These are just the broad strokes, and here are the 25 specific steps you need to undertake each day to increase your productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Productivity increases when you\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2026do the following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sleep enough <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sleep improves your cognition and concentration \u2014 and increased cognition and concentration lead to increased productivity, which ultimately leads to better performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you sleep at least 7\u20138 hours<\/a> every night, your problem-solving skills and memory improve \u2014 so you finish more in less time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the opposite side, sleep deprivation can have many damaging effects<\/a> on our overall performance. It not only directly decreases our productivity, but can also impact our physical health and emotional well-being, as well as negatively affect our cognitive abilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most Americans wake up between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., in order to start work sooner, and finish sooner \u2014 so imagine how great a start you\u2019d have if you were to wake up even earlier, say, 5 a.m.?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting such an early start ensures you\u2019re at least an hour ahead of everyone \u2014 you\u2019ll finish your workday earlier, and, more importantly, start your work when barely anyone is around to distract you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, keep in mind that early rising is not for everyone<\/a>, particularly if we are sacrificing sleep in the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, do give it a try, but don\u2019t feel too bad if it doesn\u2019t work for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important thing we can do is listen to our bodies and note the times of day when we usually feel most awake and most tired. Then, we can plan our days accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify pro tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you are an early riser or a night owl, learn how your natural inclination impacts your work performance and how you can maximize its specifics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as you wake up, take some time to exercise \u2014 exercise helps your body wake up and your brain be more alert and energized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, when you\u2019re alert and energized, you\u2019re more likely to focus and concentrate on your work, and thus more likely to be productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, the impact of exercise on employee performance is so strong that many companies have taken steps to include exercise in the regular workday<\/a>. Perhaps we should make it a habit too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meals are an important part of your workday, and planning them in advance helps you save time you\u2019d otherwise spend thinking about what you want to eat when you\u2019re already hungry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there is much scientific research supporting the link between nutrition and workplace productivity<\/a>, maintaining a healthy diet while working is not always as easy as it is recommendable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Planning in advance helps us prepare the resources and carve out the necessary time to ensure we eat healthy while working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Planning your daily menus will help you avoid stress, eat more balanced meals, and even learn how to plan ahead \u2014 a skill you can also use in your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people skip breakfast \u2014 despite it being perhaps the most important meal of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A balanced breakfast helps you build up energy in the morning to start your day right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Considering that everything you eat turns into glucose, by eating first thing in the morning you get a surge of glucose right away \u2014 which ensures you stay concentrated and focused on what you\u2019re doing (at least until lunchtime).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, studies have shown<\/a> that skipping breakfast can have many adverse effects, such as decreased short-term memory and lack of concentration<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Call it common wisdom or a scientific fact \u2014 but a hearty breakfast will set you up for high performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our brains are 85% water. If this percentage of water drops by just 1% you lose 5% of your cognitive abilities<\/a>. You become less focused, less alert, and less likely to be productive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The findings of a recent study<\/a> show that proper hydration has a particularly emphasized positive effect on mood and vidual attention, while dehydration has a negative effect on short-term memory, concentration, and mood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, by drinking about eight 8-ounce glasses, 2-liters, or, simply, drinking whenever you\u2019re thirsty, you ensure you\u2019re always fully hydrated, and focused to the max.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By compiling a list of things you have to do, you\u2019ll always know exactly what you have to accomplish until the end of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have everything on paper, you\u2019ll be less likely to stray away from what\u2019s truly important, and less likely to waste time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify pro tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping an effective to-do list is a bit of a delicate art, and they can come in a variety of shapes and purposes. Find the right to-do list for you and start planning smarter with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deadlines help you put your work into perspective \u2014 when you know you have to finish one important task by next week, and the other important task by next month, you\u2019ll understand your priorities better, and what you need to do first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify pro tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Deciding on your priorities can be confusing. Learn how to properly set your priorities and make better use of your time with our guide: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many professionals find it hard to find motivation in a deadline-free environment. