What are the Best Ways to Make Yourself More Productive?

Edited and published by Wellness Monster Dina

Being more productive is not easy, but there are ways to increase productivity.

Get plenty of sleep. Getting plenty of sleep helps increase my productivity. Feeling well-rested helps me to concentrate.

Organize. Keeping things organized is helpful. Lack of organization can hurt my productivity.

Make lists. I like to make lists so I can see what I have to do.

Make goals. Goals give you something to strive for.

Eat. When I get hungry, I become less productive. Being full from food helps me to keep my energy up.

No distractions. When I’m working, I don’t want any distractions. I’m in my own zone and focusing on being productive. Distractions turn my attention away from my work and make me less productive. The internet can be very distracting. My distractions are celebrity gossip sites and social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

No noise. Personally, I like quiet when I’m trying to work.

Keep email clear. Keeping email clear helps me to focus on being productive.

Exercise. Exercise helps me keep a clear head. The energy I get from it makes me more productive. For exercise, I like to walk.

Break things down into steps. I get easily overwhelmed by too much at once so I like to break tasks down into steps to be more productive.

I reward myself when I finish a task. Finishing a task increases a “happy chemical” in the brain called dopamine.

I try to make my life simpler by delegating smaller tasks to other people. This leaves me free to focus on bigger tasks.

Learn to say no.

I try to be passionate about what I work on.

Stress can reduce productivity. 80 percent of workers feel stress every day.

Don’t be a perfectionist. Trying to make everything perfect can hinder work and cause performance anxiety. Unfortunately, I’m a perfectionist, wanting everything just right.

Try to have a comfortable atmosphere with good lighting and comfortable temperatures.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Fear of failure can limit productivity. Many successful people failed before finding success.

Make a schedule.

Work on concentration. BJ Fogg talks about “competing motivations” — sometimes even our best efforts to be productive are thwarted because something else comes along. (https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-be-more-productive/)

Stay educated. Read and keep informed of things.

Sometimes projects I work on aren’t working. I have to give up on unproductive projects.

I go back over what I have achieved. This makes me see how productive I’ve been.

Sit in a comfortable chair. Have the computer monitor at eye height.

I work at the time of day where I am best. I’m a night owl and do most of my work in the evenings.

Take breaks.

80/20 rule. “Only 20% of what you do each day produces 80% of your results. So how can you find your ROI? Where do you see the biggest bang for your buck? Put your focus on what is already working and again, cut out what just isn’t.” ( http://thinkcreativecollective.com/blog/2016/12/16/44-quick-tips-to-becoming-the-most-productive-person-you-know)

Write down unnecessary thoughts. Distracting thoughts can take away from productivity. When I start overthinking, I write down my thoughts so I can be more productive.

Imagine what success will look like.

Be grateful for success. Thank others for helping.

Procrastinate in a good way. Procrastinating in a good way is putting off small things to work on big things.

Don’t feel guilty about having downtime.

I try to do the hardest thing first. At the start, I have more energy, and I need it for the hardest task.

Figuring out why I am doing the task makes me more productive.

I talk about my project. This helps me to gain focus and lay out plans.

Meditation can help me have more energy.

Try to eliminate confusion. Seek to be clear about the project.

Have daily rituals.

Have self-awareness. I try to figure out what my abilities are. I also try to figure out what my weaknesses are.

Plan the next day today.

To be productive, I must focus on myself personally, professionally, and globally. I should concentrate on who I should pay attention to. I should concentrate on what needs my attention. I have to think about how I pay attention.

Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is being aware of what is happening in the present. When I eat lunch, I focus on the taste and the texture of the food. I appreciate it. This helps me to feel refreshed and helps productivity.

I have to remember I’m not a machine and to allow myself to have faults. I may not be getting much sleep, or I may be arguing with someone.

I find habits that make me productive. Some people may need music or eating to be productive.

I’m lucky enough to work at home. Home workers should have an office setup. I have an office in my bedroom with a desk and computer. If other people are around, I let them know not to bother me while I am working. It helps to have a schedule. My schedule is usually from late afternoon to night.

Use apps to increase productivity. They can be calendars to help coordinate work.

If possible, take vacations. New locations can help refresh the mind and increase productivity. I try to take a few vacations a year. They’re usually a few nights away to the mountains or beach. I’m fortunate enough to live close to the beach. I usually try to take a day trip every month to the beach to go eating and shopping. It’s good for the body and soul and helps productivity.

Write a productivity statement. Write on a note card something that will increase productivity. For example, “I am very productive. I will move from task to task, making great progress.” Refer to the note card when times are hard.

I try to lift myself up by reading an inspiring book or listening to my favorite music. Listen to positive audio messages.

Take naps. When I’m sleep-deprived, I can’t function well. Taking naps usually refreshes me. Presidents and other leaders have regularly taken naps. NASA pilots who take naps on flights did better than their colleagues who didn’t nap.

There are times when I am in slumps. These productivity tips help me personally and professionally.

Sources:

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/11-ways-productive-and-happy-the-same-time.html

https://www.robinsharma.com/article/21-tips-to-become-the-most-productive-person-you-know

https://aircall.io/blog/how-to-be-productive/

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/what-is-productivity-be-more-productive-how-to-work

https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/how-to-be-more-productive/

http://thinkcreativecollective.com/blog/2016/12/16/44-quick-tips-to-becoming-the-most-productive-person-you-know

https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2016/07/how-to-be-productive/

https://justagirlandherblog.com/how-to-be-productive-when-youre-not-feeling-motivated/

https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-make-your-brain-get-down-to-business-when-its-being-wildly-unproductive

https://www.inc.com/shawn-murphy/how-to-be-more-productive-in-2018.html

https://www.paymoapp.com/blog/the-comprehensive-guide-to-productivity-at-work/

https://www.copyblogger.com/architect-productivity/

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/productivity-tips-working-from-home

https://developer.okta.com/blog/2018/03/19/how-to-be-productive-at-work

https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/299935#4

https://www.sleep.org/articles/how-to-be-productive-on-low-or-no-sleep/

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