From cleaning up your messy room to starting your new venture or from getting to a list of things that have been overdue forever to catching up with family and friends, things can get daunting looking at the limited time at hand.
I’m sure many of us want to get things over with at lightning speed and most of us enjoy a good productive day. It sure does feel great when you have completed everything that you planned for the day. It definitely gives us a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Usually, before going to bed at night, we think of things that we need to get done the next day and mentally map them out. The next morning we remember only a few because our brain isn’t really that reliable sometimes and as a result, we fall short and don’t really know what to start with. We lose all our motivation and just procrastinate and there will come a day where we can’t procrastinate any longer.
Here are some ways that can measurably increase your productivity putting you in a state of flow at whatever you do.
Make a To-Do List of the tasks for the day beforehand so that you don’t have to waste time thinking about what needs to get done. You can write them down on a piece of paper or put them in your phone notes. When you have the tasks ready, you can get right into it.
Complete the tasks which are a bit hard and time-consuming first and get to the easier tasks later. Completing a few easier ones first can sometimes trick our brain into thinking that we have worked a lot while we haven’t really gotten into the important tasks which take longer times and need more energy. When you get the hard tasks out of the way, it is relatively easy to complete the smaller ones.
Time-blocking tasks is a great way to organize your day. Assign certain times for each action item so that you know exactly what to do when. Make sure to assign enough time for each task so that they don’t clash with others.
Taking breaks between tasks is very essential so you don’t burn out. You can take a break up to 30 minutes but no longer than that. Longer breaks can break the cycle and you might end up not getting back to work which leads to procrastinating.
Our phones are a major distraction. Even though you don’t have anything important to look at, we automatically reach for it for no particular reason. Also, the notifications will tempt you to check in from time to time. It is best to put your phone on DND or leave it in another room so you don’t have easy access to it.
Play some Lo-Fi beats or some light music in the background to set the mood. Some people tend to concentrate and work better with some background noise and it makes working a bit more fun.
Following the Pomodoro technique can help you stay focused for short periods of time and get you in a flow. Set a timer of 25 minutes for your task and when done, take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle 4 times in a row. You can take a 30-minute break when that task is done and move on to the next one. This has proved quite effective in terms of taking frequent short breaks and not overworking yourself.
It’s always a good idea to have a clean space before you start your day. A messy space equals a messy mind. Tidying up not only clears up your physical environment but also helps in having a clear mental space.
In our current ‘hustle’ culture where we are held accountable only for the amount of hard work we put in, people are easily burnt out. When it does feel good to have a productive day, it is also important to note that taking a break from time to time is very essential for your mind and body.
It is okay to not do anything on some days as we all have those kinda days and it is only human. It gives us a chance to refresh the clutter in our minds and stress in our bodies so that we can get back with a fresh and relaxed mindset.
Productivity isn’t about doing a lot of things but rather doing things that bring you a sense of accomplishment and of course, make you happy. In my opinion, the key to having a productive day is planning ahead so you don’t have to waste time thinking about what comes next.
Hope you all are staying safe. It would be great if you could leave a comment below on what kind of content you want me to cover next. I’d really appreciate it 🙂
Take care!