There is nothing quite like that satisfying feeling when you settle down for the evening knowing that you have managed to accomplish everything you set out to do that day, plus a little bit more!
If only every day could be like that, right?
Unfortunately, though, we all have days when life just seems to get in the way. One minute you are sitting down, enjoying your morning coffee as you contemplate what needs to be done, then the next thing you know, the day is almost over and it feels like you have very little to show for it.
Sound like something you can relate to? Don’t worry, you are not alone.
More often than not it is procrastination and poor planning that is the bane of productivity. Procrastination being productivity’s main nemesis. Have you ever noticed just how alluring the simplest things can become when you are avoiding an important task? For example, you might have a project that needs completing ASAP, yet for some reason, it is at this same time you feel a strong urge to alphabetise your bookcase, sort your socks into pairs and dust underneath your furniture.
Trust me, we have all been there!
The good news is that you can increase your productivity in all areas of your life with a little focus, determination and planning. Here are 10 tips you can implement into your life to enhance your productivity and increase the quality of your everyday life!
Set yourself daily goals - Planning ahead is key to getting things done. So take the time as you enjoy your breakfast to think about what it is you would like to achieve with your day. If you have goals to work towards than you are more likely to use your time more efficiently!
Budget your time - Prioritising your time is important, especially when you have loads to fit into just one day. Try writing a list out of what you hope to get done, and then number them from most important to least important. You can then systematically work your way through the list. Remember, not everything on your list has to be work related, you might include ‘spend time with a loved one’, or ‘Go for a run’, you are simply deciding how you want to prioritise your time so that the things that are really important to you get your attention.
Learn to say no - Your time is valuable, so it is important to be able to make decisions that respect your time. This means exercising your ability to be assertive and saying ‘no’ when necessary. After all, you are only one person, you cannot be expected to do everything!
Set an alarm - ‘Carpe Diem - Seize the day!’ Make the most of each day but getting yourself up at a reasonable time. Don’t waste half your day by sleeping in. Set an alarm so that you have a head start on accomplishing everything you wish to achieve in your day, plus extra time to relax and enjoy!
Remove distractions - If you are the kind of person who sits down to go through work emails, only to wind up on social media sites for an hours, or are the kind of person who can’t walk past a T.V. without stopping to watch the mindless adverts, then you need to remove these distractions so that you can keep your head in the game, and save yourself hours of wasted time. Think about what distracts you the most, and consider ways in which you can avoid it. For example; keep the T.V off during the day and listen to some motivational music instead? Or avoid social media until all your other tasks have been completed.
Keep yourself healthy - Your health, both mental and physical, plays an important role in how productive you are on a daily basis. The fitter and healthier you are, the more energy you will have and the more focused you will feel. So by eating a healthy and balanced diet, and participating in regular exercise, you are enhancing your productivity in areas of your life.
Exercise your brain - Your brain works a lot like a muscle; if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it! Stimulating your brain with games such as chess, sudoku or memory, or learning new skills such as an instrument or language, will to help keep your brain alert, focused, flexible and efficient so that you can be as productive as possible.
Stop waiting for ‘the right time’ - Waiting around for the right time seems like a fairly legit reason to hold off, yet most of the time if we are being really honest with ourselves, it is just another form of procrastination. The ‘right time’ may never come, so don’t miss out on an opportunity. Focus on achieving your goals today!
Invite positivity into your life - Associate with people that bring out the best in you, not the ones that pull you down or encourage you to make poor choices. Make time for the people who inspire you to be the best version of yourself, and try and be this person for others!
Practice mindfulness - Mindfulness, a present moment awareness technique, is a practice that encourages focus, clarity, compassion, gratitude and non-judgement. All of which are beneficial when it comes to living a productive life. It is a technique that when applied, encourages you to step back from ‘reactive’ emotions and observe the bigger picture. This enables you to prioritise your time and be more objective in your approach to tasks. Mindfulness is a skill, much like learning a language, and the more you practice the more natural the thinking process becomes. By incorporating mindfulness techniques such as meditations into your daily routines you are helping reprogram your mind into being more productive in all areas of your life.