One of my biggest struggles is being productive in a distracted world. If you think about how many messages, emails, calls and notifications you get each day, well it’s no surprise we struggle to get things done. If you’re a parent, or running your own business, then you know how many small tasks can get in the way of your overall productivity each day. There are a few things you can do to help yourself be more productive and to ensure that you’re getting as much done as fast as possible so you can spend your free time on the things you love. Keep reading for my top 3 productivity hacks that actually work.
1. Put Your Phone on Airplane Mode
This might be hard for you to do if you have any responsibilities that are dependent on you and require you being accessible. But if you can, put your phone on airplane mode for short bursts of 30 or 45 mins. This will allow you to work distraction free. If you can’t put your phone on airplane mode, you can manually turn off notifications, especially those from social media platforms such as Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and so forth. This will allow you to focus more easily on your work right in front of you. This is one of the best productivity hacks you can implement, and then once you’ve worked for your sprint of time, you can have a 5-10 minute timed break to relax.
2. Avoid Sugar Crashes
While it can be tempting to lean on sugary foods for a quick energy burst, this is often short lived and overall you can feel more tired after eating a high sugar food. Instead look towards natural sugars, such as fruits like bananas, watermelon, pineapple and so on. The good thing about snacking on fruits instead of sugary treats is that they’re also very hydrating too which can help your energy levels. Be sure to add in some proteins and fats into your snacks too, greek yogurt, hard boiled eggs, beef jerky and nuts are all great options that will help you stay full for longer. Pay close attention to the foods you eat and how they make you feel, and base your eating for better productivity around that. If you’re using caffeine/coffee to help you be more productive, make sure that you’re drinking enough water to be hydrated and to be able to properly concentrate.
3. Spend Monday Morning Planning
It might feel counterintuitive to set aside an hour for planning, as if you’re distracting yourself from sitting down and getting stuff done. But having clear time to plan can help you feel more certain of what you need to achieve this week and how best to allocate your time accordingly. It will also help you set up realistic goals for the week – it might not be possible to get everything you need done, or you may have to outsource or ask for help to reach some deadlines. Spending Monday morning planning everything can help you have a better plan for the week.
I hope these productivity tips helps you feel more focused and motivated with your work.
