11 Practical Productivity Tips: How to Get Things Done?

“One more page and I’m done”, “one more meeting and I’ll go to sleep”, “one more project and I’ll take a break”… what unites all of these phrases? They’re contagious offering a false sense of productivity and achievements. 

There are people who often excruciate themselves with overwhelming tasks on a continual basis; the cult of multitasking drives them ever closer to self-destruction. 

Just ponder this – when was the last time you were completely exhausted by doing some work but found yourself saying “One more minute and I’m finished”? Later you came to realize that instead of one minute you drained yourself to another full hour. 

But what truly happens? You kill your productivity by projecting false hopes that the more tasks you complete the better you’ll feel. 

In the end, you are totally jaded and rush to bed without even taking your clothes off. Whether you’re a student or the CEO of a big company, your productivity gives you a sense of satisfaction as you constantly deal with important tasks. 

Still, losing productivity is easy. The good news is that you can resurrect your productivity with positive habits that seem so typical at first glance that you wouldn’t dare to even peak at them.

To your attention, I’m offering you 11 practical productivity tips: How to get things done? 

What are the top productivity tips?

Let’s get to the 11 unique productivity tips:

1. No multitasking;
2. Get rid of distractions;
3. Incorporate lifestyle changes;
4. Take breaks;
5. Practice mindfulness;
6. Learn to say “no”;
7. Engage yourself in physical exercises;
8. Tidy up your workplace;
9. Set goals the evening before;
10. Let go of perfectionism;
11. Track the time when you’re most productive and use it!

Reasons why BetterMe is a safe bet: a wide range of calorie-blasting workouts, finger-licking recipes, 24/7 support, challenges that’ll keep you on your best game, and that just scratches the surface! Start using our app and watch the magic happen.

No multitasking

The myths around multitasking assure us that we are capable of doing multiple things at the same time. Yet, the studies dismissed it, suggesting that our brains are incapable of focusing on more than one thing at the same time (9).

Boost your productivity by focusing on one task instead – perhaps this one is the most effective productivity tips for work. 

Get rid of distractions

Among the productivity tips for students and workers, this one takes the cake. Here’s why, distractions, both self-imposed and environmentally-imposed, rob you of your time. Research has shown that it may take a lot of energy and time to refocus (upward of 23 minutes) (11). 

An innocent message notification, a phone call, or your cat meowing behind your back kills the whole working “buzz”. 

No biggie as you can change the situation by: 

• Using a browser blocker to avoid time-wasting sites;
• Closing your email tab; 
• Switching your phone to “do not disturb” mode or putting it on mute. 

Incorporate lifestyle changes

Your routine matters: whether your sleep time is regulated or not, whether you eat healthy or neglect this rule – all of this affects your productivity. 

Here’s the simple chain of decreased productivity with disrupted sleep – you don’t sleep enough or sleep too much, therefore, have a hard time focusing on mundane tasks. Studies highlight the positive effects of good sleep on your focus and attention (10).

You can’t function at your best when you’re tired, right? 

Eating healthily is not less essential. By eating foods high in vitamins you boost your brain work. These healthy foods include fish, berries, veggies, nuts, dark chocolate, and ingredients rich in fiber and healthy fats (3).

Take breaks

Studies show that taking breaks can enhance your productivity (5). Try to experiment with it for just one day: take a 5-minute break every hour. Avoid scrolling social media during this break. Simply stand up from your chair (your back will be grateful) and walk around. 

Taking longer breaks is prolific as well. 

Among the working from home tips, this one could be especially beneficial. A flexible schedule helps you shift your regime to convenient working hours and take breaks at any time you want. 

Why not take advantage of it? 

If you’re working from the office or any other place, just stand up from your chair, walk out to the hall, or have a chat with a free co-worker. 

Read more: Somatic Healing Techniques: A Holistic Approach to Physical and Emotional Recovery

Practice mindfulness

A study in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology shows us that mindfulness techniques in the workplace can boost productivity and that work-life balance. A randomized controlled study was conducted in a firm with 60 workers and compared a 6-week versus half-day seminar on mindfulness (8).

What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the human ability to be actively aware of where you are and what you’re doing without being overly reactive to what’s going on around you (13).

A great variety of Mindfulness Tips might assist you to clear your mind and focus on one thing. 

Learn to say “no”

No matter whether it’s about productivity tips working online or from the office, you need to be bold to say no to some requests. Your coworker may ask you a new favor and it’s hard to say no as you’re in constant people-pleasing mode. 

Surely, you need to help some people sometimes and you need to do the tasks your boss tells you to do. Yet, you should learn to say no to multiple requests especially if you’re working on a certain task at the moment. 

By saying no, you’re saving your energy and contributing toward your goals (4).

Engage yourself in physical exercises

Working out offers a huge array of benefits including mental ones. Engaging in physical exercise ultimately impacts your cognitive abilities, such as thinking, learning, remembering, speaking, focusing, and listening (12).

Mental Reset becomes more vital when accompanied by active body movements. 

You don’t need to lift weights or do cardio. A brisk walk or riding a bike, or doing any type of sport should do it. 

Tidy up your workplace

Obviously, as you’re spending 8 hours per day at your workplace, you need to take care of it. Curate your workplace to make you feel focused and energized. Here are a few tips on doing so: 

• Add a plant to your workplace. A study showed that people with plants nearby have a 12% faster reaction time on computer tests (7).
• Position your desk near the window. Studies highlight the advantageous impact of natural light on work performance (6).

