10 Simple, Everyday Ways You Can Be More Productive

When I wake up in the morning, I generally have a huge, mental list of a dozen or so big tasks I want to accomplish in the day. But, more often than not, I don’t accomplish all of those things. I’ve been working on improving my productivity for years, and I really feel like I’m getting somewhere with it now. One main theme I’ve realized is that there are many ways to increase your efficiency each day that are almost as easy and effortless as checking your Facebook. I wanted to share my easy productivity insights with you, so here are 10 simple ways you can become more productive every day: 1. Make your commute more productive If you have a lengthy commute to work, the time you waste sitting in the car can adds up quickly. Instead of listening to the same songs again and again on the radio, try listening to something more intellectual and stimulating. Periodically download an audiobook or a podcast to get you through your daily drive. Pick something related to work or a new hobby you want to learn more about. Not only will getting more out of your commute help you learn more, but get it’ll kick start your brain so its prepared for the day as well. 2. Find out how much time you waste, then pare it down Chances are you waste more time than your realize. Between constant e-mails, social media and every app in between, the amount of time you waste each week could be leading to huge amounts of unproductivity. To keep your wasted time under control, track how much time you waste and then make it a priority to cut it down by half, if not more. 3. Map out your time Before the workweek begins, make a schedule of your time both in and out of work. This will help you manage what you have to accomplish at work and also help to maximize your free time. If the end of your workday is a flurry of spontaneous chores and random to-do’s, you likely aren’t actually accomplishing as much as you could. Sometimes just thinking about what task you need to do next wastes an obscene amount of time. Planning out your off-work time in advance can be a huge productivity booster. 4. Exercise in the morning If you have a packed schedule it can be hard to fit in time exercise. To make sure you get your daily sweat session (as it’s vital to reduce stress and keep you healthy) aim to do it in the morning. As an added bonus, exercising before work helps wake up your mind and make the rest of your morning more focused. 5. Become Unavailable Sometimes, due to the overwhelming amounts of emails, updates, alerts and meetings you need to attend, staying focused at work is hard. To make sure you’re making the most of your time working, make yourself unavailable periodically. Working where you won’t be sucked into unnecessary conversations and overly-long meetings can help you get in the zone and get your job done. 6. Write down your distractions Even when we’re trying to be productive, a lot of the time we’re not just thinking about the task at hand. Between the chores, errands and bills running through your head, it can be hard to concentrate. To keep those things from clouding your mind, write them down on a separate to-do list. This way you don’t need to remember them and can focus on them later, freeing your mind to focus on what’s important in the current moment. 7. Break it down Sometimes when you have a big task to accomplish, the sheer magnitude can be so daunting that it makes you lose focus. To help make the task seem less large, break it down into mini-tasks, chunking it into more manageable bits. 8. Put down your smartphone One of the biggest distractions that can make you less productive is your smartphone. Between the games, incoming texts and social media, the amount of time spent on your smartphone can take away from the things you really need to do. To be as productive as possible, turn off your phone for a few hours each day, minimizing your distractions. 9. Stand up If your workweek has you confined to your desk and your computer, make your cubicle a more productive space. Instead of sitting in an office chair all day, stand up instead. Think about investing in a stand-up desk or even using a stability ball for a chair, as both will work your body while you work. 10. Take a break Believe it or not, sitting at a desk all day doesn’t actually mean you’re getting more done at work. After an hour of hard work it can be difficult to maintain focus, making you work slower. To make all of the time you spend at your desk more efficient, take 10-minute breaks after every 60 or 90 minutes of work. Make a quick trip to the bathroom, grab some teas or do anything else that gives you a mini-break. Key Takeaways Taking your efficiency into your own hands doesn’t have to be super complicated. Using these simple, everyday tactics, you can boost your productivity. So whether you choose to exercise each morning, get a stability ball for your desk, take mini-breaks or simply become unavailable, taking the steps to increase your productivity will undoubtedly be beneficial. Image by Viktor Hanacek