Do you feel like the items on your daily to-do list are never completed? Like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Or that you haven’t reached any of your daily goals because there are just too many tasks? What often happens in situations like these, is that you start procrastinating because you feel like you don’t have control over your time.
Luckily, there is a way to fix this and regain control of your schedule so that you can get up from your desk at the end of the day and feel satisfied because you actually achieved what you set out to do.
Use these three tips to boost your productivity…
ALSO SEE: Spotting the Signs of Burnout
Top 3 Tips to Boost Your Productivity
1. Quit multitasking
Multitasking is one of the biggest ways to kill productivity. Research suggests that multitasking can reduce productivity by as much as 40%. That’s a rather high and shocking percentage, especially since we’re made to believe that being able to multitask is an important skill to master in the age of distraction. But the truth is, multitasking will make you less productive and less efficient. So, instead of trying to complete multiple tasks at once, focus on one single task at a time before moving on to the next.
2. Follow the “two-minute rule”
Entrepreneur Steve Olenski suggests implementing the “two-minute rule” by filling small windows of time with actual tasks. In other words, if you have a task that you know will take you less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately. Respond to an email, check your calendar for your next appointment, or schedule a meeting – small tasks like these will take less time to complete than having to do it later, according to Olenski.
ALSO SEE: What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?
3. Take regular breaks
Sitting at your desk for 3 hours straight without taking a break hugely reduces your productivity. The longer you work on a task without taking a break, the longer it will take you to complete. Instead, studies suggest that taking “microbreaks” can increase performance. For example, get up from your desk and stretch, take a coffee break, go outside and get some fresh air, or meditate for 10 minutes. Longer breaks such as lunch breaks are just as important to ensure your energy (and creativity) levels remain high.
Bonus tip…
Make your office space (whether it is at home or in the office) aesthetically pleasing. Incorporate plants or fresh flowers, and create a framed vision board to look at for inspiration. Scented candles will put a smile on your face too.