Tips for Being More Productive
Many of us start our day off with a checklist or workflow we need to get through. Somehow, by 6PM, there are still one or two items that we cannot check off the list. Other days, we can have unexpected fires to put out, an urgent request from a client or a family emergency.
While we consistently search for hacks that help us get stuff done, we sometimes complicate matters. There are incredible books on productivity including Stephen Covy’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” which I highly recommend you read. HERE is a link to a short version that focuses on the highlights .
Sometimes change requires a consistent effort to become a habit you will stick with, and other changes may only require minor adjustments. I believe that the most important aspect of change is preparation and setting yourself up for success, which can simply be a mindset shift.
Below are some of my favorite hacks for staying on point and consistently achieving your workflow goals.
Add Background or White Noise
With more open plan office culture and a work from home trend that did not end with COVID, some find it challenging to concentrate at work because of noise and interruptions. Some coworkers may speak in a loud voice and you are distracted by their conversations with one another on the phone. Perhaps you are working from home and being distracted by a garage door, the Ring alerts, or kids coming home from school. Rather than dreaming of a more peaceful workspace, consider adding noise.
A recent article in Time Magazine, focused on scientists’ research at Yamaguchi University in Japan. They found that background noise can be a positive force in increasing productivity. We all own old school earphones and many of us have noise cancelling headsets, so try and use music without lyrics or pure alpha wave meditations to increase productivity when you have a noisy or distracting workplace.
If your workspace is not conducive to getting things done, sometimes it is good to change your environment. Head to a park, a Starbucks, or another venue where you can put on your headset and take on the “heads down” tasks at hand. Background noise can be a great tactic to improving your workflow.
Play hooky from the office culture
I have run a virtual office since 2001. Research has shown that most of a completely remote workforce believe they are more productive working from home. While there is an isolation factor, and the lack of physicality of the work environment, many of us do get more done in our pajamas!
Take a Break or a Catnap
With so many of us experiencing sleep issues, we may not be getting enough restorative sleep and this can create a lack of motivation to get things done. I suggest taking a break. Perhaps a walk in nature with spa music playing, where you consciously focus on breathing.
I also recall structured and scheduled naps in elementary school where we had to put our heads down for 20 minutes. It never worked for me, but many of my classmates would be off to dreamland. Taking a catnap can be a restorative process and boost your productivity. Scientists have also found that drinking a cup of coffee and then napping for 20 minutes reduces brain fog and the coffee or tea can then kick you into high gear so you are ready to get back to work after your snooze.
Hydrate!
I am a big believer in the power of hydration. Start your day with coffee or tea but more importantly with a large glass of water. We are supposed to drink at least half of our body weight daily with water – not a soft drink or coffee. Those are extra and coffee and tea can actually be dehydrating to your body. Add some liquid love with an infused glass of water or keep a large bottle at your desk so you can continually sip. This will also ward off headaches and brain fog.
Regulate your HVAC controls
I remember my first day of class when I was studying in Barcelona. While this was a more temperate climate than I had experienced in Syracuse, there was a lack of central heat and the classroom was cold. My feet – in boots – were freezing and I was sitting on my hands or wearing gloves. It is hard to concentrate and do work when you are too cold.
Studies conducted since the first half of the twentieth century link lower productivity with cold office environments. Regulate the temperature and prepare for the day with layers.
Work less but smarter
As a business owner, we clock more hours than our employees. I have been learning about changing this behavior from my mentor. She has been following a trend that has taken hold in Sweden, where they have adopted a six hour workday. My goal is to improve my work/life balance, which is so critical to my health and my business success. I find that when I exercise in the morning, it jumpstarts my ability to be productive. It steals 30-45 minutes from my morning workflow but allows me to power through with more precision. I also am sure to take a thirty-minute break for lunch and I do not work through my lunch.
I have seen that I can produce more when I work less. I know this seems crazy, but it is true. Try lessening rather than lengthening your workday. I resent days where I have to be “on” for 9-10 hours. It is too much and is not good for your overall well-being. On days that I work less, I am actually more productive.
Get started by doing an internal review of your habits. When do you find you are most productive? Morning, noon, end of day?
Automate your systems so that you can do less. It will take some time to do this for you and your team, but the results will be astounding, and you will see an uptick in your productivity.