cost my employer money. Learn how your bosses operate and how they distribute instructions vs.
what they are anticipating You might be amazed at how effective a simple discussion describing the cost of incorrect instructions and wasted time can be; the money will speak for itself!
When someone gives you bad instructions, it’s not your responsibility! In reality, if you fall behind because of them, it is their fault.
Don’t be concerned about making a fool of yourself. Nothing is more inconvenient than having to repeat a task because you were unsure of what you were supposed to perform.
Ask for more information and then wait. You’ll save time and money in the long run, as well as hassles for yourself and your boss or client. Sometimes productivity hacks are as simple as evaluating instructions and determining whether or not the project is ready to be finished.
6) Avoid Doing Things That Aren’t Necessary.
No
Successful people are not only good at handling essential jobs, but they’re also good at avoiding them. In the course of your workday, you may be forced to do things that are needless, but you can usually avoid them.
How? If you know for sure that a task is superfluous, don’t be hesitant to approach your manager and explain why. Don’t make it sound like a complaint. Simply describe another strategy that would be faster, more efficient, and less expensive.
You will not come across as a lazy expert if you give a solution rather than a problem.
You will come across as a smart expert who wants to save the firm time and money. As an individual worker, you’ll be more productive, and you’ll be helping your company do the same. You’ll be a rockstar if you do it!
Remember, don’t be a procrastinator! These are all simple productivity hacks that you can include in your everyday routine without making large, time-consuming changes. The payoff is also instant. You’ll be able to take pride in completing more tasks during the day, and your boss will appreciate all of your efforts. You may apply these similar productivity techniques to enjoy more free time when you get home!
7) Analyse Your Output In Batches.
Batch Method
There is an adjustment phase every time you switch gears during the day from one assignment or topic to another. You must renew your understanding of the subject or area of expertise and remind yourself of all the minor intricacies of the job.
This procedure takes time and can leave you feeling disoriented and befuddled.
Batch processing is fantastic for this reason! Swap gears as little as possible to save time, and only switch gears when absolutely necessary. Do not switch back and forth between a variety of small tasks.
Devote significant, uninterrupted parts of your day to specific tasks or projects. Only move to a new task once you’ve completed the previous one for the day. You’ll get a lot more done, and you’ll spend less time feeling disconnected each day.
You can begin batching with just a few items at a time; productivity tips can be introduced in stages; I recommend beginning with email, which I discussed previously, phone conversations, and lengthy writing jobs!