‘What? Is it five o’clock already? Man, I haven't even started this weekly report!’
Have you ever found yourself in such situation? Along your career journey, there are good chances that you might experience similar scenario. At some point or another, there will be times when you might feel that eight-hours a day seem no longer enough to get your mountain of tasks done. Is there any way you can fix this unhappy picture?
When assignments are piling up, schedules are tight, and deadlines are coming closer, you might wish that there were more 24 hours in a day. The truth is, the point doesn’t lie in how you should get additional working hours. But rather, how you should control productivity and creativity. Being self-aware of how you spend your time is the key to get things done during the day. Don’t let distraction and procrastination prevent you from achieving the expected goals within the designated time frame. That being said, it is crucial to stay productive and focus on what matters on hand.
If you want to be more productive during the day, here are 10 hacks to get more works done during the day:
1. Don’t hit the snooze button
Starting your day by hitting the snooze button is not a good sign for a productive day ahead. To avoid that habitual snoozing-off ritual in the morning, you should go to bed earlier the night before. Early risers are often associated with better productivity and success, since they are unable to work with focus and refreshed minds.
2. Arrange a to-do list
Knowing what you have to accomplish each day is a crucial step to keep track of your daily productivity. You should arrange a daily to-do list, including listing out even simple tasks that you need to get done. By breaking down big tasks into smaller ones, you can catch up with the listed errands in easier way.
3. Do the most difficult task first
If you tow the toughest tasks for last, you will likely have no motivation to ever finish it. Instead, it is best to get those dreaded chores done first, before you pen down into easier ones. While you might need to use more time to work on it, at the end of the day you will find more time to complete everything else.
4. Practice simple exercises
Working out in the morning will give you better mood and happy feeling, while setting your mood to seize the day. When you wake up early, you can go for a quick jogging, stretching your arms, or even doing some simple yoga. This exercise not just relax your body, but also set the tone for the rest of your day.
5. Establish a system
Almost the same with point number 2, establishing a concise working system will help you organise your time better. This will give you a clear idea of what are you working on, the progress, as well as necessary actions to be done. By following the system, you can focus on only the top priority.
6. Put your phone away
How many hours you spend time on your smartphone? While you might think that taking five-minutes to check your Facebook updates won’t hurt, you are wrong. Social media is a great distraction, even if you don’t mean to. Therefore, put your phone away in the morning and turn off those social media notifications. Even if you need your phone to work, make sure to use it properly and not get distracted with that Animal Farm games.
7. Clear off your desk
Keep the clutter away from your desk and cubicle. Take some time to clear off your desk before getting to the real business. Clean and organised workspace is not only comfortable to live in, but also help you focus on the job.
8. Avoid multi-tasking (too much)
If you think that multi-tasking is a great way to getting several things done at once, you need to rethink the idea. Rather than switching and dividing your attention to some projects at the same time, it will be better to focus on one project first. Giving full attention in getting one task finished, before moving to another. This strategy is more efficient rather than heavy multitasking.
9. Relax with music
Listening to some music will help you concentrate on your work. However, in order to help you focus, it is critical to play the right music genres as your background tune.
10. Take a break
When you have a long to-do list tasks, people tend to push themselves harder and suppress their needs for a break. Whereas, overwhelming yourself with too much work might lead to burnout in the long run. Therefore, you should know when to take a rest and sign off from your work for some time.
Next read: Keep Your Mind Sharp: The Benefits of Lifelong Education for Your Career
