Whether you’re studying for an online college degree, working from home or running a business, increasing your productivity is likely something that you want to do as much as possible. Being as productive as possible during the time that you have dedicated to working or studying means that you can get more done in a short amount of time, achieve your short- and long-term goals, and get the best results.
But in what often seems like a world filled with various distractions coming at you from every angle, keeping your productivity levels high isn’t always easy. Whether it’s because you’re tired, finding it all too easy to procrastinate or are struggling to get into the right mindset, staying productive can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. If you want to make the most of the time that you spend working, try these hacks to increase and maintain high productivity levels.
Block Out Distracting Sites:
There’s no denying that technology has done a lot of good helping boost productivity levels. Tools, apps, and software program that you can download to help you get more done, plan your time, and help you stay focused can be really useful no matter what kind of work you are trying to do. But there are also plenty of apps and sites out there that can easily become massive distractions from the task at hand if you let them. If you’re often finding yourself scrolling through your Instagram feed and suddenly it’s been an hour and nothing is done, or you get carried away playing online games when you’re meant to be working and you’re wondering how to increase productivity by eliminating these distractions, an app that you can use to block any sites that you don’t want to use for a certain amount of time can help.
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Get Enough Sleep:
Simply put, you can’t work at maximum productivity if you are running on sleep deprivation. If you’re not getting enough sleep at night, it’s going to show when you try and get work done. When you’re not well-rested and feeling tired and irritated as a result of barely sleeping, it’s going to be difficult for you to focus on what needs to be done, make informed decisions, and take in information. For maximum productivity, ensure that you’re getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
Eliminate Small Distractions:
Even if you’re using an app to block your access to distracting sites while you’re focusing on work or study, other small distractions can easily get in and stop you from being productive. Emails, for example, tend to come through at all hours of the day and it can be easy to find yourself distracted by checking them all the time, even if nothing of much value is actually coming into your inbox. It might be worth setting up your inbox so that you only get a notification for emails that are actually important. And, switch your phone to silent while you’re working or studying so that you don’t get tempted to check it all the time.
Eat Brain-Boosting Foods:
Productivity starts a lot further away from your desk than you think, and your diet when you’re not working or studying can have a huge impact on your performance. Living off convenience foods so that you can get more work done might seem like a good idea at the time but in reality, it’s not going to help your productivity much. And, while you might get a short-term kick from a sugary drink or snack, this can impact your productivity in a negative way in the long-term too. Instead, keep your mind clear and sharp by eating foods that are good for your brain like blueberries, leafy greens, and walnuts.
Stay Organized:
Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed simply because you’ve got so much to do but don’t know where to start? A little bit of organization can go a long way when it comes to boosting your productivity levels. Map out a schedule to follow so that you know where you’re meant to be and what you are supposed to be doing at any given time, and organize your to-do list so that you can work through it and check things off in a methodical manner.
Take Regular Breaks:
While taking a lot of breaks might seem counterproductive, it can actually really help. Your brain is only able to focus on something for a certain amount of time and if you’ve been working flat-out for hours without a break, you’re going to quickly lose your ability to concentrate and might even have to end up redoing a lot of your work. Studies have shown that taking short breaks away from a long project can help you maintain a more consistent level of performance throughout.
Whether you’ve been struggling to stay productive or just want to boost your work or study performance, keep these tips in mind next time you sit at your desk.
