How to increase your productivity

Personal productivity is all about setting tasks and reaching goals. However, there are many distractions that deter us from being productive. Time management is a skill that is learnt and also needs to be practiced. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

Set a time for tasks

Setting a timer to complete a task can help enhance productivity and help you stay focused. Start by setting a short amount of time such as 15 or 20 minutes, followed by a 5 minute break. This is a great tool to encourage you to commit to the task at hand without the unwanted distractions.

Do not multitask

Even though the concept of multitasking is associated with getting many things done at once, it has been shown to have an opposite effect on productivity. Studies have shown that switching from one task to another can actually lower performance and make you more prone to mistakes.¹

Make a to do list

Write down a to-do list the night before. This will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed in the morning or waking up in the middle of the night thinking about things that need to be done the next day. Start from the most important task and then finish on the least important task on your list.

Get a good night’s sleep

Sleep is important when you want to function at your best. Sleep plays a big role in your health and productivity, as lack of sleep will affect your focus and performance. A study into workplace productivity and performance showed that a lack of sleep or insomnia resulted in significantly lower employee performance.²

Avoid distractions

Digital distractions are common with the use of smartphones. Email, social media and other notification alerts can cause micro distractions that interrupt the tasks you need to complete or would like to accomplish during our day. Turning off notifications and checking your email and social media at certain times of the day will help you focus for long periods of time.

Listen to music that boosts productivity

Music has been shown to reduce stress levels, increase concentration and boost our productivity. Research shows that classical style music without lyrics can be beneficial when you are aiming for productivity and focus.³ Blog post written by Complete Corporate Wellness. Visit their website: www.completecorporatewellness.com.au

References

1. Cleveland Clinic, “Why Multitasking Doesn’t Work”, Cleveland Clinic, health.clevelandclinic.org/science-clear-multitasking-doesnt-work/
2. Mark R. Rosekind, et al., “The cost of poor sleep: workplace productivity loss and associated costs”, National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3. Christina Marfice, “Here’s What Science Says About How Music Affects Your Productivity”, 7pace, 7pace.com/blog/heres-what-science-says-about-how-music-affects-your-productivity