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the No. 1 piece of advice for overcoming this situation is to \u2014 wait for it \u2014 make a deadline<\/a>! Depending on the nature of the task, you can set daily or weekly milestones, or set a fixed date for the task completion. Defining the timeline has a twofold effect \u2014 it helps you get a better grasp of the scope of work, and it provides you with a sense of urgency to get things done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And when you set your own deadlines (no matter whether you have an official deadline for it or not), you\u2019ll inspire yourself to fixate on a certain date and time \u2014 and aim to beat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest value of setting goals lies in defining and detailing the roadmap towards their achievement<\/a>. It turns abstract wishes into concrete plans that help us envision the actions and the effort needed to realize our objectives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you set a goal, you\u2019ll get a clearer idea of what steps you\u2019ll need to undertake and what actions will help you reach said goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visualizing the goals you set can boost your teams’ productivity by 18%, according to this timeline<\/a> article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you set a SMART goal<\/a> (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound), you\u2019ll know your goal is manageable, so you\u2019ll feel more inspired to go after it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine a horse running after a carrot strapped to his head, just a little out of reach. The horse may run and run, eyes fixated on the carrot, but he\u2019ll never reach it \u2014 so how long will he feel motivated to run after it, until he quits the race?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same goes for people \u2014 unless you allow yourself a reward during a long race to success, chances are you won\u2019t stay interested long enough to reach the finish line. Small rewards when you reach milestones, such as an evening out with friends, are a welcome boost to your determination and a nice battery charge for your productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a study conducted by Cornell University researchers Ayelet Fishbach and Kaitlin Woolley<\/a>, delayed rewards are the foundation of long-term planning. However, smaller immediate rewards serve as a far stronger motivator in persisting in the pursuit of a long-term goal. In other words, it is perfectly fine (and even recommendable) to occasionally treat yourself for your good work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dead time you\u2019re bound to lose every day, stuck in traffic, or doomed to a long train or bus ride to work \u2014 that\u2019s how commute<\/a> time is usually described.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our new COVID-impacted reality has placed a greater focus on (the absence) of commuting, with some studies going as far as to state that long commuting kills productivity<\/a>, particularly among the highest-performing employees. Even pre-pandemic studies<\/a> have determined that the type and the duration of the commute impact productivity, with short-distance and active commuting having the most positive impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But you can use this time to your own advantage \u2014 take a nap, go through your emails, take on an online course, listen to an audiobook. You\u2019ll take away from the workload that awaits you in the office, get more rest, or even learn something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time is finite, so it\u2019s important how you spend it \u2014 but do you know how you spend it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tracking time you spend on activities<\/a> will help you decide whether you spend your time effectively or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your timer tells you that you spend 2 hours aimlessly browsing Social Media every day, you\u2019ll get the exact time you\u2019re wasting and could be putting to better use. Time tracking allows us to identify areas and roots of sub-optimal performance and start making the first steps towards making the most of our time and effort. You can learn about some of those steps through our guide to best practices for time tracking<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Time tracking software used by millions. Clockify is a time tracker and timesheet app that lets you track work hours across projects.<\/p>\n\n When starting out your workday, it\u2019s best that you do your most difficult or most important task first \u2014 this is called eating your frog technique<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve \u201ceaten your frog\u201d first thing in the morning, you\u2019ll feel more energized to tackle the rest of the tasks you have for the day \u2014 because you\u2019ll know that the worst is behind you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, the proverbial frog is often the most important task in your workload, which is why it makes perfect sense to dedicate your peak energy periods to its resolution and save the rest for low-priority tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Disclaimer:<\/strong> \u201ceating the frog\u201d is not a substitute for a proper breakfast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the time, the most difficult part of a task is \u2014 getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, if you start small, by saying you\u2019ll only work for two minutes, you\u2019ll make the notion of getting started less scary and more manageable. You\u2019ll also be much less likely to procrastinate<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Newton\u2019s 1st law says that objects that are in motion stay in motion \u2014 and the same is true of your work. Most of the time, you\u2019ll find that you\u2019ve worked for 2 minutes, and then continued working. Just watch out for any apples falling on your head. