Top 7 Ways to Improve Your Productivity

When you have a lot of things to work on, maintaining your productivity level can be a struggle. You can easily feel exhausted and bored to the point that you'll find it hard to even finish a single task. If this sounds exactly like you, here are some of the way you can boost your productivity.

1. Get organized

If you are the type of person who likes keeping hard copies of your bills, there's a good chance you can be keeping piles of paper on your work desk or home, too. To make sure these things don't block your productivity, it's a good idea to store them in dedicated folder racks and holders. You can create labels for them so you'll know right away which ones should be prioritized and which needs to be thrown away.

2. Take a simplistic approach

Listing down your tasks doesn't have to be overwhelming. You don't need a lot of planning software and apps just to get your work done. In fact, it can be as simple as using a pen and paper.

When creating your list, it will be helpful if you can break it down into specific activities. If you're scheduled to clean your room on a Sunday, you can create sub-tasks, such as making your bed, taking out the curtains and vacuuming the carpet.

See Also: 7 Great Productivity and Time Management Tools to Keep You On Track

3. Reward yourself

Instead of taking a 5-minute break each time you're starting to feel bored with your tasks, promise yourself уou’ll get a reward after the day's goal is done. It can be a short trip to your favorite shop or your favorite cup of coffee. With the reward you've set, it'll be easier for you to work hard and stay focused on what you are working on.

4. Keep a daily to-do list

You can lose tons of time trying to figure out what you're supposed to be doing if you don't have a list sitting in front of you. Personally, I find keeping a running to-do list on a dry erase board by my desk helpful in keeping me focused on my tasks.

5. Prioritize your goals

Listing down your tasks is one good way to boost your productivity. However, if you're going to try to do everything at once, there's a good chance you won't be able to finish anything on time. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, particularly if you have a lot of important things to accomplish for the day.

A good solution is to prioritize your goals. Put any tasks due at the top of your list. It can help if you can write down the top three things you need to accomplish for the day. If you have any extra time, you can start working on tasks due for the next day.

6. Set aside time for your email

To make sure you stay focused, try to ignore your inbox while you're working. For productivity, you can check your email in the morning, after you take your lunch and about half an hour before you leave your work. Unless there's an emergency, it's best if you can leave your inbox alone.

See Also: 10 Productivity Musts for Freelancers

7. Schedule your day in blocks

It's tempting to check your Facebook and phone after spending several hours on the same project. Instead of giving in to this temptation, it's a good idea if you can set aside a specific time for it.

Break your day into blocks. You can spend half an hour on an important task and when that time is up, you can take a short break. You can check your social media accounts or take a quick walk outside. After your break, you can get back to what you were working on. This approach can boost your productivity while giving your body and mind enough time to rest.