(Newswire.net — January 27, 2021) —
There’s no question that life is busy. It always will be. From that email you have to read to those kids that need care, there’s no shortage of busy tasks that keep us up late at night.
On top of that, it’s easy to get distracted or become completely unmotivated. Social media beckons at every waking hour. Sometimes you just want to throw in the towel and binge your favorite show.
Productivity is needed to complete your tasks, but it can be a struggle to get “in the zone”. So how can you make sure to boost your productivity and make your day as efficient as possible?
Luckily, there are several items and techniques that are designed to help you stay productive. Here are some of the top five things you need to grab hold of your productivity.
- Planners
Before you start any work, you must set your priorities straight. Invest in a quality physical planner or if you don’t like to write, use a desktop or mobile app. Next, you’ve got to set some goals, but not just any goals — SMART goals. SMART is an acronym that you can use to make sure you set reasonable and precise goals. They can help you pursue your goals while using your time and resources wisely. Be sure to break up your goals into smaller bite-sized chunks according to the SMART goal format:
● Specific: Is your goal realistic and not too broad?
● Measurable: Will you produce results that are meaningful?
● Achievable: Are you likely to achieve this goal?
● Relevant: How relevant is this to you long-term or short-term?
● Time bound: Is this goal time sensitive?
- Anti-Distraction Tools
It’s so easy to get on social media that the hours of scrolling can pass by more quickly than you realize. Suddenly, you’re awake in the wee hours of the night and you still haven’t finished that report. The panic is not a pleasant experience, but luckily there are plenty of anti-distraction tools to help you focus and maximize your concentration.
One of them is Freedom, which is an application you download that blocks the internet away for up to 8 hours. If it’s your email that draws you away, try SelfControl. It’s a downloadable service that can block access to your mail servers and websites you choose, such as Facebook or Twitter, for a set amount of time.
- KSafe
If the above anti-distraction tools don’t work, you can always purchase the KSafe. It’s a timed lockbox where you can put anything you want inside and keep it locked in there for up to ten whole days. It’s very effective because there’s no override, so you’re forced to go without your phone or the distracting junk food snacks you’ve been craving. Even though you might be going cold turkey, you can pool all your attention to your tasks.
- The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is one of the most effective study strategies out there that maximizes your productivity and allows you to take breaks. The key is to completely focus when you’re working. If you stick to the steps below, you’ll find you’ve accomplished way more than you would expect.
1. Set a timer for 25 minutes.
2. Work on your task until it rings.
3. Take a short 5-minute break.
4. Repeat the whole process 4 times.
5. Enjoy a 15-to-30-minute break.
- Noise-Canceling Earbuds
Distractions come not only in visual forms, but also audible forms. It can be very annoying to try to focus on work while endless chattering occurs in the background. Invest in some quality noise-canceling earbuds for ultimate focus. Pair that with some white noise to really drown out the noise.
Those are just a few of the myriad of things out there to help increase your productivity. If you really dedicate yourself to using these items, you can knock out your work. Now what are you waiting for? Go be productive!