{"id":1446,"date":"2021-03-12T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T20:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flocksy.com\/blog\/?p=1446"},"modified":"2021-03-12T15:27:13","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T20:27:13","slug":"top-5-ways-to-power-up-your-productivity-and-work-smarter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flocksy.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/12\/top-5-ways-to-power-up-your-productivity-and-work-smarter\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Ways to Power Up Your Productivity and Work Smarter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Productivity advice is one of the top searched topics on the internet, and it\u2019s no wonder. Everyone is always looking for the perfect way to get more done in less time. There are seemingly thousands of apps all promising to make this possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The truth is, everyone\u2019s productivity needs are different, but you don\u2019t need to focus on getting more<\/em> done. You need to get the right<\/em> things done. Here\u2019s how to work smarter, not harder, and enjoy greater productivity every day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Cut Down Your Task List<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
How many of your to-dos are actually necessary? How many could you cut with no harm done? Many people feel overwhelmed by their task list because they simply have unnecessary items on it. It\u2019s hard to feel motivated when a task has no benefit to you. Subconsciously, you know this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So take a good, hard look at your to-do list and do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cut anything that\u2019s been sitting undone for weeks or months.<\/strong> It\u2019s probably not important. If it is in fact important and still relevant, it\u2019s likely an unpleasant task and you should just go ahead and get it over with.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Delegate tasks that someone else could do.<\/strong> Lean on your team! Could someone else do it better? Resist the urge to keep it on your plate just to feel accomplished.<\/li>
Eliminate \u201cwould be nice\u201d tasks that don\u2019t support your goals.<\/strong> Perhaps you\u2019ve been meaning to sign up for that Krav Maga class your friend recommended, and it\u2019s been sitting in your todos for months. Learn to identify tasks that just don\u2019t align with your life. Pro tip: If you haven\u2019t made time for it, it\u2019s probably not crucial to your endeavors.<\/li>
Automate anything you can.<\/strong> Tedious tasks such as writing standard emails and updating CRMs suck up precious hours. Use an automation tool to do the heavy lifting for you.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You may feel more productive when you\u2019re catching up on your favorite podcast as you check your email while you make breakfast and wait for the laundry to be done. Phew, I was exhausted just writing that. Imagine how your body and mind respond when you do<\/em> that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multitasking is not actually getting more done. If anything, you are splitting your attention and energy, causing everything to take longer. Your brain also can\u2019t process these multiple stimuli effectively, so you end up losing focus. When working on projects, that\u2019s the absolute worst thing for productivity!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resist the urge to multitask. Break your day down into chunks of time, then allot each chunk to a specific task. You\u2019ll get more done and feel less stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are creatures of habit. We like consistency and predictability. This is why the world\u2019s most effective productivity systems such as Get Things Done focus on habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After you\u2019ve broken down your day into chunks as described in Tip #2, map out a workflow. Think about a logical flow for your schedule. For example, most people check their email first thing in the day. Block out a time for that, then focus on other tasks. After 2 hours of work, you might want to take a break, then check your messages again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By creating a predictable flow, you can stop the \u201cdaily grind\u201d that makes you feel stressed. You\u2019ll stop worrying about squeezing in so many tasks because you know, without a doubt, that you\u2019ve blocked out time to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Focus On Self Care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Speaking of routines, don\u2019t forget to leave time for self care in your schedule. It\u2019s so tempting to skip meals or your daily workout because you\u2019re eager to get things done. But these \u201crecovery\u201d moments are crucial to your overall productivity. They will keep you from feeling like you work, work, work with no time to yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try creating a morning, afternoon, and evening routine in which you do your self care. Include your essential health tasks (eating a meal, taking medications, showering) as well as some time to yourself. This can be when you catch up on the news or do a bit of pleasure reading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a short list of items you will do at these times every single day, e.g. wake up, shower, eat breakfast, and do yoga in the morning, then read, wash your face, drink tea right before bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Take A Break<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
It may sound counterintuitive, but when you take regular breaks, you give yourself time to recharge and therefore get more<\/em> done. Our brains simply aren\u2019t designed to sustain mental focus for hours on end. So when you are trying to get your tasks done, an endless marathon of work is the worst thing you can do. You\u2019ll burn out fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Incorporate breaks into your workflow. This doesn\u2019t mean taking a long break to watch Netflix every couple of hours, but it does mean getting up to stretch, grabbing a (healthy) snack, and forcing yourself to step away from your work to recharge. If you\u2019re a workaholic, this can be a challenge. But once you learn to<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pomodoro Method is an excellent way to boost productivity. You focus on a task for 45 to 60 minutes, then take a short 5 minute break. Each focus session is called a Pomo. Every few Pomos, you take a longer 15 minute break. This keeps your energy levels up and helps you feel less overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wrapping Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The greatest productivity happens not when you\u2019re piling on tasks, but when you\u2019re leaving space for recovery. The work you do should be important and meaningful, not an endless parade of tedious, pointless tasks. So, the more you can do to cut down your task list and care for your health, the more you will get done in the long run. Try these tips and see for yourself!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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