Ways to Be More Productive

hollydohrman

By Kate Betton

Do you want to get more done? Getting more done in less time so you have more time to do the things you want to do is alluring, and not that hard to do. These life-hacks are designed to help you do just that so you can streamline your life in order to have the time to reach your personal and professional goals.

Takin’ Care of Business

Prioritize in Terms of Dread
Schedule your day so that you get your worst task done first. That leaves you the ability to proceed without it hanging over your head, like when you haven’t changed your burnt-out bathroom bulb yet. Dread of any task can slow you down. Get it done and feel accomplished at the start of your day!

Set a Timer
How distracted are you during the day? Try an app like RescueTime to keep track of your time. The free version automatically tracks how much time you spend on certain sites, how much time you spend emailing, and how much time you spend working, and then it presents you with the results in handy graph form.

Maximizing Your Free Time

Calm Your Racing Brain
Can’t sleep because your mind is racing? Simply breathe deeply (deep breathing slows the heart and respiratory rate which can help you sleep) and write down those thoughts. Once they’re on paper (or in your phone), your brain will stop working so hard to remember them.

Your Bedtime is Non-Negotiable
Who knew it was awesome that our childhood bedtimes were enforced? Both the structure and the sleep will do you well. Sleep is one of the most important factors in being productive in your intellectual, physical, and emotional life. Experts have found that a regular “bedtime” is one of the most effective ways to stay productive.