If your motivation and energy are flagging, here are some tips and tricks for increasing your productivity to get your most important things done fast…
Do you want to be more productive? Is your energy flagging when you need it most? We’ve all been there.
It’s one of life’s little ironies that when we need to be at our most productive, we often feel the least like doing anything. On the other hand, sometimes our motivation just abandons us as we sit down to our desk (or to a mountain of laundry) to do the same monotonous tasks we do every day.
I know it’s frustrating when we can’t seem to get our minds in sync with our to-do lists. But there are ways to get your energy and productivity back up. I’m going to share some of the tricks I use when I feel my procrastination setting in and my motivation leaving the building. I hope they help you, too.
Easy Tips to Increase Your Energy and Productivity
Have a plan
Make a list of the things you must do (your MITs, or Most Important Things) so you have direction. Without it, you may find yourself scrolling on your phone or staring into space because you don’t know where to start. It can be a list, a schedule, or just a starting point. Just give yourself some guidance in case analysis paralysis is keeping you from getting started and being productive.
Do the worst first
Start with the task you dread the most. I know, that’s not what you want to do, but it will take a lot of stress out of your day. Plus, the majority of the time, the thing we dread is not nearly as bad as we think it will be. So start there. Once you finish that, the rest of the to-do list seems pretty easy.
Fuel up
Don’t try to run on coffee and inner motivation. Both will leave you hanging at some point. Instead, stay hydrated with water at the ready. Eat something that’s balanced with fruits, vegetables, proteins, and carbs. I love a good donut, but that is not fuel. Eating well will give you focus and staying power.
Start with just 5 minutes of work
If you’re really struggling to get started, tell yourself you only have to do 5 minutes. It’s just enough time to get into a task so you feel the need to extend the time to complete it. By giving yourself these incremental bursts of work, you keep the pressure off and get yourself started when other things aren’t working.
Find your peak productivity time
Everyone has a time of day when they get more things done faster. It’s when you are the most mentally focused, least distracted, and most likely to tackle the hard things. For me, that’s the early pre-dawn hours. The house is quiet, I’m well-rested, and there are none of the distractions that pop up throughout the day. For you, it might be after the kids go to bed, the first two hours at your desk, or the afternoon after a siesta. Find the time that works best for you.
Get rid of distractions
These are a real productivity killer. Silence your phones, log out of social media, close the door on kid noises, or put on a pair of noise-canceling headphones so you can put your entire focus on what you need to accomplish. You’ll be surprised by how much better your work is when you get into an uninterrupted flow, and how much faster you work.
Reward yourself
Sometimes it’s the light at the end of the tunnel that gets you through the most tedious of tasks. For me, it’s a book with some tea at the end of a long workday, or in the early morning if I’ve gotten ahead of my work. For you, it might be a meal, a meet-up with friends, a cocktail, or something else that you really enjoy after a long day. Find your reward and let it be the stimulus to being more productive.
Time block
For some of us, we work best when keeping certain tasks grouped together. This avoids forcing our minds to have to shift gears repeatedly as we switch from one type of work to another. I like to block together all my writing for my blog in the morning, and block my writing for others later in the day. I also set aside time for household chores and meal prep so that I’m not wasting time going from one thing to another. Time blocking can be a great productivity tool because it keeps us more focused.
Take breaks
Life is a marathon, not a sprint, and we should approach our work in the same way. Take breaks throughout the day when you complete a task to give yourself time to reenergize. Text a friend, grab a snack, read a chapter, or take a short walk. Breaking up your day with pleasurable and renewing things can make your workday nicer and more productive.
Know when to call it a day
Sometimes we get too into the flow state and we don’t want to stop. We just keep banging out tasks, feeling like a superstar. But the problem is that when we push past our limits, we sacrifice valuable downtime that we need to refuel for another day. If you find yourself burning the midnight oil, you may be shortchanging yourself on rest because your alarm will still be going off at the same time. Make sure you set an end time for your day so you can rest, relax, and spend time enjoying the company of family and friends. Your productivity and energy will reflect these good choices.
I hope these tips and tricks to increase your productivity and energy help you have a more successful day. When our motivation is lacking, it often takes a new approach to get us back on track. Good luck!
What are some of your best tricks for being productive and increasing your energy? I’d love to hear about them!
Looking for more on productivity? Check out these posts:
How to Get Your Motivation Back When You’ve Been Unproductive
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