You don’t have to change your lifestyle completely to become more productive. It’s enough to make at least a small change in behavior or revert to some forgotten habits. With these 10 tips, you can easily become more productive.
1. Listen to music at work
Sure, music can be a distraction when you’re working on difficult tasks that require concentration. But research confirms that listening to calm or simply familiar music makes it easier to perform monotonous, repetitive tasks and helps take your mind off of conversations and other office noise. Researchers have also found that as little as 15 minutes of music has a positive effect on creativity and improves mood.
2. Tidy up your desk, but don’t leave it empty
This saying extends to the productivity sphere as well. While a desk cluttered with papers is unlikely to let you work productively, a completely empty desk is the enemy of motivation and creativity.
Experts advise keeping no more than three items on the desk at a time. So make sure you clean up your desk at the end of the day so you don’t get distracted in the morning and can focus more quickly on what you’re doing.
3. Strive for a B+ grade
Although striving to improve your results is certainly necessary, perfectionism is the enemy of productivity. After all, we often waste time trying to perfect even the smallest details.
Tell yourself in advance that you want to be 80% satisfied with the final result because it’s impossible to be 100% happy with everything. If you don’t waste precious time on that 20%, you’ll finish the project sooner and move on to the next thing. But if you want to keep your academic performance and not waste all of your energy on the assignment, you can turn to writing essay service and not worry about grades.
4. Make to-do lists at the end of the day
We often have to spend all morning trying to figure out where we left off yesterday and where to start. To save yourself time and nerves, make a short to-do list for the next day from the evening. Write down the 3-4 most important things to do tomorrow. Then you won’t have to choose what to do first thing in the morning.
5. Make the most of those times when you are most productive
There is bound to be a certain time when you are most productive (doing the most things without forcing yourself). It is important to identify this time and make the most of it. For example, if you find it easier to work in the morning, try coming in early on particularly busy days. This makes the first half of the day long, so you get more done.
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6. Make to-do lists that do not require a lot of energy
It is impossible to always work at 100%. Sometimes it is inevitable that our productivity will drop or we may not be able to concentrate. It is a good idea to have a low-energy to-do list for such occasions. For example, you can sort out incoming messages, enter information into a database or make repeat calls to customers.
7. Create your own ritual to tune in before a difficult situation arises
Many athletes have these rituals, but they are also useful for people not involved in sport. A few simple steps are enough to help you focus and feel confident. For example, tidying up your desk, writing something with your favorite pen, or simply assuming a confident posture.
8. Let your brain run on autopilot
Some of the most productive people in the world, including Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, often wear the same clothes day in and day out. It may seem trite and monotonous, but there’s a good reason for that. If you don’t make decisions every day about what to wear or what to cook, you can greatly increase your productivity and save a lot of time.
9. Plan your free time
If you’re used to planning your day to the minute, remember to set aside some time for anything out of the ordinary. Set aside at least 30 minutes a day, for example. Inspiration can come while you’re walking down the hall or having lunch, and if you have a minute to spare, you won’t have time to get the idea you’ve come up with.
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10. Combine a few habits
Combine a habit you already have with a new one. For example, if you want to start making a to-do list for the day and you already have a habit of checking your email in the morning, make your list right after you’ve dealt with the email. You may have to set reminders at first, but soon the two habits will come together and you won’t forget your decision.
