Being productive all day seems impossible. Is there really time for fruitful work if you are constantly distracted? Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your day. A well-planned daily routine will help you stay productive all day.
Get ready for the day before
Before you leave home from work, tidy up the desk, throw away unnecessary papers and things, make a list of tasks the next day, so that you clearly know in the morning where to start. Double check your project management software for possible tasks or comments. Write them in an online notebook or to-do list. Thus, in the morning you do not have to waste time remembering at what stage of the workflow you stopped.
Lock time for deep work
Deep work means you are focused on one goal for 90 minutes. To carry out these important tasks requires so much continuous labor time. Deep work will be unique to each of us. For some, this may mean replies by email, for others, it may be the calculation of budget reports in tables. But no matter what, you should be focused all these 90 minutes.
Go to "monk mode"
What is the "monk mode"? It sounds like a lot of work, but it is usually scheduled for early morning. People in the "monk mode" avoid meetings, phone calls, do not read emails, news. They use this time to formulate a strategy or complete a project by immersing themselves in deep work.
"Monk mode" can last longer than a regular deep working session (depending on what you need to do). Gradually, this can become a habit - so start your work day, for example, in the morning once a week.
Know and stick to your most productive time of day
Most people peak at between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to plan the most responsible matters for this time. Currently, this is generally not possible with remote work, conferences of managers traveling in time zones. The flight schedule does not fit into the most productive working day.
But attention to your personal rhythms and knowledge of when you work best will help you in your current routine, when there are no scheduled meetings and other matters related to moving.
Thank other people for the good work.
If you say good words and praise others for their work, it will also help you in your work. Why? Because appreciation strengthens your energy strength just like other people do. And if you work in close contact with someone, his energy can directly affect yours.
Reward yourself with breaks
The Pomodoro time management technique is very effective, it makes us realize how competently we use our time. In this system, you plan 25 minute blocks, and then take a break of five minutes. After the next stage of the tasks, a longer 15-minute break follows. Pauses are a key feature because they also enhance your attention. Without rest it is impossible to be focused all day. If you want to do more, you have to stop every time for a while.
Walk, spend at least an hour a day in the fresh air
When thinking about your productive day, add a walk in the fresh air to your schedule.Walking during the day will help you solve difficult problems, saturate your brain with oxygen, increase creativity and cheer up. Small workouts during the working day will not hurt either. If possible, sign up for a gym. Exercising promotes good spirits and health, as well as helps to engage in mental work.
Follow the diet
Efficiency is also positively affected by proper nutrition. Try to exclude fast food dishes from the diet: sausage, hamburgers, pizza, instant soups, sweets.
In order for the brain to work optimally, it is important to add seafood, dietary meat, grains, vegetables, eggs, fish to your diet. For high mental stress, it is also useful to eat nuts, legumes, fruits, dark chocolate, coffee and add spices to food: nutmeg, black pepper, ginger.
Identify your work priorities
With so much information that requires intense mental activity, you need a system to prioritize your work. A popular method is the Eisenhower matrix, where your work is divided into four sectors: from urgent and important to non-urgent and unimportant matters.
Placing your tasks in these various categories will help you decide what is important and what can wait. Some people who use this system regularly place the matrix on a board or piece of paper and share their tasks this way. Many project management systems also allow you to calculate time and priorities to help you decide what to focus on first. Benefits? You can immediately perform an action or decide to save it for later.
Conclusion
A time management system will help you achieve your goals even faster. But remember that it’s impossible to add a lot of new habits right away. You will need to gradually work on it. All of the above items do not have to be completed every day of the week. You will have to try them, and then choose which ones are most useful for your life and work.