Unlocking Your Full Potential
We get it—staying focused and motivated can be tough. With so many distractions around us—phones, screens, and wandering thoughts—it might even feel impossible to boost productivity. But it can be done! If you're looking for easy ways to increase your output, here are 20 simple habits that can help.
1. Plan Your Day Ahead
What kickstarts productivity more than planning out your goals beforehand? Before you jump straight into getting things done, write out a to-do list or immediate tasks you have to get done. This will help you prioritize and narrow your focus instead of starting without a clear direction.
2. Set Simple Goals
The more complex your goals are, the harder it'll be to reach them and the less motivated you'll be. While you should aim to challenge yourself occasionally, it's better to set simple, specific, and realistic goals so that you're confident you'll be able to achieve them.
3. Just Start
Sometimes, the hardest thing is to just start. You might have your tasks and work organized and laid out, but you can't quite motivate yourself enough to begin. Whether you're procrastinating due to perfectionism or something else, remind yourself: you can't reach the finish line if you don't take the first step. So, go for it!
4. Take Breaks
You might think it counterintuitive to take frequent breaks when trying to stay productive, but these rest periods give your brain a much-needed breather and will help keep you motivated. Plus, stepping away from your work for a moment gives you time to review it with fresh eyes when you come back.
5. Break Down Complex Tasks
Similar to setting simple goals, breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more achievable blocks will boost your motivation. It may also help to give these chunks a "deadline" of their own, which might push you to work harder to finish them.
6. Compile a Distraction List
Are you easily distracted? Is your wandering mind always keeping your attention away from the task at hand? It might help to compile a distraction list. Every time you feel yourself straying from your work, pull up an empty note or document page and write down what's interrupting your concentration. Then, go right back to work.
Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
7. Follow the 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule, or the Pareto Principle (named after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto), states that 80% of your work comes from 20% of your effort. Applying this concept will allow you to find the most important tasks you should prioritize so that you're not wasting your time working on things that don't have a big impact.
8. Declutter Your Space
Having too many papers and items in your workspace will only distract you further. By decluttering and keeping only essential items on your desk, you'll be less likely to zone out, fidget, or have your concentration disrupted. It might also help to have spots of green to give your eyes a break from digital screens.
9. Set a Timer
If you're still finding it difficult to just get up and start, set a timer. Better yet, apply the Pomodoro Technique, where for every 25 minutes of work, you take a five-minute break. This will help kickstart your productivity while giving your brain the rest it needs between each work session.
10. Hide Your Phone Away
Let's face it—your biggest distraction, if not your wandering thoughts, is probably your phone. If this is the case, you might want to ask someone to hide it for you, so that you won't be tempted to scroll or check notifications on it while you work.
11. Exercise or Meditate in the Morning
If you're not a morning person, trying to wire your brain to be productive right from the get-go might seem impossible. Instead, try exercising or meditating after you wake up. This will give you a moment to relax and engage in self-care, which can then boost motivation.
12. Eat Healthy
What you eat also has an impact on your productivity. If you're often snacking on junk food and sugary treats, you're likely leaving your mind more groggy and unfocused. To bring—and keep—your energy levels up, eat nutritious fruits, veggies, and meals with lots of fiber and protein that will keep you full.
13. Get Enough Sleep
It's no surprise that not getting enough sleep will probably result in a not-so-productive day. To ensure you practice good sleeping habits, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. If you often struggle with falling asleep, make sure you keep your phone away and do a wind-down activity, like reading, a few hours before bedtime.
14. Say No
To be more productive and to finish the tasks on your plate in time, sometimes you'll have to say no. While it's understandable that you might feel pressured to accept any requests that come your way, especially at work, taking on more responsibilities than you're capable of will only heighten your stress levels and demotivate you.
15. Don't Multitask
You might think it's better to multitask to get things done quicker, but unless you're truly great at juggling multiple responsibilities at once, multitasking may only slow you down further. Instead of tackling a bunch of different things, focus on one at a time to ensure you stay motivated and exert the same effort.
16. Don't Do Work on Your Bed
If you do work on your bed, this is your sign to stop. By doing this, you're allowing your brain to associate your bed as a place to work and sleep, which may confuse it. This might be why you aren't as productive as you should be, or why you struggle to catch your ZZZs at night.
17. Stay Motivated
You know you need to stay motivated to boost productivity, but how exactly do you stay motivated? Before starting a task, think about what's the purpose behind it. Maybe it's simply the satisfaction you get after completing it or the thrill of the challenge itself. You'll also want to find a proper work-life balance so you don't experience burnout.
18. Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal may also make you more productive. You can use it to set goals, keep you focused, and write about your achievements or areas you want to continue building on. Plus, journaling is a form of self-care, so it may help keep you motivated and foster a positive mindset as well.
19. Partner Up
If you find it isolating and demotivating to work on your own, buddy up! Call your partner or a friend over to tackle your tasks together so you can both stay focused. You can even make it a competition to see who gets more things done by the end of the day.
20. Reward Yourself After a Productive Day
What's a better motivator than getting a reward after completing your tasks? Whether it's getting to binge-watch your favorite show or treating yourself to a delicious snack, you'll probably work twice as hard when you know there's a prize waiting for you at the finish line. Use this to boost your motivation—and regularly reward yourself for a job well done. You deserve it!
KEEP ON READING
