10 Ways to Increase Productivity

We cannot emphasize enough how important this is. Getting a full night’s sleep gives your body the rest it deserves and helps you to wake up ready to start the day. Sleeping in can oftentimes mess with your internal clock and cause you to be more tired when you eventually wake up. We recommend going to bed early and rising early to get a fresh start on the day.

Photo by Jackman Chiu on Unsplash

No one looks forward to going to work when your workspace is a small, dark, cluttered, and uninviting place. So start your day by organizing your workspace. Clear away all your clutter. Let in some natural light. Put on some soothing music to help you focus. Setting the mood for your day is important, and it starts here.

This is probably the most important tip on this list. Staying organized is key. Find a system that works best for you. We recommend to-do lists and timetables. List out everything you need to accomplish that day, and then plan out when you’ll complete those tasks throughout the day. At the end of the day, review your list and see how productive your were. How did you actually spend your time? Reevaluate, and then plan for your next day!

Photo by Jazmin Quaynor on Unsplash

You can write lists until the cows come home, but if you don’t set goals and hold yourself accountable to those goals, then you’ll never get anything done. When you’re setting goals for yourself, be ambitious but also realistic. Setting unachievable goals is just setting yourself up for failure. Think pragmatically and set out to conquer tasks that you can genuinely accomplish. When you’re planning out your goals for the day (or week), keep these tips in mind: complete the worst tasks first. Group smaller, similar goals together to be completed all at once. Break bigger goals into other tasks. Tell others what your goals are for the day – this makes you accountable to yourself and to them.

We’re serious about this one. You think that you’re being productive by completing multiple tasks at once. But actually, you’re taking a longer time to complete several tasks very poorly. Focus on one task at a time. Give it your full attention, and you’ll be proud of the end result.

There is nothing worse than a good work flow being interrupted by something. So be proactive and try to prevent distractions before they happen. Turn off notifications on your phone and computer. If you’re very tempted by electronics, then put your phone out of site, and restrict your internet access from sites that will eat up your time. If other’s demand your attention throughout the day, learn to set boundaries with them so that you can have uninterrupted time to focus.

We understand that you want to produce quality products that consumers will treasure. And we admire that dedication. But if you’re spending an hour on a project that should really only take you a half hour… maybe you’re getting a little too caught up in the details. Don’t let perfectionist tendencies get in the way of being productive.

No matter how diligent of a worker you are, everyone needs a break every now and then. Take time every day to step away from your work and unwind. Go and have a snack, take a walk, or just take a few minutes for yourself to clear your mind.

Still struggling to get your work done? We’ve got a few tricks for you. Try working in shifts. Work for 90 minutes, then break for 20 minutes, and then repeat. Or, you could try the (10+2)*5 procrastination hack. Set a timer, and work for ten minutes. When the timer goes off, give yourself a two minute break. Then repeat the process until an hour has gone by. The idea is that eventually, you’ll become so engrossed in a task that you won’t need those two minute breaks anymore.

Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash

Did you complete a big task today? Were you able to check several things off of your to-do list? Good for you! Reward yourself for working so hard. Have an extra slice of cake for dinner, or treat yourself to the new pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing. Positive reinforcement never hurt anyone!