It’s not an unusual feeling to feel like you are not getting enough work done. All your work keeps piling up, you always end up doing everything at the last moment, and you can’t escape the constant feeling that you could have done more at the end of the day. It doesn’t have to be this way anymore.
The internet is flooded with productivity hacks and ways you can improve your everyday life. But here are a few selected productivity hacks that seem to be helping millions of people out there.
Plan your day
This one is the most common and seems to work the most. Most people know what they have to get done but have no clue where to start. Writing down what you need to get done in a day helps you plan what to do and when to do it. It’s better to plan the night before so you can get straight to work as soon as you wake up. If you struggle with deadlines, you can utilise your calendar to constantly remind yourself of the urgency. However, you can never plan 100% of your day. Give yourself room to be human.
Do the hardest thing first
As the famous saying goes, eat the frog first. It means getting the most difficult job out of your way first thing in the morning. A growing stack of research shows that the most productive hours of the day are right after we wake up, so schedule the hard thing for that time. Get it done first and enjoy the dopamine hit afterwards.
Make a priority to-do list
It is important to know what needs to be done immediately and what can wait. Make a to-do list on paper and put it in your workspace to constantly remind yourself of what needs to be done. Make sure to cross things off once they are done, and you will be amazed at how motivating it feels to move on to the next task.
The 5-second rule
Another common theory that seems to have a great impact is the five-second rule. It simply involves counting from five to one if you find yourself procrastinating and getting back to work within those five seconds. It’s like setting a mental timer for yourself.
Change your setting
Sometimes all you need is a change of air. Tired of working in your dull room? Go and sit at a café and get the work done. If that’s not always possible, moving things around and cleaning your workspace can also help immensely.
One thing at a time
Contrary to popular belief in multitasking, try to tackle one thing at a time and then move on to the next. It may seem like you are getting more done when multitasking, but you won’t be able to give your full attention to any one task and will end up achieving less in the long run.
Take a break
This may sound like the complete opposite of getting more things done, but research shows that taking short breaks improves focus and reduces fatigue. So, take a short five to ten-minute break after each task.
Stop doing fake work
Last but not least, be honest with yourself. Don’t fall into the trap of fauxductivity and be aware of how much you have actually achieved. If you keep telling yourself you have done a lot without really doing it, your brain stays in a constant dopamine rush and feels lethargic when it’s time to do the real work.
It’s hard not to get distracted in this fast-moving world, so the most important thing is knowing what doesn’t need to be done and filtering it out, rather than trying to do everything. Incorporate these hacks into your everyday life, and in no time, you will get more done than you ever expected.
