At the most basic level, productivity refers to how much output you get from your input. It sounds easy, but productivity can prove to be more difficult than it seems.
Luckily, this post includes productivity tips that will help you get on track and stay on track. If you are looking for productivity tips, then this post is for you!
Working on your productivity is one of the best ways you can improve your day, These productivity tips will help you become more efficient in your day, from work to just hanging out at home.
It was not very long ago that I also struggled with my productivity and efficiently getting through my day. Eventually, I was able to figure out how to maximize each part of my day until I could accomplish all of my goals with ease.
These productivity tips will help you move from an absolute beginner to a pro in no time! You will be able to increase your productivity almost immediately.
This post is all about productivity tips that will help you maximize each and every day!
Productivity Tips You NEED to Know
1. Establish a morning routine
This first productivity tip may seem obvious, but the best way to be productive is to start your day productively! For me, this means following a morning routine. Morning routines can be challenging to create, but when done correctly they can be very powerful.
A morning routine will help to keep you on track by setting small goals for you to achieve as you move through your morning. These goals are not meaningless though, typically they include things like making your bed, cooking breakfast, and getting a workout in all before you head to the office. Here are some benefits of a morning routine:
- Improved time management: One of the best benefits of a morning routine is that your time management skills will get MUCH better. If you can create a plan and follow it, you will have no trouble managing your time more effectively for the rest of your day.
- More free time after work: If you have a good morning routine, you are most likely accomplishing a lot in the morning. Even if you are not getting a ton done, you are at least setting yourself up to have an energy-boosting start to each day. By getting a lot done in the morning or at least starting your day in a better way, you will end up having more free time after work to do whatever you want to do!
- Feeling energized and accomplished: For me, my morning routine gives me a blast of positive energy every morning. Getting up early and getting stuff done makes me feel great, and I know you will feel the same way! A morning routine will help you feel more energized and accomplished as you go through your day.
Starting a morning routine is one of my favorite productivity tips. It is the best way to get your productive self off on the right foot each day. If you aren’t quite sure where to start with a morning routine, check out some of our other posts related to starting a morning routine linked below!
{ Related Post: 9 Useful Steps for Starting a Morning Routine }
2. Figure out how to multitask…the right way!
Multitasking is often said to be a myth and is written off as something that is not really possible. People say that by multitasking, you actually get less of both tasks done. This may be true for some things, like studying for a test or texting and driving, but it is not true for general daily productivity. The next of our productivity tips is to multitask the right way!
What is the right way to multitask? Well, the right way to multitask is to combine activities that take time but do not require significant critical thinking. For example, I multitask every morning when I make my protein shake at the same time I am cooking eggs. Neither task requires me to think too much, so both can be combined easily. This may seem like a simple example, but there are many other ways to multitask that will add up quickly and increase your productivity. Some of these are as follows:
- Catch up with a friend over a phone call while you drive home from work
- Listen to a podcast while you cook your dinner
- Plan out the rest of your day while you are on your lunch break at work
These are easy examples of multitasking that will increase your productivity. The whole idea behind this productivity tip is to combine activities so you can get through your day more efficiently. Let us know how it goes!
3. Eliminate distractions
It may seem obvious, but eliminating distractions is one of the best productivity tips you can learn. It sounds easy, but actually figuring out what drags your productivity down can be a little hard sometimes! Eliminating distractions benefits you in two ways.
- First, you are getting rid of the actual thing that is killing your productivity. Your time is being actively eaten away by whatever is distracting you. If you can save that time, you will immediately become more productive since your time will only be funneled toward your goal.
- The other benefit of eliminating distractions is a little less obvious. If you are at work and find yourself often looking at your phone, your productivity is also being hurt by the fact that you have to refocus each time you get back to work. Your mind has to shift back from the distraction to working, which often wastes time. Over a long period, this absolutely adds up and kills productivity.
Now you see how eliminating distractions can wreck your productivity. The toughest part is figuring out what your distractions are. Here are some examples of common distractions that you may not have thought of before:
- Checking your phone in the morning when you could be brushing your teeth
- Sitting on the couch when you need to cook dinner (consider starting to chop stuff up or do basic tasks while you relax!)
- Procrastinating by going out with friends instead of studying for your big exam
- Chatting with a coworker for a little too long instead of getting your work done so you can get home early
These are just a few possible distractions. Distractions are okay but in small doses. Try to think about what distractions you have in a typical day, and eliminate a few of them little by little. Ideally, you should be intentional about what breaks you plan to be taking. It is much easier to be productive when you are in control of when you’re going to look at your phone rather than picking it up every time you get a notification. You’ll be impressed by how quickly your productivity improves! On to the next productivity tip!
{ Related Post: The Complete Morning Routine Checklist with Easy Steps That You’ll Actually Want to Follow }
4. Give yourself time to relax
Another huge productivity tip is that you need to give yourself time to relax. This may seem counterintuitive at first. How are you supposed to be more productive if you just waste time relaxing? Well, the secret is that time spent relaxing will actually make your productivity much better. How does this work? The way I think about it is that time spent relaxing allows your body and mind to decompress. By decompressing, you get a chance to bring your energy levels up and calm your mind.
Maybe it was a tough day at work and you know tomorrow will be even worse. Even if the day was easy, sometimes you just need a break. Trying to get things done while you are redlining your body will only cause you to make mistakes and end up wasting time. By relaxing, you can reset yourself and bring frustration levels WAY down. From this new, level mindset, you will be able to get back out there and crush your day!
This relaxation can be anything from taking a nap to watching some Netflix, but whatever it is, give yourself the time for it! You will thank me later!
5. Be intentional with your time
The last productivity tip that I have for you, for now, is to be intentional with your time. What does that mean? Being intentional with your time means thoughtfully spending your time by doing things that will provide benefits for your life. Basically, it comes down to not wasting your time. Time is the most valuable thing any of us have, so you never want to waste it. By being intentional with your time, you will be using your time effectively and always increasing your productivity.
I am a huge proponent of making schedules, at least in your head. Scheduling is something that many people see as boring, or even a waste of time, but it is the exact opposite. Scheduling is the best way you can be intentional with your time. I am never wasting time because my days are typically planned out well in advance and include alternatives. You can do this too! All it takes is a little practice to be intentional with your time and increase your productivity.
{ Related Post: 7 Effective Tactics to Make Your Morning Routine Feel Easy }
You can use these tips right away to increase your productivity! They may seem like simple things everybody knows, but you will be surprised by how much your life changes if you actually implement them. Don’t forget to sign up for our email list to be notified of our latest articles!
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