How to be more productive?
A day has 24 hours and unfortunately we can't stretch it to 36 or 48 hours. How we use our 24 hours depends on us. You can throw yourself into a whirlwind of duties, knowing that your time is limited, and try to get as much done as possible. It's worth knowing a few tricks to help you squeeze the maximum out of the time you have.
1. Prepare a to-do list
Start with a plan for the day
Skeptics will say they'll waste more time making the list than they'll save. If we have a lot of tasks, a list becomes essential—without it, we'd be bouncing from one duty to the next, overwhelmed by their number. With a list, we also see the finish line and the realistic goal we're aiming for (completing all the tasks on our list, almost like in a video game).
2. Small steps toward the goal
Break tasks into smaller ones
Daily duties include those that will take us 10 minutes, but also those we'll be working on for 3 hours. Above all, remember not to overload the list—plan it so it's realistically achievable. All larger tasks are worth dividing into smaller goals. It's important that they're specific, then we'll know what we need to do. We unburden our mind, we don't have to wonder what to do now, or how to get started? We can go straight to the goal.
3. One goal at a time
Focus on one thing and keep moving
The famous multitasking is bad. Research has proven that working on multiple things requiring focus at the same time lowers our brain's efficiency. By working on one activity at a time, we reduce the risk of mistakes. It's also worth varying your day, meaning not spending the whole day on one project. This way we force ourselves to focus more.
4. Determine your best hours
We're all different, so we also have different preferences about when we work best. Some would gladly get up with the sunrise and start working. For most people, it's between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and later after 8 p.m. Experts advise dedicating 2 hours a day to the most important, most difficult tasks. The remaining time should be spent on moderately and less important tasks.
5. Time for exercise
Nothing clears the mind like a walk or simple exercise. It's not about being fit—walks improve circulation and let you get some fresh air. Thanks to this, you'll be more focused at work, more confident, and you'll handle stress more easily.
6. Stop and think
Take care of your time
How to start boosting productivity? A task list
Sometimes new projects come into the office through doors and windows. It's easy to get lost in all the frenzy then. It's important that, despite the whirlwind of work, you're able to stop, take a step back, and look at what you're doing. Set your priorities and draw conclusions about what works in your workflow and what needs improvement.
7. The 2 Pizza Rule
Meetings often appear in the schedule of things to do. They often consist of brainstorming. It happens that too many people show up for them. Not everyone is able to speak up and be heard. That's why the two-pizza rule was invented. If there are so many people at a meeting that you'd have to order more than 2 pizzas for lunch, then it's too large a meeting and there's a chance some good ideas won't be heard.
8. Grouping
If it doesn't ruin your plan for the day, you can follow the principle of grouping similar topics together when arranging it. This will make it easier to switch from one task to another.
9. Ask
If you don't know how to do something, it's worth asking. "He who asks doesn't go astray," says our proverb. What's more, whoever asks saves their time (usually). It's worth trying, and instead of spending hours googling, ask a colleague if they have an idea for solving your problem.
10. Get out into the sun
Finally, a pleasant tip: according to research, you'll boost your productivity when you have greater access to natural light. Large office windows definitely help with this. A solution for winter and short days can be lamps that imitate sunlight.
Summary
The article presents 10 practical methods for better time management and increased efficiency—from creating task lists and dividing them into smaller goals, through avoiding multitasking, to matching work to individual hourly preferences. The author emphasizes the role of movement and natural light for concentration and advises that when in doubt, ask coworkers instead of wasting time searching for solutions on your own.
An interesting tidbit is the so-called two-pizza rule, which helps limit the number of meeting participants to those who can genuinely speak up and add value to the discussion. The text also includes specific tips, such as dedicating two hours a day to the most important tasks.
