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For a lot of us (myself included), it’s hard to stay productive throughout the working day.
With the lines between work and our personal lives being more blurred than ever, and the expectation of always being available 24/7, it may feel exceptionally challenging to sit down and do what we need to do, and remain productive.
This is why it’s important to learn the productivity hacks that will actually work, so that you can get back on track and break the procrastination cycle.
Keep reading to learn which productivity hacks are the most effective.
6 Productivity Hacks That Actually Work
1. Start with the easiest item on your to-do list. Procrastination often results from a feeling of free-floating anxiety. For example, have you ever looked at a daunting list of to-dos and felt stressed by the mere sight of it? When you start off your day, tick off one or two of the easiest tasks first. Maybe it’s just going through your emails, or perhaps it’s finalizing a meeting with your colleagues. By simply completing just one or two tasks first thing, you’ll feel encouraged to continue the productive streak.
2. Remove any ambiguity. Ambiguity is one major underlying cause of procrastination. For instance, have you ever looked at your schedule and your task list and wondered what steps were necessary to complete a specific task? Remove all ambiguity by outlining the steps necessary to complete all tasks. If possible, break down larger tasks into smaller ones. This way when you’re tackling your to-dos, there’s no room for ambiguity.
3. Prioritize your most important tasks. This hack goes hand-in-hand with the previous one listed, but it’s just as important. At the start of each day, be sure to outline your top three most important tasks, and make sure to knock them out by the end of the day. Be specific in what those tasks are and what it takes to mark them as, “complete.”
4. Schedule specific times to check email. This productivity hack can be real time saver every day. Think about it. How often have you been pulled away from something you’re working on by the ping of a new email? Often when this happens, we end up spending even more time checking emails and responding to others, which ultimately distracts us from the task we were originally working on. Instead, assign specific times throughout the day to check your email. For example, once at ten in the morning, then again at one in the afternoon, and perhaps at four-thirty before you leave work for the day.
5. Batch your tasks. Group similar tasks together as you’re working throughout the day. For example, batch social tasks together, like scheduling meetings, get-togethers, or appointments.
6. Take breaks. One of the greatest productivity hacks is to give your brain adequate time to regroup and refresh. Humans work best when they balance periods of intense focus with rest and relaxation. Take plenty of time to give your brain the break it deserves, so that you can return to work and be productive.
Related: How to be Less Busy and More Productive
