Do you find yourself struggling to stay focused and accomplish your goals? Would you describe yourself as a person who’s easily distracted and generally unproductive? Well, here’s some good news: there are ways to overcome distractions and become more productive.
In no particular order, here are five productivity hacks you should start so you can be… well, be productive!
Listen to Soothing Music
Listening to soothing music can have a positive impact on your productivity. For example, the calm sounds can reduce stress and increase your focus and concentration, helping you get into a state of complete immersion. You’ll also feel good since the sounds will help remove negative emotions that you might be feeling.
If you have no idea what soothing music to listen to, try the relaxing sounds of Memphis music. Search for some Al Green or Memphis Hall-of-Famer Otis Redding. It’s practically impossible to be unproductive while listening to “Let’s Stay Together” or “These Arms of Mine.” Their music, along with many other musicians from Memphis, can provide a soothing backdrop to help you feel more relaxed and focused. You might also get a side effect of bobbing your head along to the music, but that’s a cute side effect, at least!
Change Where You’re Working
Do you find yourself working at the same spot every single day? That might be wearing down on your mind, especially if you associate the place with working. And if you’re starting to dread working, it might mean a change in environment.
No, this is not a sign that you should resign–there are different markers for that. If you want to feel more productive, and if you have the flexibility to do so, go somewhere else. Work at your favorite cafe, a different home spot, or even a beach!
It can be anywhere as long as you can keep your mind at work. You never know, you might discover that it’s the view, the noise level, or even the lighting that’s making you unproductive. Changing your work environment and going to a more comfortable and conducive space will help you become more efficient.
Exercise In The Morning
If you’re having difficulty working, don’t work first thing in the morning as soon as you’ve woken up. Instead, what you should do is get some exercise. For one thing, exercising will release endorphins, helping you feel good and more energized. This will help you start the day on the right foot.
Exercise also helps your mind work better and reduces stress and anxiety, both of which affect your productivity.
The great thing about exercise is that it can come in any form. Try an exercise video on YouTube, fire up your stationary bike, or simply walk outside. It doesn’t have to be long, either. Go for a maximum of thirty minutes daily, and you’ll have enough time to get endorphins and finish plenty of work.
Set Specific Goals For The Day
Feeling overwhelmed and unproductive is a common issue for many people, and one reason for this is the lack of specific goals and priorities. Others dictate your schedules and tasks, leaving you feeling scattered and unproductive. Avoid this by taking control of your time and identifying the specific tasks that need to be accomplished each day.
Start by making a list of the most important things you need to accomplish, prioritizing them based on urgency and importance. But be realistic with your goals – there’s no sense in overwhelming yourself with a long list of unattainable tasks. It’s better to set achievable goals you can accomplish throughout the day, which will help you build momentum and confidence.
Schedule and Take Your Breaks
Taking a break may seem counterproductive to productivity, but it’s actually important to do so. Think of yourself as a saw. If you keep cutting and cutting without stopping and getting yourself sharpened, you’re eventually going to go dull, and you won’t be able to saw through any more pieces of wood.
That’s why you need to take breaks–to maintain a certain level of productivity and avoid getting burnt out with what you’re doing. And you need to schedule breaks, or you might not take them at all. One way to do this is to use a Pomodoro Timer, where you work for twenty-five minutes straight, then take a five-minute break to do whatever you want before returning to work.
And, of course, during actual lunch or work breaks, make sure to take advantage of them. Eat, walk, read a book, talk to people, or watch some Netflix. Make sure whatever you do will refresh you and make you feel like you’re ready to work once the break is over.
Key Takeaways
By implementing productivity hacks, you can go against feelings of procrastination and increase your ability to concentrate. This will result in a higher likelihood of you completing your tasks. To recap, here are the five hacks you can do:
- Listen to music that is comforting and calming so you’ll be more relaxed as you go about your work.
- Change where you work so you can be more efficient.
- Exercise to start your day so you’ll be filled with endorphins which can give you a mood boost that can last throughout the day.
- Define your daily goals, so you won’t get overwhelmed by the many things you need to do.
- Take advantage of breaks to recharge and make yourself ready for work once the breaks are over.
Here’s to more productivity and better work output in your future!