Being productive is an important factor in most areas of life. Being highly productive helps you perform well at work, get good grades at school, and keep a clean home. There are also intangible benefits to being productive, such as a feeling of accomplishment and high self-esteem.
Productivity is something many of us struggle with. With all of the distractions in the world today it’s easy to get sidetracked and procrastinate; something we’re all probably guilty of. Although being highly productive is challenging, it’s something most of us strive for. So what can you do every day to boost your productivity?
Wake Up Early
You’ve probably heard this one before, and you’ll probably hear it again because it’s truly a critical factor of increasing your productivity. But, this doesn’t mean you have to start the morning off in a full sprint. Instead, use some of this time to relax and prepare yourself for the day. When you feel rushed and stressed in the morning it sets a negative tone for your whole day and will affect your productivity later. Taking this time for yourself in the morning will put you in a positive mood and energize you so you can have a productive day.
Eat a Balanced, Healthy Diet
When we eat poorly it affects our energy levels which affect our performance. Eating a balanced, healthy diet keeps you energized throughout the day rather than giving you a quick boost of energy followed by a crash. Eating well also improves your brain function, making it easier for you to complete your daily tasks.
Plan Your Day in Advanced
You can plan your day the night before or, if you prefer, plan your whole week in advanced. Having a plan for your day will help keep you organized and accountable. It also helps to lower stress and keep you from feeling overwhelmed since you know exactly what you need to do that day and when you need to do it.
Reduce Distractions
Getting distracted is one of the main ways people hurt their productivity. Although you can’t eliminate every distraction, it’s important to eliminate the ones you can. One major distraction is cell phones; keep your phone out of sight and only use it in case of emergencies. If you are in a loud environment and it is breaking your focus either move to another area or, if relocating is not possible, wear noise-canceling headphones. Reducing your distractions removes temptations that may cause you to procrastinate and helps you stay focused.
Don’t Multitask
While multitasking may seem like it increases your productivity, the reality is that multitasking is the enemy of productivity. The human brain is simply not made to multitask. When you multitask you hurt your performance, increase the amount of mental energy you have to use to complete the tasks at hand, and increase your stress levels. It is best to focus intently on one task at a time.
Change Your Mindset
Sometimes, our mindset is what keeps us from being productive. How many times have you thought “ugh, I have to go to work today” or variations of this? Try changing your mindset from a “have to” mindset to a “get to” mindset. Instead of thinking you have to go to work, think that you get to go to work; you are lucky to have a job and many people wish they were in your position. This practice puts you in a positive state of mind, which makes you more likely to be productive.
To avoid becoming overwhelmed and increase your chances of success, it’s best to only implement one or two of these changes at a time. Once the first changes become a habit you can implement others. Be patient with yourself during this process and don’t give up if you stumble along the way; great changes don’t happen overnight.
