Working for yourself or having a demanding job requires a lot of personal responsibility and the ability to handle pressure under a variety of circumstances.
If you’re looking for ways to increase and improve your personal productivity, there are many things you can do to make a positive change.
Read on for a list of seven tips and techniques to help increase your efficiency so that you can use your time more wisely.
1. Get Rid of Distractions
The number-one killer of personal productivity is being distracted by other things. When you eliminate these distractions, it’s much easier for you to be able to focus on the task at hand.
Start by closing all of your Internet browser tabs, other than the ones you’re working on. Checking Facebook or clicking on that YouTube video you paused earlier will only waste time that you could be using to accomplish your goals.
There are a few tools you can find to help you with distractions and keep them at bay. You can also look for ways to change your behavior so that you don’t let distractions rule the day.
2. Make Lists to Improve Personal Productivity
It might seem obvious, but making a list of your tasks and goals is a wise way to boost productivity. Start by jotting down a basic list of the main things you need to achieve.
Once your main list is on paper, you can start to break each item up into smaller, bite-sized chunks. By creating a list of small goals, it will be easier to get everything done since the tasks will be much more manageable.
Some people like to write their lists on a calendar and tick items off as they’re complete for each day. Others simply write a large, comprehensive list of things to do, then mark them off as they go. Whichever method works best for you is fine, as long as you keep working toward crossing those items off.
3. Get the Hard Stuff Done in the Morning
You might find it difficult to be more productive when you first wake up but knocking things out first thing is a great way to get your tasks done. Start your day by working on the more difficult tasks earlier instead of later on in the day.
When you focus on the tough stuff earlier, the rest of your day will feel easier and lighter. Putting things off will only make your afternoons stressful, and your nights sleepless.
Learning how to tackle the bigger tasks earlier takes time and practice, but you’ll feel a lot better once it’s done. Eventually, you’ll look forward to waking up and hitting the ground running so you can enjoy your afternoons and nights.
4. Take a Break
In today’s mega-productive world, it can be difficult to find time to step aside and take a break. However, taking breaks is actually an integral part of improving your personal productivity.
Learn how to walk away from your computer and just sit down in a quiet place. Create a daily routine that works for you, and you can find out more about this here: https://setapp.com/lifestyle/create-a-daily-routine-that-works.
Carve out time in your daily schedule to take real breaks. Whether it’s enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee or taking a micro-nap, these breaks will refuel your body and mind so you can achieve even more.
5. Batch Your Tasks
If you’re working on several projects at once, it can be tough to manage each thing individually. One way to make this easier is by batching similar tasks together.
For example, if you’re working on spreadsheets for different projects, put them all together on the same list. Sit down, and work on knocking all of these similar tasks out at once.
When you augment efficiency in this way, it’s easier to get it done and over with. By batching or grouping similar tasks together, you can stay focused on one type of thing all the way through to completion, then move onto the next ones.
6. Focus on Focusing
Staying grounded and focused is the biggest challenge that most busy people face. To improve this, you’ll want to make focusing on the job in front of you your number-one priority.
Some people find that listening to ambient music improves their productivity and focus. Choose a good pair of headphones and let the music flow as you stay on top of the task in front of you.
Other ways to improve your focus are by practicing deep breathing techniques or trying meditation that will help you feel calm and grounded. However you choose to do it, making focus the focus is a great way to help you remain on-target.
7. Reward Yourself
Even if you don’t get accolades from your boss, it’s important to reward yourself when you accomplish a goal. It can be anything from ordering your favorite takeout to buying a new jacket.
When you reward yourself for the things you’ve achieved, you’ll be motivated to do more in the future. Don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back whenever you get something done that once felt overwhelming.
Productivity is Happiness
Keep these tips in mind when you’re working on your own personal productivity goals. With the right mindset and a few changes, you’ll find it’s easy to accomplish anything if you set your mind to it.
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