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Make Time: My favorite hacks for daily productivity

By Gabriel Marte Blanco posted Mon July 18, 2022 09:00 AM

  
"Be productive"
"Get things done fast so you can go out."
"Make a to-do list so you know what to get done."

These are phrases we have all heard growing up, in the household, or at work, and they all point to one word, productivity, but what is productivity, and how can we achieve it? 

It is good to know that productivity is more than just "getting more things done" or making a to-do list of random action items. Productivity focuses on accomplishing essential things in a healthy and timely manner without feeling "burnout" or breaking life-work boundaries. Many of us feel the need to work extra hours, work on the weekends, miss family events, and put our well-being at risk by having "work mode" on at all times when in reality, all we need is a few adjustments to our working habits to become more productive. Below are some of our favorite hacks for daily productivity. 

Here are some of our favorite hacks for daily productivity

  • Planning your day ahead of time 
I have realized that the first step to being productive is to plan in advance. Knowing what you're doing, when you're doing it, and the amount of time it will take you to complete helps guide you throughout the day.

There are many ways to plan your day, from writing a to-do list to pasting sticky notes on your computer's screen and even using a calendar to keep you on track. These are great ways to plan, but sometimes, the way we plan or create our to-do lists is a bit chaotic and unproductive. To combat ineffective planning, try framing your planning habits by setting a daily goal and prioritizing your to-do list based on important vs. urgent. Here is an example of how to do this: 

  1. Take a look at your calendar 30 minutes before bed.
  2. Write down the top 3 "important" action items for the following day.  
  3. Write down the top 3 "urgent" action items for the following day. 
  4. Based on steps 2 and 3, create a daily goal to accomplish what you think needs to get done the following day. 

This allows you to go into the work day with a clear goal of what you want to accomplish and reduces any distractions. 

  • Work in short bursts  
It is proven that we can only concentrate on the same task for so long. Some studies have suggested that we start to lose focus after 10-20 minutes of work, and productivity decreases from there. So what is the solution to this problem? Dividing the work into short bursts or "deep-work" blocks throughout the day. A similar practice that one can follow is the Pomodoro Technique, which consists of working in 25-minute sessions of "deep-work" followed by a five-minute break. 

Dividing your tasks into smaller work sessions allows you to stay organized and work towards completing tasks within 25 minutes, increasing your productivity without creating burnout. Here is an example of how to do this: 

  1. Choose your task for the one-hour period.
  2. Set your phone's timer to 25 minutes.
  3. Work on the task until the time ends. 
  4. Take a short 5 minute break. 
    1. If you complete 4 full cycles, then take a longer break or start a new task. 
    2. If you do not complete the task in 4 full cycles, repeat steps 1-4. 

This technique of working in short bursts allow you to maximize focus and reduce burnout. 

  • Create a winning environment
Working from home offers greater flexibility in your schedule and more time to get things done. However, it also increases the risk of overworking and distractions and eventually decreases productivity as you might choose to work from your couch or at the dinner table while eating.

Whether you work from home or in the office, creating a dedicated workspace is critical for productivity as it becomes the environment where "work mode" turns on once you walk into it and turns off as you leave it, which allows you to create a boundary and healthy working conditions. 

While some hacks might work for some people and not others, we believe these three productivity hacks are the first steps to creating a foundation, increasing your daily productivity at work, and reducing any risk of potential burnout. 

We hope that you enjoyed the blog!
Now tell us, what is your favorite productivity hack?!

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Wed July 20, 2022 09:54 AM

Thank you for sharing these tips. I personally have found working in short bursts and having a dedicated work space at home to be great ways to boost productivity. Planning the day ahead of time by prioritizing tasks the night before sounds like a great way to ensure the most important tasks are done. I will have to try that out soon.