February’s blog will take a deep dive into productivity! After sending out our Newsletter Survey many reader’s expressed interest in learning more about how to maximize productivity. At Time ReDesigned we appreciate any and all feedback and are looking forward to curating our publications to meet the needs of our readers. Today we are diving into an article titled, “10 Incredibly Easy Ways to Improve Your Productivity” by Noma Nazish. The full article can be found here. Many of these strategies are self-explanatory, but you will be shocked at how helpful a seemingly simple tip can be! Some strategies aren’t as intuitive so we will briefly highlight some important details. Read on, take a few notes, and try to incorporate one of two of these strategies into your professional life. You never know how much your daily routine could be in desperate need of one of these productivity boosting tips!
Take regular breaks. Avoid opening social media or clicking on a YouTube video that could send you down a rabbit hole. Rather, take a walk around your work space or read a few pages from a book you’re enjoying.
Eat the frog. Here is one of those tips that may not seem as intuitive! “Eating the frog” is a quote from Mark Twain that means to complete your largest task first thing in the morning. If you don’t take care of important tasks early in the morning, you may spend all day thinking about them or, even worse, begin to fall behind.
Learn to single-task. Multitasking can lower productivity by 40%!
The ‘two-minute rule.’ This rule states that if a task can be done in two minutes it should be done as it comes across your desk, rather than brushed aside. Get those quick (and sometimes pesky) tasks out of your way.
Plan each day the night before. Creating a realistic to-do list of two or three items will assist in organization and focus.
Take advantage of your commute (if and when you have one). This is most relevant for people who take public transit to work as they have the chance to do some reading or planning while on their way to work. If you drive yourself to work, spend that precious alone time enjoying music or a podcast and get yourself mentally prepared for a productive day.
Get organized. Make tidying up your work space a part of your daily routine so that it never becomes overwhelming. At Time ReDesigned we like to tidy up at the end of each workday so that we can start fresh each morning.
Eliminate digital distractions. Setting your phone to silent mode will save so much time during your work day!
Make a not-to-do list. Right alongside your to-do list, create a list of habits you wish to break. Putting these ideas on paper will hold you accountable and remind you to change your behavior day-by-day. An example could be to not watch YouTube videos during your lunch break. Often one YouTube video turns into three or four, and then suddenly your lunch break is over and you haven’t had a chance to recharge and take the mental break you needed to get refocused. Be honest with yourself regarding the difficult changes you need to make.
Get plenty of sleep. A good night’s rest is crucial for countless reasons. Give yourself the gift of sleep!
Hopefully at least a few of these tips resonate with you and you can find a way to incorporate them into your daily routine. Building these critical habits will provide you with more time in your day, more mental clarity, and the chance to do your best work. You can help yourself, students, and co-workers by becoming as productive as possible during your work day.
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