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Science that defines ultradian rhythms says people are wired to work focused and concentrated in 90-minute intervals. After that time, they need to take a break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can parse your workday into 90-minute chunks, followed by short breaks \u2014 this can be anything from meditation to short exercises, or going to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, the 90-minute cycle is not carved in stone and there are almost countless time management techniques<\/a> that offer their twist on the work-rest equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For starters, you can try out the popular Pomodoro technique<\/a> and work in predefined cycles \u2014 work for 4 cycles of 25-minute work time and 5-minute breaks, and then take a 20-minute break, before resuming work for another 4 cycles. If 25 minutes for work and 5 minutes for breaks don\u2019t work for you, once again, you can tweak this time to fit your needs better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify pro tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Logic may tell you that doing more tasks at once will help you finish more work in less time \u2014 but by doing more tasks at once, you\u2019re essentially stopping yourself from focusing on any of your tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You finish quicker, but you perform subpar on all your tasks, and then have to redo most of it, leading to more time lost than gained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, if you start working on another task only after you\u2019ve finished with the previous task, you\u2019ll give it your full attention and finish in the best way possible \u2014 no to little time needed for redos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, things aren\u2019t entirely black and white, as one study shows<\/a> that the performance greatly depends on the degree of multitasking \u2014 errors are more common and more severe when juggling tasks at a higher level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, you can give yourself a little bit of leeway with multitasking \u2014 but you should definitely not make it your modus operandi<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udca1 Clockify pro tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether a matter of necessity or preference, multitasking can be a serious obstacle to productivity. Learn how to better juggle your responsibilities with our guide: <\/p>\n\n\n\n You may strive for perfection in everything you do \u2014 but, as nothing is ever really perfect you\u2019re just wasting your time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, you should stop tweaking your work, and hand it in for feedback \u2014 if there are some mistakes left, treat them as teachable moments that will help you be better in the future (by not repeating them).<\/p>\n\n\n\n University of Kent professor Joachim Stoeber differentiates perfectionist strivings and perfectionist concerns<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Stoeber, perfectionist strivings<\/strong> have an entirely positive, motivational quality and impact on performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perfectionist concerns<\/strong>, however, are unhealthy and can have a negative impact not only on performance but also on mental health and general well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n People often decide to power through their workdays by skipping meals and staying at their desks \u2014 but this practice does more harm than good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sticking to consistent eating patterns in the workplace<\/a> improves our cognitive performance. A combination of mental breaks and the necessary nourishment for our body and our brain is what keeps us focused and alert over an extended period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unless you eat regularly your glucose levels will drop, and you\u2019ll be less concentrated, moodier, and less likely to be productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doing everything people ask of you will only make you lose time you should be spending on priorities \u2014 if you do everything, you\u2019ll eventually find that you\u2019ve done nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s OK to say \u201cNo\u201d to people\u2019s requests from time to time \u2014 a lot of yeses may lead to less free time, more stress, and a higher chance of burnout<\/a>. Oftentimes, outsourcing some of the work<\/a> is also a good idea and can lead to an increase in overall productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of us are reluctant to refuse additional work, as we fear our colleagues may perceive us as rude, selfish, or any other variety of the dreaded \u201cdifficult\u201d label. There are, however, constructive and respectful ways to say \u201cNo\u201d<\/a> without harming professional relationships. Ultimately, avoiding stretching yourself too far will benefit your performance, and thus the organization as a whole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Distractions such as Social Media, your smartphone, or the TV, are OK, in small doses, in your free time. But, they\u2019ll only disrupt your schedule when you have to work on an important project with a close deadline. And background noises (such as outside traffic) that irate you even in your free time, will irate you even more when you have to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study<\/a>, employees who are more susceptible to online distractions in the workplace experience significant increases in focus and productivity when those distractions are blocked. In other words, if our attention is not consistently interrupted by external factors, it is a pretty safe bet that our performance will improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, block social media websites, leave your smartphone in another room (perhaps best one you can lock?) and put on your headphones. When you\u2019re in a bubble, it\u2019ll be easier for you to concentrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 21st century is the century of easy access to information \u2014 everyone can know (almost) anything in a matter of a few clicks. But, this information overload<\/a> will temper with your ability to process what\u2019s really important. Constant exposure to different streams of information makes us distracted, more mistake-prone, and less engaged with our core work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Limiting information is, essentially, about prioritizing: our time, our tasks, our responsibilities. It is the process of choosing the required or optimal amount of information relevant to our current work, while blocking and\/or ignoring any other