Productivity Hacks for the Week

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” ~ Charles Darwin

How do you optimize your week in an environment that’s always changing? What can you do to be the most productive?

There was a time I would read every tip from an influential person each day. Other times I would track every task I wrote down and accomplished every week.

The intent was to be the most effective as I could be by learning from the most successful. I wanted to hold myself accountable by reflecting on what task I accomplished regardless of how small or difficult it was

I believed that this approach would give me the ability to determine the cause and effect of each day’s achievement

I later realized that it is the simplest things that make the most difference. Everyday presents you with new challenges and distractions that you cannot influence.

Here are some hacks for you…

• Write down a list of to-dos every morning. You can predict how many hours you’ll get each day but not how much tasks you can accomplish. Every morning, take 5 mins and write down what you need to achieve for the week. Tackle the priorities and work your way down the list. As you check off your list, you feel a sense relief by achieving small wins.
• Don’t skip Breakfast — This might sound like common sense, but breakfast plays a pivotal role how you start your day. According to a 2014 Harvard Business Review, “Just about everything we eat is converted by our body into glucose, which provides the energy our brains need to stay alert. When we’re running low on glucose, we have a tough time staying focused and our attention drifts. This explains why it’s hard to concentrate on an empty stomach.”
• Exercise can boost your attentiveness because it increases blood flow to your brain. When you exercise, you’re more productive and attentive.
• During the day it’s easy to get lost in your job and list of projects to do. Block 15–30 minutes of your day, preferably mid-day and go for a walk. It doesn’t have to be far or on a trail; it could be around your office or block. Taking a walk gives you some time to reflect on the day, decompress and de-stress.
• It pays to eat healthy especially if you want to be productive. Ever heard of the quote, “you are what you eat.” Healthy foods impacts the way you work and has a direct impact on our cognitive performance.
• Prepare for the next day, today. Get as much of the necessities to get your day started the night before. Whether it’s ironing your shirt, packing your lunch or refilling your car with gas; your morning are too sacred to be spent on menial tasks; It’s more productive to spend it on mental tasks.
• Lastly get sufficient amount of sleep because it can result to reduced efficiency and low energy. Research has shown that 7–9 hrs is a good amount of sleep

As you start your week, I hope some of these hacks help optimize your week. Feel free to follow my blog to receive weekly insights!