6 Simple Tips to Improve Your Productivity

For many of us, the Monday morning alarm signals five days of dread. The start of another week filled with tight deadlines, an increasingly full calendar and family commitments we forgot about until yesterday. There’s no denying that sometimes finding the ‘get up and go’ can be extremely hard. By making small changes in your life, you can significantly help improve productivity and reduce procrastination, resulting in a happier, healthier, less stressed you.

Create to-do lists at the start of each day/week

When we’re up to our necks in work, the best way to tackle it is head-on. Create a list of all the things you need to get done that day or that week and tick them off as you go along. This will not only help you break down each task into more manageable chunks but you’ll also feel empowered and motivated crossing off each task and help to drive you forward onto the next.

Take regular breaks

Spending more than 8-10 hours at a desk without moving around much will leave you feeling lethargic, with very little energy. Taking regular breaks – even if it’s just for five minutes, will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to face tasks with full force. After all, productivity is not measured by the number of hours you sit at a desk, it’s measured by how much you get done.

Weed out distractions

With the modern world obsessed with digital media, it’s extremely hard to completely switch off altogether. However did you know that according to research done last year, 89% of employees admit to wasting time browsing on social media while at work? Even with the greatest of intentions, that little ‘peek’ on Facebook can escalate and quickly turn into 15 minutes wasted watching a woman crying because she loves cats. If you find that you’re continually falling behind on your work, then you should consider uninstalling social media apps from your smartphone – or better still, leaving it out of reach.

Keep your goals in sight

For many of us, where we are now is not where we want to be. Keeping your ‘head in the game’ when it comes to your ambitions and goals is the best way to stay motivated and continue on a productive path. Keeping a list of goals in a notebook you always have with you or as a note on your phone will give your motivation levels a welcome boost when you start to feel complacent.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Many of us are afraid to ask for a little bit of help, but when you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be the best thing. Sharing your concerns with a colleague, boss or family member can really help you put things into perspective and release the pressure.

Set targets for yourself and reward yourself when you meet them

Some of us are naturally competitive. Others however, aren’t. But none of us like to lose. Setting personal targets for yourself will ensure you’re always striving towards something – a Personal Best. Always try to beat the person you were last week, and even the one you were yesterday, and keep track of your results. Once you’ve seen a constant increase, give yourself a reward for all your hard work, and you’ll be sure to continue striving to be a more productive you.