Whether you are an efficient professional who sees productivity as a skill that anyone can learn or see productivity as merely a concept that drives people to work more and tirelessly, learning how to cleverly approach tasks and applying techniques that increase productivity are advantageous.
Here are forty-two productivity-boosting tips you should practice to become a better and more effective professional.
- Set a deadline for each of your tasks. Doing so will create a sense of urgency when completing your tasks.
- Keep track of your time. You can maintain a timesheet or a time-tracker application to record and determine the amount of time you spend on certain tasks.
- Rank tasks by importance. You must also commit to completing tasks that are urgent and important over tasks that are easy to finish but not urgent.
- Create a master to-do list for all your tasks, organizing them by priority.
- Break down tasks into smaller subtasks.
- Group similar tasks together to avoid friction and breaking your concentration.
- Estimate how much time you should commit to a task. This can help keep your eyes on the goal and avoid distractions.
- Plan ahead of time. Do not just dive into your tasks; preparation is the key to avoiding getting drowned in your tasks.
- Stop procrastinating. We know, easier said than done. Practice not ignoring and delaying your tasks and attend to them as soon as you can.
- Live by the two-minute rule. If you can attend to and complete a task right away, then you should do it promptly.
- Avoid any form of interruptions. Avoid those that you know can sidetrack you. Distance yourself from distractions.
- Unplug from the internet. Block websites that cause you to become distracted.
- Never multitask. Focus on a single task — with undivided attention — until you are done with it.
- Put your phone in silent mode. If it is still a source of distraction, put it away.
- Integrate digital tools into your workflows. Look for free-to-use and subscription-based tools that can help you complete your tasks faster.
- Delegate tasks when necessary. Determine the tasks you can assign to someone else so you can focus on your high-priority tasks.
- Be mindful of how you manage and spend your time.
- Keep a detailed calendar for your tasks and their deadlines. If you can, be as specific as you can when you add a task to your calendar.
- Say “no” to things that can distract you from your work. You can also say “no” to people and events when they become a strong source of distraction.
- Keep your workspace organized. An uncluttered work area can do wonders for your productivity.
- Use sticky notes. Whether paper or electronic sticky notes, the goal is to remind you of the tasks you need to attend to, especially when they are urgent.
- Take breaks. Breaks recharge you so go take a short walk, grab your favorite coffee, or eat a snack. Do not skip breaks — no, never.
- Prepare all the tools and resources you need before doing your task.
- Stop talking with others — whether in person or virtually — and continue working. Avoid small talks and conversations that can wait until you are done with your tasks.
- Spruce up your workspace to make room for motivation and drive.
- Declutter and throw unnecessary items in your workspace that cause distraction.
- Cultivate deep work by truly devoting your entire focus to the ongoing task. When you master cultivating deep work, your focus will become stronger.
- Understand your work habits. Instead of just jumping from one task to another, learn, take notes of, and understand your style, so you can make necessary adjustments.
- Automate work process when applicable. Make technology work for you.
- Approach attending to your email with caution, so as not to make it a distraction. You can set a time when you will tackle your email and let people know about that schedule.
- Develop a workflow or system that works for you — attend to your email in the morning, focus on your most important tasks until lunch, work on smaller tasks an hour or two before you log out. Customize your daily schedule in a way that maximizes your skills and energy.
- Reply to all your email messages at once.
- Determine your peak hours and do your most important and challenging tasks during those hours when you are at your best.
- Be accountable to another person regarding your tasks. That person can be your boss, colleague, teammate, or friend. You need to find a person whom you trust will support you and be of help when necessary.
- Ask for help on tasks you do not understand or find a hard time doing. Do not let pride get in the way of you completing your tasks faster.
- Create a visual calendar for your tasks. If you prefer color-coding tasks based on specific labels and requirements, maintaining a visual calendar is a fun way to track tasks. You may also use photos and different colored pens — for physical visual calendars — and font colors — for electronic visual calendars — for your visual calendar to be more engaging and fun in the eyes.
- Update your to-do list daily.
- Commend yourself for the tasks you have accomplished for the day, no matter how big or small the tasks may be.
- Eat healthy food throughout the day to keep you energized. Avoid junk food that causes energy crashes and makes you gain weight. Fuel your body with good food that would carry you throughout the day.
- Get sunlight. Work beside a window or go outside and walk for a little while during your break. Natural light makes you alert and improves your overall health.
- Exercise. The best way to get more energy and become more active is to get moving. Set schedules for when you will do physical exercises and stick to them.
- Find time to meditate daily. Meditation can help you relax, clear your mind, and de-stress. Do not let having countless tasks get the best of your mental and spiritual health.
By following the productivity-boosting tips above, you can regain control over your life, becoming more productive in the process.