Set goals the evening before

Create a short list of things you should do in the evening. Make sure it doesn’t amplify into a laundry list of things. 

A good tactic is to utilize a 1-3-5 rule to empower your to-do list. You pick one thing you must accomplish, then three medium things, and five little things (2).

Let go of perfectionism

One of the most hideous things that deteriorates your productivity could be your overboard expectations and demands towards yourself. Obsessing over doing everything perfectly can hinder your progress and spoil your mood. 

Stop focusing on perfection by implementing a timebox – a certain timespan that dictates how long you’ll work on a specific item. The end of the timebox means the task is done. This tactic might gradually instill a sense of urgency and remove some pressure.

Track the time when you’re most productive and use it!

When it comes to productivity tips for procrastinators, workers, or students there is a necessity in knowing your personal “energy period”. In simple words, pay close attention to the times of the day when you’re most invigorated. 

Watch your energy during the day and jot it down in your journal. You’ll be able to spot the prime energy time of yours – the time when you’re at your best. 

By tracking these periods of time, you’ll allocate your work more effectively. 

What are 3 ways to increase productivity?

But what if you’ve tried the aforementioned tips and are still lacking a sense of productivity? Check out additional three ways to enhance your productivity:

1. Seek professional help. If you often lack interest, energy, and focus doing something it may be helpful to see a mental healthcare provider. The causes for your lack of productivity might be deeper, hence, you’ll need to work with someone who can help you figure them out.
2. Reframe the attitude toward your task. Your thinking matters a lot. For instance, instead of uttering “Another project again” try to think “Wonderful, I have another project, which means I’ll learn something new and make more money”. 
3. Take a longer break. Sometimes 5 or 10 minutes between tasks may not be enough. Therefore consider taking hour breaks or if possible day breaks from work. Take a trip to a nearby coffee shop, or drive to another city with your friends. Grab the popcorn and go to the movies. If you’re not working from home, simply ask your boss about a short-term vacation. 

BetterMe app will provide you with a host of fat-frying fitness routines that’ll scare the extra pounds away and turn your body into a masterpiece! Get your life moving in the right direction with BetterMe!

What is a productivity trick?

The productivity trick is a practical easy-to-apply action that helps you promote your productivity. There are many productivity tricks designed to improve output or structured approaches to to-do lists. 

For those who are struggling with a lack of productivity, the idea of taking crucial steps to become more effective may be daunting. Using the simple and efficient productivity trick by contrast can make this process more enjoyable and less frightening. 

Productivity tricks, when performed properly, can make you more focused and productive. 

What is the 20 rule of productivity?

The 80/20 principle, aka a Pareto principle of productivity, reveals that 80% of your outcomes come from 20% of your inputs (1). 

As you start recognizing this fundamental truth, you focus your efforts on the activities that really matter. Completing 20% of your tasks will result in an 80% impact overall. 

To find your critical 20% you can use a time-tracking system. 

Instead of using manual timers, you can switch to specific apps to track the time you spend on every daily task. All the data is displayed in a clear timeline which helps you visualize where your effort is going. 

Once you get the data, dive deep into it: identify your low- and high-value tasks, your distractions, and the time you spend on each job. 

After identifying the task, make a weighted to-do list where you put your most important, valuable tasks at the top. Place tougher tasks at the top and the easy tasks at the bottom. 

Read more: Somatic Dance: Liberation through Expression and Movement

FAQs

• What is the 1 3 5 rule of productivity?

The 1-3-5 rule of productivity entails doing one major task, three medium tasks, and five small tasks during the day. Starting with the most important and difficult task is your priority at this point. You can incorporate this rule into your both workplace routine and other life spheres. 

• What is the 3 3 3 method of productivity?

The 3-3-3 method of productivity implies spending three hours on the most essential thing, then completing three shorter tasks you were avoiding, and finally working on three activities that keep your life in order. 

• What are 4 ways to improve production?

The practical 4 ways to improve productivity include focusing on one task instead of multitasking; starting with the most difficult tasks and ending the easy ones; taking breaks, short and longer; and eliminating distractions. 

• How can you be more productive? Top 5 tips

The key 5 tips for enhanced productivity include: creating a healthier lifestyle routine with better sleep and food; establishing clear goals starting from the high-importance and ending with low-importance tasks; avoiding multitasking; giving yourself a short rest; eliminating distractions. 

The Bottom Line

Productivity is crucial for completing important tasks constantly. When we lose productivity we should work on regaining it. You have reached the end of the article with the knowledge of productivity tips and tricks. 

Among the 11 practical productivity tips: How to get things done? you can now name: No multitasking; getting rid of distractions; incorporating lifestyle changes; taking breaks; practicing mindfulness; learning to say “no”; engaging yourself in physical exercises; tidying up your workplace; setting goals the evening before; letting go of perfectionism; and tracking the time when you’re most productive and use it!
Which one do you like the most and ready to try out today? 

Surely, if you lack the desire and focus to do something, you may need additional professional help. Contacting your healthcare provider would be another good decision at this point. 

Note that it’s all right to be unproductive as we are human beings with our personal stories, problems, and conditions. Be sure to get help if it’s hard for you to figure it all out on your own.