With the myriad of distractions that exist in today’s day and age, from Netflix releasing new shows and movies every week to social media alerts pinging off your phone, it’s difficult to remain focused and productive throughout the day. Fortunately, there are easy and simple things you can start doing to make your day more productive. Start with these seven routine changes.
1. Curate Your To-Do List #
A productive day doesn’t necessarily mean fitting every possible task you can in the 16-hour period you’re awake. Your to-do list shouldn’t have 30 tasks on it when you really only need to do five important tasks for the day. Be vigilant about what you put on your to-do list if you have one. Focus on accomplishing tasks that actually matter and/or are time-sensitive.
2. Implement the 80/20 Rule #
The 80/20 rule states that 20% of your efforts each day is responsible for 80% of your output. Get rid of anything that doesn’t factor into your future goals. For example, if your goal is to launch a website for your business, you should not be watching a Netflix show in the background or trying to file your taxes on the other browser tab. Continue stripping it down until you end up with the critical 20% that gets the 80%.
3. Start Right #
Your morning routine plays a key role in your overall performance throughout the rest of the day. If you wake up groggy, unmotivated, or even anxious, you’ll end up bringing that energy to your work. Start your day right by exercising, eating a good breakfast, spending time with loved ones, or reading something uplifting that isn’t related to your work.
4. Get the Most Difficult Tasks Done Before Lunch #
Your brain is at its freshest in the early morning, which is why how you choose to spend your early morning hours is crucial. As the day goes by and your mental energy gets depleted, you’ll have a harder time solving more complex problems. Make sure you put all of the highly technical problems within the first half of your workday.
5. Single Task #
Rather than try to multitask, which has been debunked by several studies, always devote your energy towards one task before moving onto the next. If you’re having a hard time solving the current task that’s in front of you, take a short break and come back to it with a fresh perspective.
6. Learn to Say No #
Social pressure and the desire to please everyone forces some people to say “yes” to every invite, request, and favor from family, friends, and coworkers. While it’s okay to say “yes” from time to time, you should always prioritize your goals and the tasks you need to get done for the day before anything else.
7. Plan for Worst-Case Scenarios #
If you get hit with a curveball, such as an unexpected credit card charge or an impromptu meeting at work, you might get mentally thrown off balance. This might cause you to feel unmotivated to continue with your plans and just try again tomorrow. Avoid this mindset by always planning for when things go wrong.
Making good routine modifications can have a positive impact on your physical and mental well-being as well as your professional prospects. In addition to the seven tips aforementioned here, don’t be afraid to experiment with new routines and habits on Elisi that can bring about positive change.
