Ajit Karn
Table of Contents
What is it to be productive?
How important it is to get things done
The top 30 ways to increase productivity in 2023
Are you struggling to stay on task? Do you ever feel like you could have done more at the end of the day? Well, things don’t have to go on like this. You can go home from work feeling happy and proud of what you’ve done. With a few “productivity hacks,” you can get more done in less time and, most importantly, have more free time every day.
What is it to be productive?
Productivity is more than just getting more done or crossing things off a list. To be productive, you should only focus on getting the important things done. It can take a long time to become more productive, so don’t worry. Just take one good step at a time.
How important it is to get things done
Your ability to get things done can be a big part of how successful you are at work and how happy you are in life. People can move up at work and in life if they can consistently make good work at a steady pace.
Growth in productivity is a way to increase output without adding more inputs or paying more for other things. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US business sector has been able to produce nine times more goods and services since 1947, even though the number of hours worked has only gone up by a small amount.
Being productive can help you organise your tasks, manage your time and resources well, and give you more time to do things you enjoy.
The top 30 ways to increase productivity in 2023
1. Plan out your day in advance
The first step to getting things done is to plan out your day ahead of time. On any given day, you should know what you’re doing, when you’re doing it, and for how long. Without a plan, you might forget to do important things.
Plan out the day in detail early in the morning or the night before. Write down everything you need to do so you can see where you are going and what you need to work on next. This takes away the need to guess, and it makes it less likely that you’ll get lost and waste time because you don’t know what to do next.
2. Write down the three most important tasks you must do every day.
Write down the day’s three most important tasks. Spell out the tasks in detail so that there is no room for confusion. Pay attention to important tasks instead of urgent ones.
3. Use any method for getting things done
Use a productivity method to boost how much you get done. A very powerful productivity tool can help you stay on task at work. Setting goals that you can reach will help you plan your day with a productivity system. Choose a way to be more productive that works for you and helps you get more done each day.
4. Give each day a single goal
Set a single goal for each day of work so that you can focus on each task. One good idea is to break up your daily goals into separate tasks that you’ll only work on during the time allotted.
5. Set times to check your email
Checking email is one of the main things that takes time away from work during the day. Pick two times a day to check your email, preferably before lunch and right before you leave for the day.
6. Find out how to say “no”
Some people find it hard to say “no,” but if you want to get more done, you can’t let other people tell you what to do all the time.
7. Use Website Blockers
Use a website blocker to stop websites that are a distraction from popping up while you are working.
8. Use the colours red and blue more often
Remove debris from your workstation. Studies show that the colours red and blue make the brain work better. Red makes people pay more attention to details, and blue makes people more creative. Put these colours around your office to make you more productive.
9. Rule of Two Minutes for Small Jobs
Do not waste time deciding if you should do small tasks that keep coming up throughout the day. Instead, ask yourself if you can finish the task in less than two minutes. If you can, then go ahead with the task. If not, put the task on your list of things to do.
10. Listen to Music That Helps You Work
Music is a great way to help you stay focused and get things done. Choose music that helps you pay attention to what you’re doing.
11. Use templates for tasks you do often.
Make templates for tasks you do often that are always done the same way. This will save you a lot of time and make you more efficient as a whole.
12. Group Similar Tasks
Group tasks that are similar together so you can do them all at the same time. This will help you work more efficiently and get more done in less time.
13. Avoid Multitasking
It might be tempting to do more than one thing at the same time, but it’s not a good idea. About 98% of people are less productive when they do more than one thing at once because they can’t focus on just one thing.
14. Make decisions with the help of an important/urgent matrix.
The Important/Urgent Matrix or Eisenhower Matrix is a good way to organise your time. It helps you prioritise tasks based on how important or urgent they are. The matrix divides tasks into four distinct quadrants – Important & Urgent, Important & not urgent, Not important & urgent, Not important & not urgent. This method makes sure that you use your time well and efficiently.
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15. Do something hard or easy to start your day.
How you start the day affects how the rest of the day goes. You can start by doing the hardest thing first, which will make everything else easier, or you can do the easiest thing first to build momentum.
16. Follow the “One and Done” Rule
Most of us tend to put some things off, thinking we’ll get to them later. But we rarely do those things because we don’t put them on our lists of things to do. To avoid this, add each new task to a list of things to do so that you don’t forget them.
17. Take Regular Rest
Breaks give your mind a much-needed break from concentrating hard, but you need to make the most of them. You can calm your mind and body by letting your mind wander or meditating during breaks.
18. Make a plan for your break
Make a list of everything you want to do on your break and try to fit it all in. This will make it easier to get work done while at work. So, you’ll be smart and do things you enjoy during your breaks.
19. Work in small chunks.
The mind of a person can only focus on one thing for a short time. So, it makes sense to work in short bursts like the Pomodoro technique, in which you work for 25 minutes at a time and then take a 5-minute break. This makes you more likely to get things done quickly.
20. Make a special place to work
If you work from home or remotely, set up a place where you can work and then leave when you’re done.
21. Work close to a window
Putting your workspace near a window is a simple way to get more done. People think that getting more sun helps them sleep better, which is good for their health and productivity.
22. Eliminate Possible Distractions
Distractions are easy to give in to, but you need to find ways to stay focused on your work. It takes a lot of time to get back on task after being distracted. If you get rid of distractions, you might be able to get more done in less time.
23. Break Your Goals Down
Instead of putting off your big, far-fetched goals, break them down into smaller, more realistic goals that you can reach more quickly. These goals should be easy to reach and fit in with your plans.
24. Every morning, give yourself time to get back to work.
You probably try to get away from work when you’re done for the day. Take a few minutes in the morning to get back into work mode by thinking about what you did the day before or what you want to do that day.
25. Get up very early
This can give you a great head start on any work day because you start the day feeling completely re-energized. Early in the morning, when there are fewer things going on, you can get a lot of work done.
26. Make sure every task is linked to a goal
Before you take on a task, make sure it fits with one of your SMART goals or other long-term goals. If the task doesn’t help you move forward, get rid of it or give it to someone else.
27. Stick to the deadlines
No matter how long you have to do something, make sure you finish it in the time you have. If you know you have a deadline coming up, you will work faster.
28. Set aside time for yourself
Plan self-care activities to help you recharge so you don’t get burned out from work stress. It could be anything that helps you relax and unwind, like reading on your favourite couch, a relaxing bedtime ritual, a 10-minute walk, meditating, painting, or anything else.
Let Go of the Need to Be Perfect
Nothing is perfect, so don’t waste your time trying to make every task perfect. If the work is good enough, you can move on.
30. Identify the “Why” Behind Your Job
Ask yourself why you chose the career path you did. Keep these things in mind while you’re working so you can stay motivated to do a good job and be successful at your job.
Also read: 20 Easy Ways to Boost Your Productivity
Follow the what is productivity, productivity tips, and tools guide to learn more about being productive and managing your time.
Upskilling is another way to be more productive in the year 2023. Choose from Simplilearn’s great PG and Master programmes to take the next step in your career! Check out Lean Six Sigma, Project Management, and Design Thinking and Innovation, which are all popular PGP programmes, to help you get started.
