Achieve Personal Growth with these 10 Productivity Hacks

Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

In this age of instant-fix, it is easy to get distracted and lose focus. The following tips will set you on your path to a more productive, focused, and happier you.

The Morning Hacks —

• Make the first moments of your day count. After rising, journal your goals for the day. These journal entries are intentions, big ideas, problems, and solutions, but not a to-do list. Skip the morning TV shows, and save the emails for later.
• Drink a glass of water. While your brain has been resting, your body has still been working. Rehydrate first thing, before your cup of joe.
• Exercise and/or Meditate. 10 minutes a day is enough to start with and build from there. A morning walk, jog, yoga video, or meditation can set the right tone for your entire day.

The Work Hacks —

• Use your commute wisely. When driving or riding the subway, listen to a podcast that offers inspiration and knowledge. This shot of morning motivation will put you in a creative mood. Save the less-enlightening-yet-entertaining podcasts for the ride home when your brainpower is spent.
• Make your to-do list the night before. Lists will keep you in check and organized. This is especially helpful if you aren’t a morning person. When you sit down to tackle your day, your list will be there to guide you.
• When working on a task, remove your phone. Move your phone to another area, ideally, another room. Studies show that cognitive reasoning goes up dramatically when your phone is moved away from your immediate grab. Use Do Not Disturb settings, and set a timer to control distractions.
• Write down your ideas. This sounds obvious, but know that you aren’t superhuman and you won’t remember most of your ideas later unless you write them down. Use a notebook or your phone, and create headings for organization, such as Stories or Ideas. Taking a shower? Get one of those waterproof whiteboards.

Photo by William Hook on Unsplash

The Long-Term Hacks —

• Figure out when you are most productive. Daniel Pink, author of When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, suggests that most people fall into two camps — larks or owls. Larks are morning people — they peak in the morning, then experience a trough when their mood declines, and then a recovery period where their mood rises again. Owls are the opposite. Figure out your most productive time of the day and use that to your advantage.
• Enlist a Productivity Partner. Ask one trusted friend to hold you accountable. This person should act as a sounding board for ideas, or for pep talks when things go awry. In a perfect world, this relationship is symbiotic.
• Make a vision board. This idea sounds lame, but it works. Write your long-term goals on post-its or note cards, then stick these where you can see them. Look at them every day to stay motivated.

Incorporating these hacks can lead to a more productive, organized, and fulfilled life.

Start your productivity plan — it’s the first step in moving you toward success.