sources of information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Limit what you read, and limit what you take in \u2014 this way, you\u2019ll leave more room to think about and process the best ways to tackle your priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain music boost productivity on certain tasks \u2014 when in doubt, remember that three-chord, instrumental music you\u2019re used to, and that you\u2019ve chosen yourself works best, especially when you\u2019re working on simpler tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By listening to music while you work, you\u2019ll focus your mind on your work and block out distracting sounds around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The greatest benefit of music<\/a> recognized by scientific research is not its impact on cognitive performance, but its relaxing quality. In other words, music puts us in a pleasant state of mind, which then indirectly impacts our attitude towards work itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, music is not equally suited for every kind of work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even those of us who never take our headphones off will occasionally turn the music off for deep-focus, high-attention tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to research<\/a>, naps help you perform better with tasks you have to do in the evening. Naps you take earlier in the day help boost creativity, and naps you take later in the day help you restore your physical abilities \u2014 either way, naps prove even better than caffeine for your memory and overall performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A growing number of companies are going as far as to enable and encourage workplace napping as a productivity resource. This is not necessarily an unfounded trend, as recent scientific research<\/a> has suggested that early afternoon napping increases alertness and overall cognitive performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps it won\u2019t be long before we see workplace napping lose its long-held stigma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Working hard without playing hard won\u2019t reflect well on your productivity levels \u2014 you\u2019ll start to wonder why you\u2019ve been working so hard with no reward in the first place, and lose your drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, a hobby you can look forward to when you get home can inspire you to finish your work faster. If you pick a creative hobby, you may even improve your cognitive abilities \u2014 reading, playing a musical instrument, learning a new language are all good choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hobbies are a big part of the eternal work-life seesaw. In the context of our workplace performance, they don\u2019t need to be a separate entity from our work, but its supplement that can not only expand our skillset, but also keep us positive, inspired, and engaged. If you\u2019re looking for an engaging hobby to take up, our extensive list of productive hobbies<\/a> might give you a few ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thinking about work from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep, won\u2019t help you do more today \u2014 but relaxing over a good book, meditating, or simply socializing with friends and family can help you recharge the batteries needed for tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, you can take steps in the workplace itself and establish practices and boundaries to prevent being overwhelmed by work<\/a>. A lot of excessive time and stress dedicated to work can be prevented by timely planning, optimization of processes, and prioritization of our time and our effort. Working more efficiently allows us to switch off and regenerate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the end, high productivity is more about working smarter than working harder \u2014 if you establish a morning routine, manage your time and plan your days in relation to your goals, take care of your health, and remember to have some \u201cyou\u201d time, you\u2019re bound to increase your productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2709\ufe0f The productivity tips we have provided here are hardly the only performance-boosting activities you can choose. We are certain that professionals around the world use various other productivity hacks to good effect. What works for you? Do you have any particular tricks and practices to help you perform better? We love finding new ways to improve, so feel free to share your ideas with us at blogfeedback@clockify.me<\/a> \u2014 we may include your productivity tips to this or a future blog post! <\/p>\n\n\n\nGet up early <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Exercise <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Plan meals in advance <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Eat your breakfast <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Drink plenty of water <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Keep a To-Do list <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Set your own deadlines <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Set goals <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Set rewards <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make good use of commute time <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Track time you spend on tasks (and aim to limit it) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/default@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\nDo your worst first <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Follow the \u201c2-minute rule\u201d <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Work in intervals (and take breaks) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Don\u2019t multitask <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Don\u2019t be a perfectionist <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t skip meals <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Say \u201cNo\u201d <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Block distractions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Limit information <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Listen to productivity-boosting music <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Take naps <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Practice a hobby <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Unwind <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n