Plan your day
The first piece of advice that anyone naturally considers when trying to get organized is planning. It’s something you’ve probably heard a million times, but it’s really vital. Each task you have to do may seem more complicated when you think about it in your head, but planning your day, whether on paper or digitally, makes things more realistically achievable. Scheduling your day task by task gives you a sense of direction and prevents you from drifting into time and distractions.
Limit distracting apps and sites
For most people, social media is the first thing they check in the morning and the last thing before bed. The digitized nature of today’s modern world leaves us constantly checking our phones, social media, and status. Fortunately, you can manage notifications and app settings on your phone. You can turn off notifications during work hours or even set limits for the amount of time per day you use specific apps. For those of us with less self-control, since these features are easily reversed or overridden, there are apps that prevent us from using our social networks entirely during the time of day we indicate.
Create a dedicated workspace
Your work environment plays a key role in determining how productive you are and how much you can get done. Whether you’re commuting to work or completing tasks remotely, an organized and dedicated workspace is crucial. If you work from home, creating a space exclusively dedicated to your work makes it easier to focus. It also creates a healthy balance and separation between home and work. If you go to your work, make your space pleasant and unique. Being comfortable, even if your work environment is an office, makes it easier to enjoy what you do.
Minimize multitasking
One of the most common failings of man is trying to do too much at once. It seems like we’re always working on so many tasks simultaneously and ultimately we can’t finish any of them to their full potential. Studies show that people who multitask make 50% more mistakes and only 2% of the population can multitask effectively. So while multitasking is good in theory, most of us don’t fall below that 2%.
Stanford research has also suggested that multitasking leads to shorter attention spans and reduced memory. Our advice is that it is better to break that habit now! Our brains are made to be most efficient when focused on one thing at a time. By doing so, we reduce the stress caused by an overall workload. Giving our full attention to one task at a time helps us properly prioritize things and produce better quality work. You have more impact on your to-do list when you tackle things one at a time.
Take a break
What if we told you that one of the most important productivity habits is to sit back and relax? No, actually, performance ultimately depends on a balance between work and rest, so if you don’t sleep well or tire yourself out relentlessly, you won’t end up accomplishing as much as you think. Whether break time includes walking or napping, it can actually boost creativity and engagement when you return to work.
Be sure to plan these breaks and days off accordingly because they are just as vital as any of your tasks. But when you walk away from your work and your computer screen, remember that your eyes need a break, too. Revive your eyes with Chamomile infused drops from Chamomile Sophia to help them rest and recharge. So while you manage the rest of your busy day, your eyes will remain strain and pain free.
