Lifehack recently had an interesting article giving some productivity lifehacks that help you “become a repetitive winner.” It’s probably unrealistic to think you’d be able to implement every technique because it really depends on your daily schedule, but just employing one or some of these tips should amp your productivity levels a bit.
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1. Enter the two-hour hermit mode
For 2 hours every day, focus on your work and try to do what you have to do completely undisturbed. Lock yourself in your room, in the bathroom or even in the garage. Stay somewhere where you can find COMPLETE quiet for 2 hours. If your schedule is too demanding, it doesn’t necessarily need to be 2 hours. You can spend 60 minutes or even 30 minutes. If what you want to do is important, you will find some time.
2. Turning off your phone until it is as late as possible
In the same vein as hermit mode, by putting your phone in silence mode—or even better—closing it, you have the opportunity to work uninterrupted. Hearing your phone ringing can really destroy your concentration, so reducing interruptions will allow you to be more focused on your craft.
3. Focus on one task at a time
Multi-tasking can reduce your productivity up to 40%, according to behavioral psychologist Susan Weinschenk, because you’re not actually doing multiple things at once. Your brain is actually just switching from one task to the other and working less efficiently. If you want to keep your productivity levels high, stop switching between tasks. Do one thing at a time and prioritize your work. Then do the most important tasks first.
4. Start your day doing what you hate
When we have to do something boring or an unpleasant task, we tend to procrastinate. As a result, we push that task later in the day and in the end we don’t do it at all. Just do it right after you wake up or within 1-2 hours after waking up. That way you are sure that you won’t procrastinate during the day. It also helps in increasing your self-confidence.
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5. Split your work with the 25-5 method
This method can be used with Hermit Mode. The idea is that you split your work into two parts. The first part is 25 minutes of uninterrupted work. The second part is a 5-7 minute break for water, snack or just for flexing your muscles and walking around. Just don’t use those 5 minutes to log into social media or answer your phone because that can turn your 5-minute break into a 50-minute one.
6. Listen to audiobooks or podcasts while you’re eating
While most people spend their meals watching TV or just staring at their kitchen wall, you can use that time to educate yourself.
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7. Use the three color layer checklist method
Regular checklists are so boring. Instead, split your work this way:
Level 1-Red: Top priority-Emergency work that must be done today.
Level 2-Black: Medium priority
Level 3-Blue: Low Priority
When the day is over you must have done all tasks in the first 2 levels. But there is a rule: For every task on level-3 you must have two tasks on levels 1 & 2. This system allows you to become more focused by learning to identify and finish the important tasks first. You will always have the important work done and if you have time you can finish the low priority tasks as well.
Curated articles from Lifehack and Psychology Today
