We are all given the same 24 hours in each day, and it’s what we do with those hours that makes all the difference. Time is one of our biggest assets, and our time is something that many of us struggle with managing and using to the best of our abilities. We view productivity as a constant work in progress. There are always ways to improve and be better. We’ve read many books, articles, watched TED talks, and listened to podcasts on the subject of productivity and wanted to share these six tips with you to rise above and live your best self everyday.
1. Eliminate Distractions - Ever hear people say they are more productive during the early morning hours or late at night into the wee hours of the morning? Many times this is not because they are more productive during that specific time of day, but because those specific time periods have less distractions. How can we create less distractions during our day so we don’t have to stay up all night or wake up early to complete our to-do list? To do so, we must eliminate the noise around us. Put your phone in another room, turn off messenger chat, and close your browser windows. If you find yourself getting the urge to check websites like Facebook, you can set up apps like StayFocused that allow you to block specific websites for a certain period of time so you can focus without temptation.
2. The Two Minute Rule - In our Fitness Routines and Favorite Workouts blog post, our founder Pete Spenuzza shared a series of blog posts from author James Clear about “The Two Minute Rule.” Sometimes all we need is just a little nudge to get us started and push us in the right direction, and James Clear believes every goal can be started in two minutes or less. Want to eat healthier? Grab one healthy snack and you will be inspired to make your next meal a healthy one. The longest journey begins with a single step, and applying the two minute rule can help your goals get started and become a reality.
3. Pomodoro Technique - This is a time management technique that can help increase productivity. Determine a task you’d like to complete and set a timer for 25 minutes. Work on the single task until the timer goes off and avoid multitasking. After the 25 minute cycle is over, take a short break. After every four cycles, take a long break. You can download the Focus Keeper app on IOS and try out this method or learn more about it here.
4. Meal Prep - What we put into our bodies is important, and eating foods that help give us energy also helps improve productivity. Try and plan out your meals and snacks for the week ahead of time so that finding quick, healthy options to eat become easy decisions to make during the week. You can cook meals in batches on Sunday and save them in the refrigerator or freezer for the week. Using a slow cooker or InstantPot can also help save time and provide nutrient dense meals during the week.
5. Limit the Number of Times Your Check Email - Managing your email inbox can quickly become a full-time job if you let it. Many people recommend only checking email at certain times in your day, and we are firm believers in this practice. We could write an entire blog post just on email productivity in itself, but it’s important to take control of your own inbox. Set aside time during the day for checking email, and try to avoid the urge to check on your phone. If you’re a Gmail user, Inbox by Gmail is a great app for helping you manage your inbox. We also recommend looking at extensions for Gmail like Boomerang so you can easily schedule and archive messages. Try and set aside time to check your email three times a day to start at10am, 1pm, and 4pm, and see how it goes.
6. Get Moving - We believe some of our best work and thinking may not always come to us when we’re sitting behind a desk or computer. If you’re feeling stuck, sometimes the best thing to do is walk away and get moving. Refocus your energy by taking a walk, going for a jog or run, or getting in a lunchtime yoga or meditation session. You’ll come back refreshed, refocused, and ready to take on whatever task at hand. You may even come back with some new ideas, too.
Overall
If you want more time, to free up your time, or learn how to better control your time, then we highly recommend trying these tips above and see how they work for you. Track your progress and see how much more you accomplish in one week’s time. Then see how you do in two weeks, and then one month. You’ll be amazed at how much your output and productivity can increase by making a focused and concerted effort. These are some of our top tips for increasing productivity that we’ve found helpful, and we’d love to hear what works for you. Post in the comments below and let us know some of your top tips for managing your time and being productive.
