Is there one person in your circle of friends who seems to breeze through even the most challenging tasks? Are you curious about their methods? Because they appear get a lot done!
Here are three strategies that can boost your productivity to the level of your most successful peers.
Observe Rest Periods
In spite of appearances, taking a break can actually increase your productivity. When you give your mind some downtime for relaxation and inspiration, it can perform at its peak. Taking short breaks throughout the workday can help. Try for once an hour if possible, but more often is fine as well.
Stop what you’re doing and go to the restroom, grab a bite to eat, or get some exercise during your break. Experiment with different interval lengths to determine how often you need to rest your mind, and then adhere as closely as you can to that schedule.
Timed sprint of work
Setting a timer for each work session is just as important as taking frequent breaks. Set the timer for a short period of time, no more than 20 or 25 minutes. It doesn’t matter what time it is. Working out the optimal duration of your work sessions will require some trial and error. Creating manageable sub-goals can boost your motivation and make the overall task seem more manageable. You’ll be more productive if you know you have to beat the clock.
Also, if you have trouble getting started, remind yourself that you’ll only have to focus on your work for 20 minutes at a time. This should put you in a much better frame of mind in which to get things done.
Reduce Outside Distractions
People who are easily distracted can benefit from working in short sprints. Reducing the number of potential interruptions in your work space is also helpful. You should turn off email alerts and check your inbox at a set time every day. Don’t bring your personal electronics like TVs or phones to the office. Do not eat at your desk.
Don’t waste your mealtime doing this when you could be relaxing instead.
In addition, having a specific place to work can help signal to your brain that it is time to get down to business.
If you take frequent breaks, work in short sprints, and eliminate distractions, you’ll find that increased productivity finds you even when it seems impossible. Soon you’ll be like that one friend who always seems to get everything done, leaving everyone else scratching their heads and wondering what they’re doing differently.
