10 Ways to Increase Productivity
Whether you're trying to succeed at work, get a head start on bills, or just go about your day with a little more motivation and productivity, these 10 ways to increase productivity are essentials. Even just going about your daily activities can take great skill, discipline, and dedication to manage your time. But we don’t need to tell you that – you already know how many hours of sweat, blood, and tears that you’ve poured into your dreams!
We’re here to say that we know it’s not easy! We know it’s hard, and we know that sometimes it’s so stressful and overwhelming that you just feel like throwing in the towel.
Well, don't!
You are talented and hard-working and are capable of achieving your crafting dreams! The first step is to accept a little help along the way. That’s where we come in.
We’ve put together a list of tips and tricks to help you stayed focused and dedicated to your end goal. Our list of 10 Ways to Increase Productivity will help you to streamline your working life, and will give any nasty procrastinator habits a kick out the front door. So let’s begin, shall we?
1. Get Enough Sleep
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
2. Have an Inviting Workspace
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.
3. Organize Your Time
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
4. Set Goals for Yourself
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.
5. Stop Multitasking
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.
6. Minimize Distractions
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.
7. Don’t Be a Perfectionist
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.
8. Take Regular Breaks
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.
9. Trick Yourself Into Being Productive
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
10. Reward Yourself for Accomplishments
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!
What are your tips for increasing productivity?