People are obsessed with productivity.
Most tips and tools don’t work, they’re just overcomplicating things and cost a lot of money.
You need to change your productivity habits. Those are small things that can change a lot in your daily life
In this article, I’ll show you 5 small changes you can make to increase your productivity.
1 — Start your day by planning
Did you make a plan today?
Instead of diving headfirst into your day, consider allocating the first few moments of your morning to strategic planning.
This can establish a clear focus, streamline your decision-making process, and ultimately lead to more efficient use of your time — which is what we want.
Imagine you’re about to paint a picture. Instead of just splashing paint around, you first decide what you want to create. That’s what planning your day is like. It sets the scene for what you want to achieve.
Here are some keywords that underline the value of this habit:
- Clarity: Know exactly what you need to do.
- Focus: Stay on track and avoid distractions.
- Efficiency: Get more done in less time.
- Momentum: Keep moving forward smoothly throughout the day.
- Control: Feel in charge of your own time and tasks.
2 — Breaking down bigger tasks into smaller ones
A great way to tackle big tasks is to break them down into smaller parts.
Think of it like eating a watermelon. You wouldn’t try to eat it all at once. Instead, you cut it into slices, which are easier to manage.
The same idea applies to your tasks.
Smaller tasks feel less daunting and you get a sense of achievement with each small task you finish.
Completing small tasks keeps you moving forward. That’s the motivation you need.
3 — Be strict on personal deadlines
Setting and sticking to your own deadlines is another small change that can have a big impact.
It’s like making a promise to yourself and then keeping that promise.
This keeps your work on track and builds trust in yourself. If you can’t trust yourself, you’re only lying to yourself and nobody wins.
You can’t trick yourself in the end.
When you consistently meet the deadlines you set for yourself, you prove to yourself that you can rely on your abilities. This, in turn, builds self-trust, a critical component of mental and emotional well-being.
On the other hand, failing to meet self-imposed deadlines can create a harmful cycle of self-doubt and self-deception. It’s akin to lying to oneself, an action that can erode self-esteem over time.
Therefore, it’s important to set realistic, achievable deadlines for yourself and commit to them. If you’re new to this, start small.
4 — Implement the 30/5 method for breaks
When we take long breaks, say a couple of hours or more, our minds tend to shift from the “work” mode to the “relax” mode.
This shift is not a problem in itself; indeed, after a full day of work, it is necessary and healthy. However, during the workday, this shift can be counterproductive.
After a long break, it can take a considerable amount of time and energy to reorient ourselves back to the task at hand, especially if the break involved activities that are vastly different from the work we were doing.
The 30/5 method, where you take a 5-minute break every 30 minutes, is a great way to keep your energy levels high.
It’s just like our electronic devices. We don’t need to charge them for 24 hours in order to use them for the same amount of time — our bodies work the same.
Excessively long breaks can disrupt your rhythm, lead to procrastination, and make it more challenging to get back into the swing of things.
5 — Appreciate progression (small or big)
Finally, appreciating your progress, no matter how small can boost your motivation and productivity.
It’s like stopping to admire the view during a hike.
Even if you haven’t reached the top yet, you can still enjoy how far you’ve come — most things in your life weren’t possible without the small steps you took to get there.
By appreciating your progress, you encourage further growth and productivity. Key points to remember include:
- Acknowledge all progress: Every step, no matter how tiny, is moving you forward.
- Pause and appreciate: Like enjoying the view during a hike, take time to recognize your accomplishments along your journey.
- Keep the end goal in mind: But don’t let it overshadow the importance of the progress you’re making.
- Celebrate small victories: They are indicators of your progress and a testament to your potential for reaching greater heights.
By instilling these habits, you’ll not only increase your productivity, but you’ll also find the process more rewarding and enjoyable.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the journey towards increased productivity and time efficiency isn’t paved with monumental changes.
Instead, it’s in the small habit modifications where the magic truly lies.
In the wise words of Aristotle, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”