Everyone wants to be more productive and get more done in less time. People typically set goals for themselves at the beginning of the year, but most give up fairly quickly. Productivity seems like a natural talent for some people, but others believe it can be mastered like a skill. The key to learning productivity lies in practicing small habits.
1. Separate Work Place
Many of us tend to work in environments with distractions. It’s better to allocate a room or desk just for work or study. By doing this, we effectively program our brains to treat that specific area as a place of focus. This makes the first few minutes of starting work much more effortless. You won’t have to convince yourself to start anymore.
2. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro technique is a helpful time management tactic to increase focus. The gist is that users set a 25-minute timer for distraction-free work followed by a 5-minute break. Many believe this method to be superior to working for hours nonstop. Not only do we focus more intently, but by rewarding ourselves with a break, we trick our brains into doing it again.
3. Spaced Repetition
Spaced repetition is a valuable studying tool. Many people tend to revise entire chapters and formulas in one go. This leads to information overload, and people tend to forget whatever they’ve learned in 24 hours. Spaced repetition helps keep information in our heads. The key is to revise short topics multiple times over several days. This is much more useful and scientifically proven to be effective over the long term.
4. Morning Stretches
Many of us begin to fall apart physically when we don’t have an exercise routine. However, going to the gym or consistently exercising is a big step and may not be for everyone. For those who lack the time and willpower, try starting with general stretches every morning. Stretching helps move the body and is a great way to wake yourself up for the day. It only takes a few minutes and saves people from a lifetime of physical problems.
5. Sleep More
Sleeping more may seem counterintuitive to maximize your time, but that’s not the case. Sleeping at least eight hours boosts energy levels significantly. An average sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes. There are about five complete sleep cycles in eight hours. This does wonders for your energy as long as you get quality, caffeine-free sleep.
6. Five-Second Rule
The Five-Second rule helps procrastinators complete the most challenging task of a chore: beginning it. Whenever you contemplate something you must do, give yourself five seconds to act on it. By quickly acting on it, you effectively eliminate the overthinking involved. You can’t convince yourself to continue being lazy if you don’t have the time. The Five-Second rule works best for small tasks such as doing the dishes.
7. Make Your Bed
Making your bed is the easiest thing you can do to build up self-esteem. By making your bed each day, you’ll boost your confidence and have completed the day’s first task. The confidence you earn helps motivate you to do more tasks. On bad days, when you don’t get anything done, at least you return to a neatly made bed.
8. Using a Calendar
Anyone who isn’t good at managing their time needs to use a calendar. A physical calendar works best because you can take notes on it. Use a calendar to map out your week or even month. This helps in planning ahead and keeping track of important deadlines. You also won’t forget birthdays or anniversaries.
9. Journaling
Journaling aids in breaking down negative thoughts and getting it all out on paper. Some people journal daily to brainstorm ideas or mitigate harmful thinking. Others prefer to journal when they face a difficult decision. If you find yourself overthinking a single thing or having many thoughts, write them down. At the very least, you’ll feel lighter.
10. Drink More Water
We all know we need to drink more water, but only some do. Drinking more water improves your quality of life in several ways. Those who drink water have more energy, are physically fitter, and have better skin. To master the habit of drinking water, try making it as easy as possible. Set reminders on your phone and get a water bottle you can carry around.
11. No Sugar Later in the Day
A necessary but rarely talked about habit is reducing sugar and caffeine later in the day. Caffeine lasts several hours in the body and impacts the quality of sleep. This is why many of us sleep soundly for several hours but still lack energy. Limit coffee, soda, and other caffeinated drinks after 4 p.m.
12. Organizing Your Wardrobe
Organizing your wardrobe is a simple task that helps you in many areas of life. Some of us laze around when going out because of a mismanaged wardrobe. Folding and organizing your clothes makes going out more accessible. The act of folding clothes is also surprisingly therapeutic for some. Put on some music and get to organizing.
13. Waking Up Early
Waking up early is difficult for night owls, but it is well worth it. The early mornings offer fewer distractions and plenty of time. You may even find yourself with more time than you can handle. Waking up at about 5 a.m. should be challenging but may prove fruitful later. It also validates the idea of cozy afternoon naps.
14. Cold Showers
Jump into a cold shower for a few minutes to feel refreshed and energized. Cold showers get our blood pumping and energize us for several hours. It’s incredibly difficult to convince yourself to take the plunge, but utilize the Five Second rule and just do it. Make sure to warm yourself up with a warm shower afterward.
15. Limit Screentime
Screentime harms our brains more than our eyes. Many of us overload our brains via new reels on social media. This reduces our attention span and lessens our interest in slow-burn activities like reading. Dedicate an hour or two out of your day to focus on a technology-free habit or activity. The benefits will be twofold: improving focus and mental well-being.
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