Ever feel like you start the day with great intentions about how productive you’re going to be, but then reach lunchtime and have pretty much clocked off already?
It doesn’t need to be that way though. There are plenty of things you can do to make your day more productive for you and the people you’re working for. Read on to learn how to stay productive all day, every day at work.
Put Your Phone Down
If you’re going to be productive throughout the day, you don’t have time to constantly be looking down and scrolling through Facebook. Try to keep your phone of your sight so that you’re not tempted to pick it up and see what’s happening in the world. Many of us simply use our phone as a distraction when work demands concentration. So much time gets wasted on devices but nothing feels better than the long term gratification from knocking tasks off your to-do list.
Automate
If you can build automation systems into your life, you can save lots of time and energy. One example might be to use checklists for onerous or complex tasks. Following a step by step guide will focus you and cut down planning time. Another way to automate is to set events or meetings to re-occurring, if they repeat regularly. This is an efficient way to manage your digital diary or mobile phone alarms. If you use social media, you could increase efficiency by using a Facebook post template for example. Template can be used in all sorts of other ways too, such as responses to emails, written reports or plans.
Eat The Frog!
Mark Twain once said “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” The frog is that thing on your to-do list that you have zero motivation to do and that you’re most likely to procrastinate on. So just do it! When you get the most difficult stuff out of the way first, it gives you a sense of momentum and achievement early on, and you have the rest of the day to knock out the easier tasks.
Rehydrate Throughout the Day
This is one thing that’s very easy to miss if you’re not being mindful. But rehydrating is actually really important if you want to stay alert and on the ball at all times. It’s about making sure that your body has the fluids it needs to stay healthy. Avoid going for long periods without water and then downing a pint of it – that will just send you to the loo. Keep drinking that water throughout the day to keep yourself alert and productive.
Get a Proper Night’s Sleep
If you can manage to get yourself a proper night’s sleep, you’ll put yourself in the best position to be alert, productive and at the top of your game. Lots of us compromise on sleep, reasoning that we can ‘keep going on coffee’ but health and productivity depend on getting the basics right. Top tips to get the best night’s rest are: avoid blue lights in the bedroom, invest on the best bed you can afford (with something like a quality Silentnight Mattresses) and reduce or eliminate toxins like alcohol, caffeine and sugar.
Divide And Conquer
When a task seems so big that it’s overwhelming, procrastination often follows. So, break it down into smaller, more manageable parts. If you want to write a book, you could write the general outline, then plan it chapter by chapter. You could then divide each chapter into segments and decide to write 500 words per day.
Procrastination is one of those things that you have to eliminate from your working life as quickly as possible if you want to be productive throughout the day. It’s not easy but it can be done. Ensure you’re not only working hard but ‘working smart’ and using your precious time wisely. Finally, don’t forget to build fun and self care into each and every day. They also deserve a prime place on your ‘to do’ list.
Thanks so much for reading!
A Tidy Mind
For more tips in increasing productivity, check out our previous posts:
Stop Being Busy, Start Being Productive