We all get the same 24 hours with each day. Yet some people managed to seamlessly get so many things done while others struggle to barely get anything done.
Why is that, you asked?
The difference lies in *how* we each spend the time.
Fortunately, productivity is no rocket science and there are plenty of simple yet effective things we can do – or in this case – stop doing in order to make the most out of each day.
To start, here’s a list of 5 things you can work on minimizing to effectively increase your productivity and get more things done on a daily basis:
1. Working on the ‘easy’ tasks first
To start the day, most of us have a tendency to cross off the easiest tasks first.
However, if you are serious about increasing your productivity, you’ve got to start tackling the hardest or most challenging tasks during the first hours of your day instead.
Generally, our peak of performance occurs in the mornings so don’t waste that focus and energy on menial tasks. As psychologist Dan Ariely found, we tend to be most productive in the first two hours after becoming fully awake.
Knowing this, be sure to prioritise the most challenging project/ tasks on your list.
Since we have a tendency to delay working on things we believe to be difficult, by tackling our most challenging tasks first , we significantly reduce the chance of that pesky (and often inevitable) procrastination!
Once you get these priorities, you can move on to less challenging tasks and you’ll finish the day with a more satisfied and accomplished feeling knowing that you did everything you’ve set out to do.
As George Lorimer, a renowned American journalist & author said ‘Wake up with determination and go to bed with satisfaction.’
2. Multitasking
I must admit that this one tough habit to quit and to this day, I still find myself guilty of multi-tasking sometimes.
Though it may seem that you’re saving time by doing several tasks at a time, studies show that it can actually reduce your productivity by up to 40%!
As tempting as it is to get more than one task at a time, you’re much better off focusing your attention on tackling a single task before moving on to the next.
This way, you’re more likely to not only to get it done quicker, the results of your efforts will likely to be of a higher quality!
3. Constantly checking emails and/or social media
Gone were the days that I would check new emails as soon as they hit my inbox. So is my habit of constant checking of social media accounts.
Unless your job actually demands that you check each email (e.g: customer service agents etc.) or social media (e.g: social media managers) post as soon as they’re received or shared, there is definitely no need for it as it can be a huge distraction and fuels procrastination.
Instead, schedule short sessions dedicated to checking emails and social media into your calendar at the beginning of your workday, the middle of it and/or at the end of it.
By doing this, you’re still getting around to responding to important emails and messages in a timely manner. Better yet, it will help to curb the time you spend on them so you have more time to spend on the main tasks & responsibilities of the day.
4. Striving for perfection
Type A personalities are likely to refute and immediately dismiss this tip. As a ‘recovering’ perfectionist myself, I can totally relate. That said, over the years, I’ve become more convinced that perfectionism is actually a ‘trap’.
It is what author Elizabeth Gilbert referred to as ‘fear in really good shoes’.
While there’s nothing wrong with setting the bar high and giving everything you do your very best, perfectionism is far beyond that.
It’s about setting excessively high-performance standards often accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and high concerns regarding others’ opinions.
So, when we drill it into our heads that we need to achieve perfection in order for anything we do and/or create to have any value, we end up encouraging our fear.
We shrink our creativity and our enthusiasm to innovate. We become plagued with fear, terrified to create anything new or different.
More importantly, even if we managed to muster up enough courage to start something, we’re likely to not follow through or to complete it.
Give each task the very best you can and once it’s done, believe that it’s good enough and more importantly, move on!
Striving for perfection is a waste of time as it takes away time and energy on everything else you need to tackle.
5. Not taking breaks
We’ve all had those hectic days where we skipped lunch to chase a deadline or two and it’s completely understandable. However, we must make sure that it doesn’t end up becoming a habit.
Human beings are not robots nor are we built like them – and that’s a good thing. That said, we need to act accordingly.
Be kind to yourself and don’t push yourself to the point of exhaustion day in and day out because no matter how much you love your job, you will ultimately burn out.
Give yourself a much-needed break throughout the work day (in addition to your lunch break) even if it’s just 5-10 minutes to clear your head.
Take a quick walk outside, brew yourself some fresh coffee or check-in with your loved ones.
If you’d like to take your break up a notch, you can set aside a weekend for a meditation retreat.
Hitting the ‘pause’ button on all tasks & responsibilities, even for a little while, will significantly help you to focus inward, recharge, and ultimately become more productive.
Whatever you do, do something that gives you joy (and not work/job related), you’ll find yourself feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your daily to-dos with more energy, and enthusiasm.