Ten Productivity Tips That Actually Work
“Simplicity boils down to two steps: identify the essential, eliminate the rest.”
~ Leo Babauta
Having recently busted some productivity myths, I’m going to share some practical productivity tips that actually work.
But first, let's make sure we understand what productivity means.
What is productivity?
“Do more” is terrible productivity advice!
The standard productivity definition is the rate at which a person does useful work. In short, when most people talk about productivity, they're talking about efficiency. How to maximise the outputs and minimise the inputs. Achieve your goals with less time and effort.
Back in 1930, John Maynard Keynes predicted that advances in productivity would cut the working week drastically, perhaps to 15 hours a week, with people choosing to have far more leisure as their material needs were satisfied. Yet, as we have gotten more efficient, we've simply added more and more goals into the mix.
Nearly every recovering perfectionist I speak to is juggling multiple priorities in their life. They're running their own business whilst studying or raising a family. They have a side-hustle alongside a full-time job. They're a multi-potentialite, working on several projects in different areas. They have caring responsibilities on top of their work.
The problems seem to pop up as soon as the "should"s do. As soon as we're not present with what we're doing, it loses meaning and we no longer enjoy what's in front of us. Everything becomes a chore rather than a choice.
This changes the question for me. No longer is productivity about how to get the maximum results with the minimum input. Instead, I think productivity needs to focus on accomplishing what you set out to do and feeling good about it along the way. Intentionally choosing how to spend your precious time on this planet and using your energy and focus on the things that make a difference in your life and the lives of the people you care about.
How to be more productive
Do you want to finish each day feeling fulfilled and satisfied knowing that you used your time well and got everything on your to-do list done?
I imagine, like me, you said yes. So why do so many of us (myself included) find ourselves not being as productive as we’d like to be?
I think it's for these two reasons:
We’re reactive rather than proactive, letting other people dictate our priorities.
We've developed habits that undermine our ability to focus our attention on what's important to us.
I'm not going to pretend to have all the answers but here are some of my top productivity tips to help you focus on what matters to you.
Have no more than three essential tasks each day. Do the most satisfying one first and give yourself permission to stop once all three are complete.
Break tasks down into roughly 15-minute chunks (probably 1-2 paragraphs if you're writing). Not only does that feel more manageable to do, you'll also feel a stronger sense of progress as you tick things off.
Close all your tabs, literally and metaphorically, and do one thing at a time. Multitasking is a myth.
Work in short bursts (15-90 minutes) with a timer. While the timer is on, focus fully on the task at hand; everything else can wait.
Minimise distractions. Keep a pad of post-it notes next to you to jot down any ideas, thoughts or tasks that come up while you're in focus mode. Only check your emails a couple of times a day and never as the first thing you do (all you're doing is trading your priorities for other people’s). Turn off notifications on your phone and computer while you're working; even better, hide your phone somewhere out of sight and reach.
Take a short break after each burst (around 10 minutes for a 90-minute work sprint) away from screens and do something that feels good for your body. If in doubt, move and hydrate.
Schedule an hour a week at a time of day when you have the most focus for all those tasks you've been avoiding. Set a timer for 60 minutes and challenge yourself to get as many done as possible before the timer goes off. Follow it up with something that resources you.
Make time at the end of each day/week to get ready for the next one to stop wasting time "getting organised" before you can get into meaningful work.
Get more sleep. Trading sleep for getting more done is one of the most counter-productive things you can do.
Work with your body. Make a quick list of your core daily and weekly tasks, then think about when you do best at these tasks. Organise your schedule as best you can around these ideal times. For more help getting in tune with your rhythms and creating a nourishing morning ritual, check out my free-to-download guides.
Those are my tips. Which of these do you already do? Which ones might you try? And do you have any to add?