We’ve all been at that point in life where we find ourselves struggling with the way we spend our time. If you don’t like the direction in which your life is headed, you know what I mean. This results you being unable to concentrate on the immediate tasks at hand and well…before you know it, you’re on your phone, scrolling on Instagram and have landed up on your best friend’s cousin’s sister’s start-up page and you’re wondering where the last two hours of your day went.
If you relate to any of this and are looking for tips to kickstart your productivity and bid adieu to procrastination, keep reading…
Don’t negative self-talk
You have to be your biggest cheerleader, period. Even if you’re the kind of person who always likes to push themselves, make sure you’re not too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes and the most important thing is to learn from it and move on.
Realise that you are in control
Of everything. From how you spend your time to where you go, it is all in your hands. Be a proactive person over a reactive one. Simply change your mentality from the-world-is-happening-to me to what can I do to make this situation better for myself. This will help you to get rid of negativity, self-inflicted victimisation and boost confidence.
Block your time
If you’re going to spend the first 15 minutes of your work day doing a task, focus on that task only and block out the noise. Multitasking can often lead to us feeling overwhelmed which of course, doesn’t help the situation at all.
Use the airplane mode on your devices
…for days other than you’re on an actual airplane. If you find yourself picking up your phone to mindlessly scroll on the ‘gram, this can be a serial gamechanger in helping you focus.
Manage your energy
Figure out when you’re most productive and schedule your important tasks for that time. This will help keep procrastination at bay and help you to get everything done on your to-do list.
The two-minute rule
If you find yourself procrastinating on the little tasks at hand, promise yourself that if it is something that takes less than two minutes, you will do it immediately. Put away your clothes, clean up your study table or send that email. Whatever your task is, do it now!
Ask for help
If you’re someone who struggles to say no, there is a good chance you’re always struggling with your to-do list. Ask for help when needed and you’ll find that more often than not, people are happy to oblige!
Reward yourself
Pat yourself on your back after completing tasks, you deserve it! Give yourself time to enjoy your achievements. It could be anything like a cup of hot chocolate or reading a book for a few extra minutes.
Take regular breaks to avoid burning out
This is essential especially if you are someone who often gets lose in work. Prevent burnout by taking regular breaks. You can try the ‘pomodoro technique’, a time management method that encourages people to work with the time they have. Basically, you break your workday down into 25-minute periods separated by five-minute breaks.
Keep phone calls and emails short and simple
Most people, especially during work hours, like to keep calls and emails short and simple. Don’t indulge in small talk and get to the point so you don’t waste your own time or theirs.
Schedule some time to reflect on your past week
Be it work or your personal life, we should always look back on the highs and lows of the week and learn from them. What were your top three achievements over the last week? Is there any situation you felt like you could have handled better? Write down all the answers to both questions and leave it at that.
Try ‘body doubling’
Ever wondered why you get more things done at a café or in office than you do at home? There’s something about completing work while surrounded by other people that can encourage us to stay focused, even if it’s a task that we normally hate to do. The best way to do this? Surround yourself with a community that is supportive, be it friends or family. Agree on a set of rules to hold each other accountable and get working! For example, chatting at 3pm is alright because everyone can schedule a break then.