Isaiah Stone — March 6, 2020 Habits influence a lot in our daily lives. Think about your schedule and how much of it is routine. Think about how many activities you can do on autopilot.
Some habits may be small like grabbing a snack every day at 3 pm. Some may be good and some may be bad. The bad habits may not be vices but they can be obstacles to your goals.
No matter what kind of habits they are, they influence how productive we are and how much we accomplish.
If you want to accomplish more, then you’re looking to build more good habits and break the bad ones. Many of us would probably like more good habits than bad.
Here are the most desired productivity habits.
Be Prepared
Get Up Early
There are less distractions earlier in the morning but more importantly, a good start in the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. Train yourself to get up at a decent time so you can take time for yourself, and still save yourself from feeling rushed.
Write Down Your To-Do List
Writing down what your task list will help you realize what you need to focus on and get it done. Just don’t write down too many tasks. You don’t want to overwork yourself.
Have a Backup Plan
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Make sure you always have a backup plan. Things go wrong all the time. Unexpected situations always find a way to pop up at the most inconvenient times. Be prepared to face tricky situations.
Learn From Your Rights and Wrongs
Take time to reflect and evaluate your progress. If you do something that really works for you, take note of it. If you make a mistake or realize there’s an unproductive activity, figure out how you can improve the outcome.
Take Care of Yourself
Cut Back on What You Have to Do
Instead of scurrying through 30 tasks in one day, cut some out. You’ll do a better job if you spend adequate time on a task. Don’t rush it.
Take Breaks
If you need a break, take one. Take a couple minutes to grab a snack, relax, energize yourself, and regain your thoughts.
Fuel Yourself
Eat well, starting with a nutritious breakfast to energize your body and mind. You need nourishment to sustain productivity.
Learn What Works for You
Some people are visual learners, while others are physical learners. Some prefer to work with background noise. Some like to work in absolute silence. Do what works best for you.
Learn to Unwind
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The day can load you with all kinds of baggage. This can cause a restless night and carry over into the next morning. Find a relaxing activity, such as reading or playing an instrument, and unload yourself from the burdens of the day.
Rest Well
You need to be as rested as you need to be prepared with your material so that you’re sharp and mentally prepared. Besides, you’ll do more worthwhile work when you’re well-rested.
Be Passionate
Work on something that interests you. Find or create a project at your job. Take classes you’re interested in. Getting stuff done won’t feel like such a chore when you enjoy what you’re doing.
Fight Distractions
Remove Distractions
There are all kinds of things designed to fight for our attention and distract us. Turn off notifications from apps. That includes email, social media and news aggregates. Make sure you put yourself in a productive environment.
Know When to Say No
Don’t take on more work if you’re overloading your plate. You might want to be a team player, but you won’t play well if you’re stressing yourself out or if you can’t finish your work.
Cut Back on Meetings
Meetings, unless essential, are unproductive. They may disrupt your flow and keep you from doing work. It’s easy to get bored and zone out. Try to have as few meetings as possible.
Don’t Multitask
Focus your energy on one task at a time so you can get it done quickly and efficiently. Splitting your attention is detrimental.
Work Better
Prioritize Your Tasks
Figure out the most important tasks and prioritize those tasks to work on. That way you’ll produce the most value for yourself and for others.
Break Down Work into Smaller Tasks
Instead of looking at an assignment as a mountain of a task, break it into sections. This way your assignment will feel more manageable.
Track Your Progress
Time how long it takes you to get things done. Take into account how well you do based on your time and effort. Find out what works.
Reach Out for Help
Know when to reach out for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, request help from your team members. There’s no use on spinning tires only to go nowhere.
Set a Schedule
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Scheduling your tasks actually allocates specific times in your day to work on those tasks. This can provide peace of mind, knowing you have a set time to work on tasks.
Use Your Commute
If you have a commute, use it to your advantage. Plan out your day or get some work down on the subway. You could also take it as a time to relax and read, or listen to a podcast.
Don’t Wait for Perfect
Things will never be perfect. There will be times when you don’t know everything. There will be times when you don’t know how certain things will work out. You don’t have to know everything. You can figure it out.
Don’t Worry About Being Perfect
We’ve talked about taking action instead of waiting for the perfect timing. Now, we’re talking about knowing when good is good enough. This is a matter of working efficiently.
Set Deadlines for Yourself
Setting your own reasonable deadlines will prevent tasks from lingering around. It’s a way to keep your tasks in the forefront of your mind and to clear your list.
Find Optimal Times
You might find that you work better on certain tasks at specific times during the day. Work on tasks that require more brain power when your energy levels are high. Save the easier, more simple tasks when you feel like productivity might dip.
Conclusion
These tips will help you stay productive in every aspect of your life. They are the best habits for staying alert and getting work today. These 25 tips will make your days much easier.
What habits work well for you?
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